Pendleton, Oregon | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Pendleton | |
| Motto: The Real West | |
 Location of Pendleton inUmatilla County, Oregon (left) and of Umatilla County inOregon (right) | |
| Coordinates:45°40′32″N118°49′11″W / 45.67556°N 118.81972°W /45.67556; -118.81972 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Umatilla |
| Incorporated | 1880 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | McKennon O’Rourke McDonald[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.51 sq mi (29.81 km2) |
| • Land | 11.51 sq mi (29.81 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,099 ft (335 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 17,107 |
| • Density | 1,486.3/sq mi (573.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP Code | 97801 |
| Area codes | 541 and 458 |
| FIPS code | 41-57150[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411399[3] |
| Website | www.pendleton.or.us |
Pendleton is a city in and thecounty seat[6] ofUmatilla County,Oregon, United States. The population was 17,107 at the time of the2020 census, which includes approximately 1,600 people who are incarcerated atEastern Oregon Correctional Institution.[7]
Pendleton is the smaller of the two principal cities of theHermiston–Pendleton Micropolitan Statistical Area. Thismicropolitan area coversMorrow and Umatilla counties[8] and had a combined population of 92,261 at the 2020 census.[5]
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A European-American commercial center began to develop here in 1851, whenWilliam C. McKay established atrading post at the mouth of McKay Creek. A United States Post Office named Marshall (for the owner, and sometime gambler, of another local store) was established April 21, 1865, and later renamed Pendleton, after politician and diplomatGeorge H. Pendleton (1825–1889), who served as a U.S. Representative and Senator from Ohio.[9] The city was incorporated by theOregon Legislative Assembly on October 25, 1880.[10]
By 1900, Pendleton had a population of 4,406 and was the fourth-largest city in Oregon. ThePendleton Woolen Mills andPendleton Round Up became features of the city captured in early paintings byWalter S. Bowman. Like many cities in Eastern Oregon, where thousands of Chinese immigrant workers built the transcontinental railroad, it had a flourishingChinatown that developed as the workers settled here. The sector is supposed to have been underlain by a network of tunnels, which are now a tourist attraction. The authenticity as a Chinese tunnel system has been questioned.[11]
The town is the cultural center ofEastern Oregon.[12] Pendleton's "Old town" is listed as a Historic District on theNational Register of Historic Places.[13]
TheConfederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have their property nearby. They have established theWildhorse Resort & Casino and golf course on the reservation to generate revenue for development and welfare. They have also built theTamástslikt Cultural Institute, for education and interpretation of their cultures.[12]
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The Pendleton area's economy has become increasingly reliant on lower-wage hospitality industry jobs,[14] with the growth of Wildhorse Resort & Casino offsetting job losses in other sectors. By 2022 nearly 1 in 5 jobs (18%) in the Pendleton zip code were in "Accommodation & Food Services," up from 13% in 2000.[15] This dynamic resulted in annualized job growth of just 0.47% from 2012 to 2022, and showed the exposure to economic downturns inherent in the tourism industry, with net job losses from 2019 to 2022 as the casino struggled through theCOVID-19 pandemic.[16] Residents increasingly commute to theHermiston area where median incomes are higher,[17] and where 91% of job growth inUmatilla County occurred from 2012 to 2022.[18]
Pendleton Woolen Mills is a maker of wool blankets, shirts, and an assortment of other woolen goods. Founded in 1909 by Clarence, Roy and Chauncey Bishop, the company built upon earlier businesses related to the many sheep ranches in the region. A wool-scouring plant opened in Pendleton in 1893 to wash raw wool for shipping. In 1895, the scouring mill was converted into a mill that made wool blankets and robes for Native Americans. Both businesses failed to survive, but the Bishops, with the help of a local bond issue, enlarged the mill and improved its efficiency. They developed a successful line of garments and blankets with "vivid colors and intricate patterns."[19]
St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton is a 25-bed medical center.[20]
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) in Pendleton is the only place in Oregon where inmates make "Prison Blues" denim clothing. The prison also operates a commercial laundry serving customers that include EOCI, theSnake River Correctional Institution,Pendleton High School, a local flour mill, and other entities. In addition, some EOCI inmates work as clerks or have jobs in food service or maintenance.[21]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.52 square miles (27.25 km2), all land.[22]
The city was built on both sides of theUmatilla River, which has periodically flooded and caused some damage. In the beginning, the river was vital as a transportation and trading route for settlers, as well as a water and power source. It connected the city to theColumbia River.
