West Linn | |
|---|---|
City | |
 West Linn City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: City of Hills, Trees and Rivers | |
 Location inOregon | |
| Coordinates:45°21′55″N122°38′28″W / 45.36528°N 122.64111°W /45.36528; -122.64111 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Clackamas |
| Incorporated | 1913 |
| Named after | Lewis F. Linn |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council government |
| • Mayor | Rory Bialostosky[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.11 sq mi (21.00 km2) |
| • Land | 7.43 sq mi (19.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.68 sq mi (1.76 km2) |
| Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 27,373 |
| • Density | 3,684.2/sq mi (1,422.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code | 97068 |
| Area codes | 503 and 971 |
| FIPS code | 41-80150[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412224[3] |
| Website | westlinnoregon.gov |
West Linn is a city inClackamas County, Oregon, United States. A southern suburb within thePortland metropolitan area, West Linn developed on the site of the formerLinn City, which was named after U.S. SenatorLewis F. Linn ofSte. Genevieve, Missouri, who had advocated the American occupation ofthe Oregon territory as a counterclaim to the British.
TheSullivan hydroelectric plant opened in 1889, and harvested energy from nearbyWillamette Falls. The adjacentWillamette Falls Pulp and Paper Company began operations the same year.
As of the2020 census, the city had a population of 27,373.
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Prior to settlement byOregon pioneers, the area which became known as West Linn was the home of ancestors of some of the present-dayConfederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
MajorRobert Moore was an early settler who arrived in 1839—before theChampoeg Meetings—having been the senior member of the first attempt to create an American state in Oregon, thePeoria Party.[6] After journeying around theWillamette Valley and Columbia Basin, Moore bought title to approx. 1,000 acres (400 ha) on the west side ofWillamette Falls, across theWillamette River fromOregon City, from Native American Chief Wanaxha of the Wallamut Tribe, on which he platted a town he called "Robin's Nest" in early 1843.[7] He also filed a provisional claim with the then government of theOregon Country, not knowing if his transaction would be honored by the eventual governing laws. TheOregon Territorial Legislature voted to rename itLinn City on December 22, 1845, as a memorial to SenatorLewis F. Linn after whomLinn County is also named. Linn was a neighbor and family friend of the Moores from their time as settlers in the earlyMissouri Territory.[8][9]
For many years Linn City was a political and commercial rival to the adjacent town ofOregon City,[citation needed] but it suffered a series of natural and man-made setbacks. A major fire and theGreat Flood of 1862 put a halt to the pioneer settlement in 1861, dispersing many of the surviving family members throughout thePacific Northwest.
TheWillamette Falls Locks and canal were completed in 1873, making the waterfall passable by river traffic. The locks closed in 2011 with no plans to reopen.
TheWillamette Falls Pulp and Paper Company began operation in 1889.
West Linn was incorporated in 1913 and merged with the adjacent town ofWillamette in 1916, which had incorporated five years earlier.[10] When the City of West Linn incorporated in 1913, it encompassed West Oregon City, Bolton, Sunset and Willamette Heights. The incorporation allowed the settlements to obtain needed services, utilities, and improvements without annexing to Oregon City. After considerable debate about naming, the city founders decided to honor the pioneer town that Moore had established.
TheOregon City Bridge was built in 1922.
The city's population historically grew steadily, but in recent years has leveled off. The 1860 census listed 225 residents. By 1920, the number had grown to 1,628. The 1960 census set the population at 2,923, and by 1970, West Linn had grown to more than 7,000. The city's population has continued to grow each year. Currently, the city's population is 25,250.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.05 square miles (20.85 km2), of which 7.39 square miles (19.14 km2) is land and 0.66 square miles (1.71 km2) is water.[11] The city is located between theWillamette andTualatin rivers; it includes the former townsites/developments of Willamette, Bolton, Multnomah City, Sunset City, and West Oregon City. Willamette was incorporated in 1908, the City of West Linn was incorporated in 1913, and the two towns merged in 1916. Later annexations brought in the Cedaroak, Marylhurst and Hidden Springs neighborhoods. Infill created the Tanner Basin and Tannler neighborhoods.[citation needed]
The Nature Conservancy maintains the Camassia Natural Area in central West Linn as one of itsconservancy preserves.[12] The 26-acre (11 ha)-area is located on a rocky plateau exposed by theBretz Floods and now named after thecamas which bloom there in spring; it hosts about 300 other species, including the white rocklarkspur, a species located in only a half dozen other places in the world.[13] It supportsOregon white oak-madrone woodlands, a stand ofquaking aspen, wet meadows, ponds, andvernal pools.[13]
TheMary S. Young State Recreation Area, located betweenOregon Route 43 and theWillamette River, featuring a large off leash dog area, soccer fields and 5–8 miles worth of trails is located in West Linn.
