Baker County, Oregon | |
|---|---|
 Baker County Courthouse in Baker City | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
 Oregon's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°43′N117°40′W / 44.71°N 117.67°W /44.71; -117.67 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | September 22, 1862 |
| Named after | Edward D. Baker |
| Seat | Baker City |
| Largest city | Baker City |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,088 sq mi (8,000 km2) |
| • Land | 3,068 sq mi (7,950 km2) |
| • Water | 20 sq mi (52 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,668 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,750 |
| • Density | 5.22/sq mi (2.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Baker County is one of the36 counties in theU.S. state ofOregon. As of the2020 census, the population was 16,668.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isBaker City.[2] The county was organized on September 22, 1862, when a portion ofWasco County was partitioned off. The new county's area was reduced in 1864 whenUnion County was partitioned off, and again in 1887 whenMalheur County was partitioned off. The county's lines were last adjusted in 1901 when a parcel was added to the county.
Baker County wasnamed forEdward Dickinson Baker, a senator from Oregon who was killed atBall's Bluff, a battle of theCivil War inVirginia in 1861. The county is part of the county definition ofEastern Oregon.
The first groups from the eastern U.S. following theOregon Trail passed through the area on their way to theWillamette Valley, unaware of the potential wealth they passed over. At Flagstaff Hill, near Baker City, 15 miles (24 km) of wagon ruts left by immigrants can still be seen.
Oregon Territory achieved statehood in 1859. In 1861 gold was discovered in eastern Wasco County, and a gold rush ensued. The area quickly became the Northwest's largest producer of gold. In September 1862 thestate assembly created Baker County fromWasco. Later,Union County andMalheur County were created from this county. Baker County's boundaries were adjusted for the last time in 1901, when the area between thePowder River and theWallowa Mountains was returned to the county.
Auburn was the original county seat; a booming mining town with 5,000 inhabitants. Once the gold was mined out Auburn's population dwindled. In 1868 county voters made Baker City the new county seat. Baker City was incorporated in 1874.
The population of Baker County nearly quadrupled from 1880 to 1910, largely due to theSumpter Valley Railroad and several of itsspur lines. The opening of the railroad helped lumber and mining operations develop.[3]
In 1914Fern Hobbs, on behalf of her employerGovernorOswald West, declaredmartial law in the Baker County city ofCopperfield. This was the first declaration of martial law in the state since theAmerican Civil War.
From 1915 through 1946, Baker County was represented in theOregon State Senate byWilliam H. Strayer. When he died in 1946, Strayer had served in the Oregon legislature longer than any person in the state's history.[4]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,088 square miles (8,000 km2), of which 3,068 square miles (7,950 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]
The terrain of Baker County is generally rugged, with 30 percent of the county covered with forest. The county's highest point isRed Mountain at around 9,560 feet (2,910 m) ASL,[6][7] located 1.9 miles (3 km) from the county's northern line. The eastern boundary of the county is described by the northward-flowingSnake River, and the county terrain generally slopes to the Snake River's valley.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 2,804 | — | |
| 1880 | 4,616 | 64.6% | |
| 1890 | 6,764 | 46.5% | |
| 1900 | 15,597 | 130.6% | |
| 1910 | 18,076 | 15.9% | |
| 1920 | 17,929 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 16,754 | −6.6% | |
| 1940 | 18,297 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 16,175 | −11.6% | |
| 1960 | 17,295 | 6.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,919 | −13.7% | |
| 1980 | 16,134 | 8.1% | |
| 1990 | 15,317 | −5.1% | |
| 2000 | 16,741 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 16,134 | −3.6% | |
| 2020 | 16,668 | 3.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,750 | [9] | 0.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960,[11] 1900–1990,[12] 1990–2000,[13] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[14] | Pop 1990[15] | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 15,752 | 14,829 | 15,838 | 14,944 | 14,664 | 97.63% | 96.81% | 94.61% | 92.62% | 87.98% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 11 | 29 | 37 | 52 | 70 | 0.07% | 0.19% | 0.22% | 0.32% | 0.42% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 88 | 137 | 167 | 170 | 172 | 0.55% | 0.89% | 1.00% | 1.05% | 1.03% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 34 | 45 | 62 | 78 | 64 | 0.21% | 0.29% | 0.37% | 0.48% | 0.38% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[19] | x[20] | 7 | 9 | 15 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.09% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 43 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 98 | 0.27% | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.04% | 0.59% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[21] | x[22] | 228 | 346 | 776 | x | x | 1.36% | 2.14% | 4.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 206 | 276 | 392 | 528 | 809 | 1.28% | 1.80% | 2.34% | 3.27% | 4.85% |
| Total | 16,134 | 15,317 | 16,741 | 16,134 | 16,668 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 16,134 people, 7,040 households, and 4,430 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 5.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.0/km2). There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of 2.9 per square mile (1.1/km2).[24] The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 24.5% wereGerman, 14.8% were Irish, 14.6% were English, and 8.1% wereAmerican.[25]
Of the 7,040 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 47.9 years.[23]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,704 and the median income for a family was $50,507. Males had a median income of $43,849 versus $30,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,683. About 12.7% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.[26]
As of the2000 census, there were 16,741 people, 6,883 households, and 4,680 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 8,402 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was:
2.34% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 18.4% were ofEnglish, 17.4%German, 11.4%American and 9.1%Irish ancestry.