Pendleton has acool semi-arid climate (Köppen:BSk) with short, cool winters and hot summers. Pendleton had the highest temperature recorded in Oregon at 119 °F or 48.3 °C on August 10, 1898,[23] which was later tied onJune 29, 2021, at thePelton Dam COOP weather station inJefferson County, and the Moody Farms Agrimet weather station inWasco County.[24] The highest temperature recorded in Pendleton in recent times was 117 °F or 47.2 °C on that same June 29, 2021.
| Climate data for Pendleton, Oregon (Eastern Oregon Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1892–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 83 (28) | 95 (35) | 103 (39) | 117 (47) | 114 (46) | 119 (48) | 104 (40) | 93 (34) | 80 (27) | 75 (24) | 119 (48) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 60.7 (15.9) | 61.6 (16.4) | 69.4 (20.8) | 77.4 (25.2) | 88.0 (31.1) | 95.2 (35.1) | 102.6 (39.2) | 101.0 (38.3) | 92.6 (33.7) | 80.0 (26.7) | 66.5 (19.2) | 59.9 (15.5) | 104.2 (40.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) | 46.4 (8.0) | 55.0 (12.8) | 61.8 (16.6) | 70.9 (21.6) | 78.4 (25.8) | 89.2 (31.8) | 87.6 (30.9) | 78.0 (25.6) | 63.5 (17.5) | 49.1 (9.5) | 40.8 (4.9) | 63.5 (17.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.9 (1.6) | 38.0 (3.3) | 44.4 (6.9) | 50.1 (10.1) | 57.9 (14.4) | 64.6 (18.1) | 73.0 (22.8) | 71.8 (22.1) | 63.5 (17.5) | 51.5 (10.8) | 40.7 (4.8) | 34.2 (1.2) | 52.1 (11.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 33.7 (0.9) | 38.3 (3.5) | 45.0 (7.2) | 50.7 (10.4) | 56.7 (13.7) | 56.0 (13.3) | 49.0 (9.4) | 39.4 (4.1) | 32.3 (0.2) | 27.5 (−2.5) | 40.5 (4.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 11.7 (−11.3) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 33.5 (0.8) | 41.2 (5.1) | 47.2 (8.4) | 46.0 (7.8) | 37.8 (3.2) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 12.1 (−11.1) | 3.7 (−15.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) | −21 (−29) | 1 (−17) | 17 (−8) | 22 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 38 (3) | 30 (−1) | 21 (−6) | 11 (−12) | −13 (−25) | −28 (−33) | −28 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.52 (39) | 1.19 (30) | 1.33 (34) | 1.21 (31) | 1.45 (37) | 1.05 (27) | 0.26 (6.6) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.53 (13) | 1.09 (28) | 1.39 (35) | 1.50 (38) | 12.83 (326.5) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.8 (9.7) | 4.5 (11) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.2 (3.0) | 5.4 (14) | 15.7 (39.75) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.3 | 9.9 | 11.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 8.2 | 11.6 | 12.5 | 100.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 2.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 11.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA[25] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[26] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 243 | — | |
| 1880 | 730 | 200.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,506 | 243.3% | |
| 1900 | 4,406 | 75.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,460 | 1.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,837 | 53.3% | |
| 1930 | 6,621 | −3.2% | |
| 1940 | 8,847 | 33.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,774 | 33.1% | |
| 1960 | 14,434 | 22.6% | |
| 1970 | 13,197 | −8.6% | |
| 1980 | 14,521 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 15,126 | 4.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,354 | 8.1% | |
| 2010 | 16,612 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 17,107 | 3.0% | |
| source:[5][27][4] | |||
As of the2020 census, Pendleton had a population of 17,107 and a median age of 37.8 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 116.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 120.3 males age 18 and over.[28]
99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.[29]
There were 6,402 households in Pendleton, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.6% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[28]
There were 6,938 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 54.8% were owner-occupied and 45.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.[28]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 13,511 | 79.0% |
| Black or African American | 261 | 1.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 671 | 3.9% |
| Asian | 198 | 1.2% |
| Native Hawaiian andOther Pacific Islander | 36 | 0.2% |
| Some other race | 1,037 | 6.1% |
| Two or more races | 1,393 | 8.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 1,957 | 11.4% |
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 16,612 people, 6,220 households, and 3,789 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,579.1 inhabitants per square mile (609.7/km2). There were 6,800 housing units at an average density of 646.4 per square mile (249.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.3%White, 1.4%African American, 3.2%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 3.6% fromother races, and 3.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 9.7% of the population.[5]
There were 6,220 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% weremarried couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% 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 2.96.[5]
The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.4% male and 46.6% female.[5]
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $36,800, and the median income for a family was $47,410. Males had a median income of $31,763 versus $23,858 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,551. About 8.7% of families and 13.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[5]
In addition to the woolen mills, Pendleton is also famous for its annualrodeo, thePendleton Round-Up.[31][32][33] First held in 1910, it is part of theProfessional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)-sanctioned rodeo circuit.[34] It is among the top ten PRCA venues in terms of prize money.[34]
Pendleton is also home to the annual Pendleton Whiskey Music Festival[1]. This annual event is held in the historic Pendleton Round-up Arena in July. Past performers have included Maroon 5, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band, Pitbull, Blake Shelton, and Post Malone.