West Linn is located in the area where theWillamette Meteoritewas placed by theMissoula Floods.
Extremes range from −2 °F (−19 °C), recorded in 1950, to 107 °F (42 °C), recorded in 1956 and 1981.[14]
| Climate data for West Linn, OR | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 75 (24) | 81 (27) | 92 (33) | 104 (40) | 115 (46) | 107 (42) | 107 (42) | 105 (41) | 96 (36) | 73 (23) | 68 (20) | 107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49 (9) | 53 (12) | 58 (14) | 64 (18) | 70 (21) | 76 (24) | 83 (28) | 84 (29) | 78 (26) | 65 (18) | 53 (12) | 47 (8) | 65 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37 (3) | 37 (3) | 40 (4) | 43 (6) | 48 (9) | 53 (12) | 56 (13) | 56 (13) | 52 (11) | 46 (8) | 40 (4) | 35 (2) | 45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −2 (−19) | 6 (−14) | 22 (−6) | 28 (−2) | 31 (−1) | 37 (3) | 41 (5) | 41 (5) | 33 (1) | 24 (−4) | 9 (−13) | 6 (−14) | −2 (−19) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 6.78 (172) | 4.78 (121) | 4.67 (119) | 3.47 (88) | 2.46 (62) | 1.74 (44) | 0.65 (17) | 0.72 (18) | 1.61 (41) | 3.61 (92) | 6.56 (167) | 7.32 (186) | 44.37 (1,127) |
| Source:[15] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 1,628 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,956 | 20.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,165 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 2,945 | 36.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,933 | 33.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,091 | 80.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,358 | 60.2% | |
| 1990 | 16,367 | 44.1% | |
| 2000 | 22,261 | 36.0% | |
| 2010 | 25,109 | 12.8% | |
| 2020 | 27,373 | 9.0% | |
| Sources:[16][5][17][18][19][4] | |||
The median income for a household in the city was $72,010, and the median income for a family was $83,252 (These figures had risen to $94,844 and $108,821 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $61,458 versus $38,733 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,671, amongthe state's top five. About 2.9% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2020 census, West Linn had a population of 27,373. The median age was 43.1 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.0 males age 18 and over.[20]
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 10,104 households in West Linn, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 62.5% were married-couple households, 11.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 10,491 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.9% were owner-occupied and 21.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%.[20]
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census[22]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 22,656 | 82.8% |
| Black or African American | 225 | 0.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 91 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 1,358 | 5.0% |
| Native Hawaiian andOther Pacific Islander | 35 | 0.1% |
| Some other race | 409 | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 2,599 | 9.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 1,573 | 5.7% |
As of the2010 census, there were 25,109 people, 9,523 households, and 7,081 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 3,397.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,311.9/km2). There were 10,035 housing units at an average density of 1,357.9 units per square mile (524.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7%White, 0.7%African American, 0.3%Native American, 4.0%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.0% fromother races, and 3.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.0% of the population.[23]
There were 9,523 households, of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% weremarried couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age in the city was 41.5 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 33.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.
Public schools in West Linn, includingWest Linn High School, are part of theWest Linn-Wilsonville School District.
The city operates theWest Linn Public Library as part of theLibrary Information Network of Clackamas County.
In her statement Boyle says she hasn't returned to her West Linn home of nearly 24 years since that night except to get her belongings.
and his West Linn home is theirs to visit should they want
Municipalities and communities ofClackamas County, Oregon,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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