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Douglas County | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Douglas County Courthouse in Roseburg | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
 Oregon's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:43°17′N123°11′W / 43.29°N 123.18°W /43.29; -123.18 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | January 7, 1852 |
| Named after | Stephen A. Douglas |
| Seat | Roseburg |
| Largest city | Roseburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,134 sq mi (13,300 km2) |
| • Land | 5,036 sq mi (13,040 km2) |
| • Water | 98 sq mi (250 km2) 1.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 111,201 |
• Estimate (2024) | 112,255 |
| • Density | 22.08/sq mi (8.526/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd,4th |
| Website | douglascountyor |
Douglas County is one of the36 counties in theU.S. state ofOregon. As of the2020 census, the population was 111,201.[1] Thecounty seat isRoseburg.[2]The county is named afterStephen A. Douglas, an American politician who supportedOregon statehood. Douglas County comprises the Roseburg, Oregonmicropolitan statistical area. In area, Douglas County is the largest county west of the Oregon Cascades.
The area originally was inhabited by theUmpqua Indians, a grouping of natives who spoke a variety of Penutian and Athabaskan languages. Following theRogue River Wars in 1856, most of the remaining natives were moved by the federal government to theGrand Ronde Indian Reservation. However, seven families of Umpqua hid in the hills, eluding capture for many decades. They are now federally recognized as the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The tribe manages a small reservation in Canyonville, Oregon, and operates theSeven Feathers Casino Resort, named to represent the seven families who refused forced removal to the Grand Ronde Reservation.
Douglas County was created on January 7, 1852, from the portion ofUmpqua County which lay east of theCoast Range summit. In 1856 the Camas Valley was annexed to Douglas County fromCoos County. In 1862, the rest of Umpqua county was absorbed into Douglas County, some say due to the loss of population following the end of the early gold boom, while others attribute the absorption to politics. Further boundary adjustments were made withJackson andLane Counties in 1915. The borders of Douglas County are largely defined by the Umpqua River watershed.
In 2017, after the defeat of a referendum, theDouglas County Library System ceased operations and all public libraries in the county were closed.[3] Subsequently, ten of the cities in the county reopened their libraries to continue serving their communities.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,134 square miles (13,300 km2), of which 5,036 square miles (13,040 km2) is land and 98 square miles (250 km2) (1.9%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-largest county in Oregon by area. A portion of theUmpqua National Forest is in Douglas County. Douglas County is one of two Oregon counties that extend from thePacific Ocean to theCascade Range, the other beingLane County.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,203 | — | |
| 1870 | 6,066 | 89.4% | |
| 1880 | 9,596 | 58.2% | |
| 1890 | 11,864 | 23.6% | |
| 1900 | 14,565 | 22.8% | |
| 1910 | 19,674 | 35.1% | |
| 1920 | 21,332 | 8.4% | |
| 1930 | 21,965 | 3.0% | |
| 1940 | 25,728 | 17.1% | |
| 1950 | 54,549 | 112.0% | |
| 1960 | 68,458 | 25.5% | |
| 1970 | 71,743 | 4.8% | |
| 1980 | 93,748 | 30.7% | |
| 1990 | 94,649 | 1.0% | |
| 2000 | 100,399 | 6.1% | |
| 2010 | 107,667 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 111,201 | 3.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 112,255 | [5] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 90,243 | 90,196 | 92,302 | 96,343 | 93,525 | 96.26% | 95.30% | 91.94% | 89.48% | 84.10% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 127 | 140 | 165 | 279 | 383 | 0.14% | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.26% | 0.34% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1,122 | 1,428 | 1,446 | 1,799 | 1,694 | 1.20% | 1.51% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.52% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 453 | 629 | 601 | 1,008 | 1,185 | 0.48% | 0.66% | 0.60% | 0.94% | 1.07% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[15] | x[16] | 83 | 110 | 151 | x | x | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.14% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 56 | 31 | 86 | 154 | 532 | 0.06% | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.14% | 0.48% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[17] | x[18] | 2,433 | 2,919 | 7,077 | x | x | 2.42% | 2.71% | 6.36% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,747 | 2,225 | 3,283 | 5,055 | 6,654 | 1.86% | 2.35% | 3.27% | 4.70% | 5.98% |
| Total | 93,748 | 94,649 | 100,399 | 107,667 | 111,201 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 111,201 people residing in the county.[1]
As of the2010 census, there were 107,667 people, 44,581 households, and 29,839 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 21.4 inhabitants per square mile (8.3 inhabitants/km2). There were 48,915 housing units at an average density of 9.7 units per square mile (3.7 units/km2).[20] Theracial makeup of the county was 92.4% white, 1.8% American Indian, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.7% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 25.6% wereGerman, 16.7% wereIrish, 15.8% wereEnglish, and 5.7% wereAmerican.[21]
Of the 44,581 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 46.1 years.[19]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,711 and the median income for a family was $48,729. Males had a median income of $39,308 versus $28,176 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,342. About 10.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[22]
As of the2000 census, there were 100,399 people, 39,821 households, and 28,233 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 43,284 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 93.86% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.52% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. 3.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were ofGerman, 13.2%American, 12.6%English and 10.2%Irish ancestry. 96.5% spokeEnglish and 2.2%Spanish as their first language.