There were 6,883 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% weremarried couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.87.
The county population contained 24.20% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,367, and the median income for a family was $36,106. Males had a median income of $27,133 versus $20,480 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,612. About 10.10% of families and 14.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.
Like all counties in eastern Oregon, the majority of registered voters who are part of apolitical party in Baker County are members of theRepublican Party.Lyndon Johnson in 1964 was the last Democrat to carry the county in a presidential election.Jimmy Carter in 1976 was the closest any Democrat in a presidential election came to carrying Baker County since, when he lost it by only 34 votes. In the2008 presidential election, 64.37% of Baker County voters voted for RepublicanJohn McCain, while 31.95% voted forDemocratBarack Obama and 3.66% of voters either voted for aThird Party candidate orwrote in a candidate.[27] These numbers have changed slightly from the2004 presidential election, in which 69.2% voted forGeorge W. Bush, while 29% voted forJohn Kerry, and 1.8% of voters either voted for a Third Party candidate or wrote in a candidate.[28]
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| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 1,990 | 59.76% | 938 | 28.17% | 402 | 12.07% |
| 1908 | 1,689 | 46.79% | 1,596 | 44.21% | 325 | 9.00% |
| 1912 | 648 | 17.58% | 1,395 | 37.85% | 1,643 | 44.57% |
| 1916 | 2,541 | 37.16% | 3,897 | 56.99% | 400 | 5.85% |
| 1920 | 3,495 | 58.63% | 2,171 | 36.42% | 295 | 4.95% |
| 1924 | 2,803 | 45.41% | 2,004 | 32.47% | 1,365 | 22.12% |
| 1928 | 3,721 | 65.52% | 1,861 | 32.77% | 97 | 1.71% |
| 1932 | 2,097 | 31.42% | 4,420 | 66.23% | 157 | 2.35% |
| 1936 | 1,768 | 24.72% | 4,991 | 69.79% | 392 | 5.48% |
| 1940 | 3,101 | 41.39% | 4,353 | 58.09% | 39 | 0.52% |
| 1944 | 2,494 | 44.21% | 3,116 | 55.24% | 31 | 0.55% |
| 1948 | 2,841 | 47.04% | 3,035 | 50.25% | 164 | 2.72% |
| 1952 | 4,253 | 62.20% | 2,562 | 37.47% | 23 | 0.34% |
| 1956 | 3,706 | 51.93% | 3,431 | 48.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,514 | 48.46% | 3,734 | 51.50% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1964 | 2,670 | 40.55% | 3,903 | 59.27% | 12 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 3,311 | 52.93% | 2,464 | 39.39% | 480 | 7.67% |
| 1972 | 3,441 | 55.32% | 2,047 | 32.91% | 732 | 11.77% |
| 1976 | 3,340 | 48.27% | 3,306 | 47.78% | 273 | 3.95% |
| 1980 | 4,747 | 59.24% | 2,515 | 31.39% | 751 | 9.37% |
| 1984 | 5,204 | 66.62% | 2,591 | 33.17% | 17 | 0.22% |
| 1988 | 3,696 | 54.15% | 2,896 | 42.43% | 234 | 3.43% |
| 1992 | 2,862 | 38.01% | 2,395 | 31.81% | 2,273 | 30.19% |
| 1996 | 3,975 | 51.60% | 2,547 | 33.07% | 1,181 | 15.33% |
| 2000 | 5,618 | 68.03% | 2,195 | 26.58% | 445 | 5.39% |
| 2004 | 6,253 | 69.22% | 2,616 | 28.96% | 165 | 1.83% |
| 2008 | 5,650 | 64.37% | 2,805 | 31.96% | 322 | 3.67% |
| 2012 | 5,702 | 67.50% | 2,369 | 28.04% | 377 | 4.46% |
| 2016 | 6,218 | 70.83% | 1,797 | 20.47% | 764 | 8.70% |
| 2020 | 7,352 | 74.02% | 2,346 | 23.62% | 234 | 2.36% |
| 2024 | 7,060 | 72.83% | 2,343 | 24.17% | 291 | 3.00% |
Gold mining was the original impetus for settlement in the area, and at one time the county was the largest gold producer in the Northwest. Gold dredging was conducted with theSumpter Valley Gold Dredge. With the exhaustion of the gold fields, agriculture, stock raising, logging became the primary economic pursuits. In the last decades of the 20th century, tourism also contributed to the local economy, helped by attractions such as Eagle Cap Wilderness Area,Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, andAnthony Lakes Ski Area. TheNational Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center opened in 1993.
Portions of Season 11 ofDiscovery's TV showGold Rush was filmed in Baker County.[31]
School districts include:[32]
Most of Baker County is within theBlue Mountain Community College district, while a portion is in theTreasure Valley Community College district.[33]
Municipalities and communities ofBaker County, Oregon,United States | ||
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| Ghost towns | ||
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44°43′N117°40′W / 44.71°N 117.67°W /44.71; -117.67
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