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Curry County, Oregon | |
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  _(curD0007).jpg)   From clockwise: Curry County Courthouse,Patterson Memorial Bridge over theRogue River inGold Beach,Cape Blanco,Harris Beach State Park,Rogue River Ranch | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
 Oregon's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°28′48″N124°08′12″W / 42.48°N 124.13666666667°W /42.48; -124.13666666667 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | December 18, 1855 |
| Named after | George L. Curry |
| Seat | Gold Beach |
| Largest city | Brookings |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,988 sq mi (5,150 km2) |
| • Land | 1,627 sq mi (4,210 km2) |
| • Water | 361 sq mi (930 km2) 18.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,446 |
• Estimate (2024) | 22,774 |
| • Density | 14.41/sq mi (5.564/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Curry County is the southwesternmostcounty in theU.S. state ofOregon located on theSouth Coast. As of the2020 census, the population was 23,446.[1] Thecounty seat isGold Beach.[2] The countyis named forGeorge Law Curry, a two-time governor of theOregon Territory.[3] Curry County includes theBrookings, ORMicropolitan Statistical Area.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,988 square miles (5,150 km2), of which 1,627 square miles (4,210 km2) is land and 361 square miles (930 km2), comprising 18%, is water.[4]
The westernmost point in Oregon is in Curry County atCape Blanco located at42°50′08″N124°33′57″W / 42.835508°N 124.565939°W /42.835508; -124.565939 (westernmost Cape Blanco).
The county contains significant forests, with the occurrence ofblack oak,big leaf maple andDouglas fir. Theblue oak, prevalent slightly further south, does not reach into Curry County.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 393 | — | |
| 1870 | 504 | 28.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,208 | 139.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,709 | 41.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,868 | 9.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,044 | 9.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,025 | 48.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,257 | 7.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,301 | 32.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,048 | 40.6% | |
| 1960 | 13,983 | 131.2% | |
| 1970 | 13,006 | −7.0% | |
| 1980 | 16,992 | 30.6% | |
| 1990 | 19,327 | 13.7% | |
| 2000 | 21,137 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 22,364 | 5.8% | |
| 2020 | 23,446 | 4.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 22,774 | [6] | −2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[11] | Pop 1990[12] | Pop 2000[13] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,360 | 18,367 | 19,206 | 19,837 | 19,428 | 96.28% | 95.03% | 90.86% | 88.70% | 82.86% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 77 | 0.08% | 0.16% | 0.15% | 0.28% | 0.33% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 332 | 444 | 408 | 391 | 461 | 1.95% | 2.30% | 1.93% | 1.75% | 1.97% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 51 | 121 | 144 | 157 | 214 | 0.30% | 0.63% | 0.68% | 0.70% | 0.91% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[16] | x[17] | 21 | 21 | 25 | x | x | 0.10% | 0.09% | 0.11% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 11 | 10 | 29 | 16 | 125 | 0.06% | 0.05% | 0.14% | 0.07% | 0.53% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[18] | x[19] | 537 | 679 | 1,442 | x | x | 2.54% | 3.04% | 6.15% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 225 | 354 | 761 | 1,201 | 1,674 | 1.32% | 1.83% | 3.60% | 5.37% | 7.14% |
| Total | 16,992 | 19,327 | 21,137 | 22,364 | 23,446 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 22,364 people, 10,417 households, and 6,347 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 13.7 inhabitants per square mile (5.3 inhabitants/km2). There were 12,613 housing units at an average density of 7.8 units per square mile (3.0 units/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% white, 1.9% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.4% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 26.3% wereGerman, 16.2% were English, 14.1% were Irish, 6.2% wereAmerican, and 5.2% wereSwedish.[22]
Of the 10,417 households, 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.1% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.62. The median age was 53.5 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,469 and the median income for a family was $53,340. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,842. About 9.2% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.[23]
As of the2000 census, there were 21,137 people, 9,543 households, and 6,183 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km2). There were 11,406 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.89%White, 0.15%Black orAfrican American, 2.14%Native American, 0.70%Asian, 0.11%Pacific Islander, 1.11% fromother races, and 2.90% from two or more races. 3.60% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 20.1% were ofGerman, 13.8%English, 10.3%United States or American and 9.9%Irish ancestry. 95.9% spokeEnglish and 2.5%Spanish as their first language.
There were 9,543 households, out of which 20.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% weremarried couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.66.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 20.00% from 25 to 44, 29.40% from 45 to 64, and 26.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,117, and the median income for a family was $35,627. Males had a median income of $31,772 versus $22,416 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,138. About 9.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.
Curry County, like most of southwestern Oregon, is a Republican-led county, although in part due to a more liberal lean in the city ofPort Orford, it does not give so small a proportion of its vote to Democrats as Eastern Oregon does. No Democratic presidential candidate has obtained an absolute majority in Curry County sinceLyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide, and the county has been carried by Democrats for Presidents twice since, with only one occurrence being after the "Reagan Revolution". This occurred whenBill Clinton obtained a 32-vote plurality overGeorge H. W. Bush in a three-way contest with billionaire businessmanRoss Perot in 1992. Even so, the Republican lean in Curry County has shown a few signs of waning in recent years. In four of the last six presidential elections, Democrats were able to exceed 40 percent of the county’s votes.