There were 39,821 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% weremarried couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.9.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,223, and the median income for a family was $39,364. Males had a median income of $32,512 versus $22,349 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,581. About 9.6% of families and 13.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
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Oregon Route 99 runs throughAzalea,Tri-City,Myrtle Creek,Canyonville,Green,Roseburg,Winchester,Sutherlin,Rice Hill,Drain, andAnlauf.
Interstate 5 provides access to the communities ofTri-City,Myrtle Creek,Canyonville,Green,Roseburg,Sutherlin, andRice Hill.
Oregon Route 138 runs northwest from Roseburg toElkton, Oregon, and generally east from Roseburg to its terminus at a junction withU.S. Route 97, just east ofDiamond Lake andCrater Lake.
The communities of Douglas county are regionally served byU-Trans (formerly Umpqua Transit), the local bus service. In 2017, these services were significantly expanded to include locations such asOakland, Oregon andTenmile
Greyhound Lines provide the community of Roseburg with more distant transportation.
There are two public airports in Roseburg,Roseburg Regional Airport, a.k.a. Marion E. Carl Memorial Field at the north end of town andGeorge Felt Airport (5S1) to the west.
In contrast to theWillamette Valley, Douglas County is powerfully conservative and Republican, being akin toJosephine County to the south, or toEastern Oregon. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Douglas County sinceLyndon B. Johnson's landslide win in 1964: indeed the last Democrat to crack forty percent of the county's vote wasMichael Dukakis in 1988 during an election influenced by a major drought. Historically, the county, like all of Western Oregon north of the Rogue Valley, also leaned strongly Republican: before 1964 the only other Democrats to carry Douglas County had beenJohn F. Kennedy in 1960,Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 and 1932,Woodrow Wilson in 1912 andWilliam Jennings Bryan in 1896.[23]
Douglas County is split between the highly conservative2nd congressional district, represented byCliff Bentz, and the liberal-leaning4th district, which includes the Democratic stronghold ofEugene and has been represented by DemocratVal Hoyle since 2023. Within theOregon House of Representatives, Douglas County is split between four districts. The coastal part, includingReedsport, lies within the 9th District represented by RepublicanBoomer Wright. A belt from Roseburg south lies in the 4th District, which extends into Jackson and Josephine counties, is represented by RepublicanChristine Goodwin. The far southwest adjacent to Curry and Coos counties is within the 1st District represented by RepublicanCourt Boice, and the bulk of the county, centered on the northeastern half, lies in the 2nd District represented by RepublicanVirgle Osborne.
In theOregon State Senate, Douglas County is split between three districts. The coastal part (9th House of Representatives District) lies within the 5th Senate District represented by RepublicanDick Anderson. The two southwestern State House Districts (1st and 2nd) are part of the 1st Senate District represented by RepublicanDavid Brock Smith. The southernmost portion of Douglas County exists within the state's 2nd Senate District, represented by RepublicanArt Robinson.