The Festival of Trees is held in early December each year. It is a fundraising event produced by the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation.[35]
Local arts institutions include thePendleton Center for the Arts (in the town's oldCarnegie Library building)[36] and Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts on the nearbyUmatilla Indian Reservation.[37]
The Heritage Station Museum operated by the Umatilla County Historical Society is located in the historic 1909 Pendleton Train Depot. The museum offers two galleries covering regional and local history as well as a one-room schoolhouse, family cabin, caboose, barn, and signal house.[38]
The Pendleton Farmers' Market operates on Friday evenings from May through October on South Main Street.[39]
Pendleton Underground Tours features the history of Pendleton and a tour through the tunnels and the brothels. It is open year-round.[40]
The city hosts the annualOregon School Activities Association 2A basketball tournament at the Pendleton Convention Center. Eight teams of boys and eight of girls compete for their respective championships during a four-day tournament. Civic leaders regard the influx of family and other fans the second-most important boost to the local economy, behind the Round-Up. Total attendance at the tournament in 2010 exceeded 13,000.[41]
The Pendleton Aquatic Center, managed by Pendleton Parks & Recreation, features two towerwater slides as well tubes and smaller slides, three pools, a diving well, and picnic areas. The aquatic center is adjacent to the high school.[42]
Highways serving Pendleton includeInterstate 84 andU.S. Route 30 running east–west andU.S. Route 395 running north–south. The city is also served byOregon Route 37 andOregon Route 11.[43]
Pendleton lies along theUnion Pacific Railroad (UP), constructed originally through the area in the 1880s by theOregon Railway and Navigation Company (OR&N). In 1880, the OR&N began construction of a rail line from Portland through the Columbia Gorge to eastern Oregon. It reachedUmatilla andWallula in 1881, Pendleton in 1882, and thenLa Grande,Baker City, andHuntington, where by 1884 it met the UP line from Utah. Since Pendleton was also connected by rail to theNorthern Pacific line at Wallula andWalla Walla, by 1885 it was a stop on two transcontinental lines. The UP absorbed the OR&N line in 1889.[44]
Between 1977 and 1997, the city was a regular stop along the former route ofAmtrak'sPioneer betweenChicago andSeattle viaSalt Lake City andPortland.[45]
Regional public aviation service is throughEastern Oregon Regional Airport, 3 miles (5 km) outside Pendleton. The airport is owned by the City of Pendleton.[46]Boutique Air offers daily flights between Pendleton and Portland, which began in 2016.[47]
Two newspapers are published in Pendleton. TheEast Oregonian is a daily with a circulation of about 6,800.The Pendleton Record is a weekly with a circulation of about 900.[48]
KFFX-TV (Fox 11), a television station based in Pendleton, serves a market that also includes the Washington cities of Yakima, Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick.[49] Oregon radio stations based in or near Pendleton include:KTIX (1240AM);KUMA (1290AM);OPB stationKRBM (90.9FM);KLKY (96.1FM) withtranslator K237DS (95.3FM);KNHK-FM (101.9) with translator K262CJ (100.3FM);KWHT (103.5FM); andKWVN-FM (107.7).[50]
Pendleton has asister city relationship withMarikina, a municipality-turned-city in thePhilippines. The relationship was established in 1971 when then mayor Eddie O. Knopp and Marikina mayor Osmundo de Guzman had their daughters temporarily switch schools in their respective towns. By 1974, Knopp visited Marikina after Philippine presidentFerdinand Marcosdeclared anationwide martial law two years prior, and expressed that based on the "excellent peace and order situation" he saw while in the country, the United States could try implementing martial law in towns rampant with violence and crime.[68]
Another sister city of Pendleton is the town ofMinamisōma, inFukushima Prefecture, Japan. Minamisoma is 16 miles (26 km) north of theFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which wasdamaged by the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Since then, Japanese exchange students from Minamisoma have continued to visit Pendleton, though students from Pendleton have stopped visiting Minamisoma over growing radiation concerns.[69]
Pendleton – Pendleton Underground. An interesting tour of downtown Pendleton basements. However, some guides call them "Chinese tunnels" thus perpetuating a stereotype for which there is no basis in fact. See "Ongoing Research" for a discussion of so-called "Chinese tunnels."
Municipalities and communities ofUmatilla County, Oregon,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