In theUnited States House of Representatives, Curry County is located inOregon's 4th congressional district, which also includes the more left-leaningEugene metropolitan area and is currently represented by DemocratVal Hoyle, serving since January 2023. In theOregon State Senate, Curry County is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by RepublicanDavid Brock Smith. In theOregon House of Representatives, it is located in the 1st District, represented by Republican and former Curry County CommissionerCourt Boice.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 322 | 70.77% | 87 | 19.12% | 46 | 10.11% |
| 1908 | 268 | 58.64% | 148 | 32.39% | 41 | 8.97% |
| 1912 | 102 | 16.83% | 219 | 36.14% | 285 | 47.03% |
| 1916 | 541 | 45.62% | 512 | 43.17% | 133 | 11.21% |
| 1920 | 599 | 60.87% | 280 | 28.46% | 105 | 10.67% |
| 1924 | 664 | 54.70% | 224 | 18.45% | 326 | 26.85% |
| 1928 | 694 | 59.16% | 453 | 38.62% | 26 | 2.22% |
| 1932 | 395 | 27.66% | 971 | 68.00% | 62 | 4.34% |
| 1936 | 497 | 29.58% | 913 | 54.35% | 270 | 16.07% |
| 1940 | 941 | 47.26% | 1,033 | 51.88% | 17 | 0.85% |
| 1944 | 827 | 54.16% | 678 | 44.40% | 22 | 1.44% |
| 1948 | 1,112 | 59.18% | 677 | 36.03% | 90 | 4.79% |
| 1952 | 2,147 | 67.54% | 1,005 | 31.61% | 27 | 0.85% |
| 1956 | 2,306 | 53.60% | 1,996 | 46.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,382 | 46.23% | 2,767 | 53.70% | 4 | 0.08% |
| 1964 | 1,467 | 31.31% | 3,195 | 68.18% | 24 | 0.51% |
| 1968 | 2,323 | 49.12% | 1,934 | 40.90% | 472 | 9.98% |
| 1972 | 2,832 | 51.77% | 2,108 | 38.54% | 530 | 9.69% |
| 1976 | 2,962 | 45.52% | 3,227 | 49.59% | 318 | 4.89% |
| 1980 | 4,910 | 57.85% | 2,656 | 31.29% | 922 | 10.86% |
| 1984 | 5,363 | 60.84% | 3,423 | 38.83% | 29 | 0.33% |
| 1988 | 4,761 | 52.83% | 4,015 | 44.55% | 236 | 2.62% |
| 1992 | 3,809 | 34.47% | 3,841 | 34.76% | 3,400 | 30.77% |
| 1996 | 4,790 | 43.66% | 4,202 | 38.30% | 1,980 | 18.05% |
| 2000 | 6,551 | 56.90% | 4,090 | 35.53% | 872 | 7.57% |
| 2004 | 7,332 | 57.29% | 5,220 | 40.78% | 247 | 1.93% |
| 2008 | 6,646 | 53.89% | 5,230 | 42.41% | 456 | 3.70% |
| 2012 | 6,598 | 56.50% | 4,625 | 39.60% | 455 | 3.90% |
| 2016 | 7,212 | 57.19% | 4,300 | 34.10% | 1,099 | 8.71% |
| 2020 | 8,484 | 56.84% | 6,058 | 40.59% | 383 | 2.57% |
| 2024 | 8,000 | 56.34% | 5,737 | 40.40% | 463 | 3.26% |
After discovery of gold and other precious metals along the beaches and rivers of Curry County in the mid-19th century,white settlements developed along the coast. Traveling mainly by water or by coast-hugging land routes, residents remained relatively isolated from the rest of Oregon until the 20th century. As mining declined in the region, the economy became more dependent on farming, livestock grazing, forest products such asPort Orford cedar (also known as Lawson's cypress) andmyrtlewood, and tourism. Blueberries and nursery plants are among the important farm products, and most of theEaster lilies grown in the United States come from Curry County.[26]
In 2001, the nativetanoak in the county were afflicted bysudden oak death, caused by infection ofPhytophthora ramorum.[27] The pathogen, which by 2016 had killed hundreds of thousands of tanoaks in the county, thrives in moist places along the coast.[27] It has killed other kinds of oaks such asCalifornia black oak in a region that includes many California counties as well as Curry County, and it has infected and damaged a variety of conifers and shrubs such ascamellia.[28] In Curry County, it threatens timber production, plant nurseries, and Christmas tree farms.[27]
As of 2012, the Federal government owned 66 percent of the land in Curry County, while 22 percent was owned by private forest interests. About 7 percent was being farmed; the state of Oregon owned 1 percent, and 4 percent was devoted to other uses.[29]
ThePort of Brookings Harbor, a shallow-draft harbor at the mouth of theChetco River, is considered one of the safest harbors on the coast.[30] It is listed as a Harbor of Refuge by theUnited States Coast Guard.[30]
School districts include:[31]
In 1997 the following districts merged into Central Curry: the Agness, Ophir, Pistol River, and Riley Creek elementary districts and the Gold Beach Union High School District.[32]
The entire county is in theSouthwestern Oregon Community College district.[33]
Places adjacent to Curry County, Oregon | |
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Municipalities and communities ofCurry County, Oregon,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Salem (capital) | |||||||||
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42°28′48″N124°08′12″W / 42.48000°N 124.13667°W /42.48000; -124.13667