In spite of its conservative reputation, Douglas County voters have rejected twosecessionist proposals to join theGreater Idaho coalition. An initial effort in November of 2020 failed on a vote of 56.68% in opposition to 43.32% in support. A second effort in May of 2022 was also rejected on a vote of 52.63% in opposition to 47.37% in support. This came despite the county, in2020, giving 67.29% of its votes to Donald Trump and 29.78% of its votes to Joe Biden.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1880 | 1,256 | 52.80% | 1,105 | 46.45% | 18 | 0.76% |
| 1884 | 1,216 | 51.20% | 1,125 | 47.37% | 34 | 1.43% |
| 1888 | 1,305 | 51.72% | 1,117 | 44.27% | 101 | 4.00% |
| 1892 | 1,329 | 44.27% | 529 | 17.62% | 1,144 | 38.11% |
| 1896 | 1,917 | 47.66% | 2,059 | 51.19% | 46 | 1.14% |
| 1900 | 1,910 | 51.94% | 1,624 | 44.17% | 143 | 3.89% |
| 1904 | 2,443 | 63.21% | 908 | 23.49% | 514 | 13.30% |
| 1908 | 2,092 | 53.81% | 1,359 | 34.95% | 437 | 11.24% |
| 1912 | 1,267 | 26.04% | 1,601 | 32.90% | 1,998 | 41.06% |
| 1916 | 3,922 | 48.16% | 3,679 | 45.18% | 542 | 6.66% |
| 1920 | 4,402 | 60.18% | 2,428 | 33.19% | 485 | 6.63% |
| 1924 | 4,219 | 53.75% | 1,666 | 21.23% | 1,964 | 25.02% |
| 1928 | 5,609 | 70.52% | 2,191 | 27.55% | 154 | 1.94% |
| 1932 | 4,046 | 44.69% | 4,638 | 51.23% | 370 | 4.09% |
| 1936 | 4,254 | 42.08% | 4,893 | 48.40% | 963 | 9.53% |
| 1940 | 5,991 | 55.63% | 4,707 | 43.70% | 72 | 0.67% |
| 1944 | 6,134 | 56.59% | 4,563 | 42.09% | 143 | 1.32% |
| 1948 | 7,671 | 56.35% | 5,500 | 40.41% | 441 | 3.24% |
| 1952 | 14,109 | 64.11% | 7,837 | 35.61% | 63 | 0.29% |
| 1956 | 13,837 | 53.92% | 11,825 | 46.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 12,493 | 48.39% | 13,322 | 51.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 9,806 | 38.13% | 15,909 | 61.86% | 2 | 0.01% |
| 1968 | 13,410 | 51.40% | 9,186 | 35.21% | 3,496 | 13.40% |
| 1972 | 15,881 | 57.73% | 9,009 | 32.75% | 2,618 | 9.52% |
| 1976 | 16,500 | 50.04% | 14,965 | 45.39% | 1,508 | 4.57% |
| 1980 | 23,101 | 58.46% | 12,564 | 31.79% | 3,851 | 9.75% |
| 1984 | 25,243 | 63.11% | 14,609 | 36.53% | 144 | 0.36% |
| 1988 | 20,120 | 52.38% | 17,255 | 44.92% | 1,040 | 2.71% |
| 1992 | 19,011 | 41.45% | 14,137 | 30.83% | 12,712 | 27.72% |
| 1996 | 21,855 | 51.10% | 15,250 | 35.66% | 5,664 | 13.24% |
| 2000 | 30,294 | 64.16% | 14,193 | 30.06% | 2,733 | 5.79% |
| 2004 | 35,956 | 65.39% | 18,089 | 32.90% | 939 | 1.71% |
| 2008 | 30,919 | 58.41% | 20,298 | 38.34% | 1,720 | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 30,776 | 61.80% | 17,145 | 34.43% | 1,882 | 3.78% |
| 2016 | 34,582 | 64.61% | 14,096 | 26.34% | 4,843 | 9.05% |
| 2020 | 43,298 | 67.29% | 19,160 | 29.78% | 1,891 | 2.94% |
| 2024 | 41,561 | 67.24% | 18,386 | 29.75% | 1,860 | 3.01% |
Almost the entirewatershed of theUmpqua River lies within the boundaries of Douglas County. The heavily timbered county contains nearly 1.8 million acres (7,300 km2) of commercial forest lands and one of the oldest stands of old growth timber in the world. Approximately 25–30% of the labor force is employed in the forest products industry. Agriculture, mainly field crops, orchards, and livestock (particularly sheep ranching), is also important to the economy of the county. The land of Douglas County is roughly half-publicly and half-privately owned.[26]
The post-Prohibition wine industry in Oregon began withRichard Sommer plantingHillCrest Vineyard at the south end of theUmpqua Valley in 1961. The Umpqua Valley wineappellation lies entirely within Douglas county.
Nickel has been refined atRiddle since 1954. There is a significant federal presence in the region; theForest Service andBureau of Land Management administer more than 50% of the county's land.
As of 2015, the top ten private employers in the county were as follows:[27]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseburg Forest Products | 1,885 |
| 2 | Mercy Medical Center | 1,092 |
| 3 | Swanson Group Aviation | 682 |
| 4 | TMS Call Center | 615 |
| 5 | Seven Feathers Casino Resort | 606 |
| 6 | First Call Resolution | 424 |
| 7 | Umpqua Bank | 331 |
| 8 | Orenco Systems | 266 |
| 9 | A&M Transport, Inc. | 200 |
| 10 | Douglas County Forest Products | 160 |
Places adjacent to Douglas County, Oregon | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDouglas County, Oregon,United States | ||
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| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Salem (capital) | |||||||||
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43°17′N123°11′W / 43.29°N 123.18°W /43.29; -123.18
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