Editing Halfway, Oregon

{{short description|City in Oregon, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Halfway, Oregon
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_blank_emblem = HalfwayORlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 150px
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Halfway-Oregon.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Welcome sign, in the background are the [[Wallowa Mountains]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Baker_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Halfway_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Oregon]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Oregon}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Baker County, Oregon|Baker]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Nora Aspy<ref name=bbook>{{cite web |url= https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/e-k/halfway.aspx |title= Halfway |work= [[Oregon Blue Book]] |publisher= [[Oregon Secretary of State]] |access-date= 2011-02-20}}</ref>
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1909
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.37
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='41'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 0.96
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.37
| area_land_km2      = 0.96
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = <!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total   = 351
| population_density_km2 = 363.89
| population_density_sq_mi = 943.55
| population_note    = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = Pacific
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|52|40|N|117|06|34|W|type:city(337)_region:US-OR_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 2651
| website            = {{URL|https://www.halfwayoregon.org/}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 97834
| area_code          = [[Area codes 541 and 458|458 and 541]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 41-31650<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410686<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410686}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Halfway''' is a city in [[Baker County, Oregon]],  United States. The city took its name from the location of its post office, on the Alexander Stalker ranch, halfway between [[Pine, Oregon|Pine]] and [[Jim Town, Oregon|Jim Town]]. The population was 351 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

During the [[dot-com bubble]], Halfway agreed to rename itself [[Half.com]] for a year as a publicity stunt for the e-commerce company of the same name.<ref name="observer"/>

==History==
The community was named for the fact it is roughly halfway between [[Pine, Oregon|Pine]] and [[Cornucopia, Oregon|Cornucopia]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moyer|first1=Armond|last2=Moyer|first2=Winifred|title=The origins of unusual place-names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058322223;view=1up;seq=64|year=1958|publisher=Keystone Pub. Associates|page=60}}</ref> While a post office was established in 1887, the town was [[plat]]ted in another location in 1907, the post office moved there in 1908,<ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Barbara Ruth|title=Main Street: Northeastern Oregon|publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]]|year=1982|isbn=0-87595-073-6|pages=54,108}}</ref> and it incorporated in 1909.

===Half.com name change===
Halfway earned a place in the history of the [[dot-com bubble|dot-com era]] in December 1999, when it received and accepted an offer to rename itself as [[Half.com]], after the [[e-commerce]] start-up, for one year in exchange for {{US$|110,000}}, 20 computers for the school, and other financial subsidies. It became the first city in the world to rename itself as a dot com.<ref name="observer" /> Among the less obvious reasons the town was chosen were its small population size (and thus its likelihood to accept such an offer) and the city's location, which fit perfectly into Half.com's marketing scheme. "They're within four miles of the [[45th parallel north|45th parallel]] which makes it halfway between the equator and the North Pole".<ref name="Wired">{{Citation
| last = Arent| first = Lindsey
| url= https://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/1999/12/33181
| title = Welcome to Half.com, Oregon
| work = Wired.com: Politics/Law
| publisher = Wired.com
| access-date = December 30, 2011
| date=December 20, 1999}}</ref> The [[proclamation]] did not legally change its name.<ref name="About" /> The city created and posted two signs at its borders that greeted visitors with "America's First Dot-com City". The city auctioned one of these off in September 2007 for {{US$|1,000}}; the winner was Half.com's founder [[Josh Kopelman]].<ref>{{Citation
| last = Dujmovic| first = Anne
| title = First Dot-com City' auctions off sign of the times
| work = Cnet.com News Blogs
| publisher = Cnet.com
| date = September 24, 2007
| url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9783920-7.html?tag=mncol;txt
| access-date = December 30, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
Halfway is located {{convert|54|mi|km}} east of [[Baker City, Oregon|Baker City]], along [[Oregon Route 86]], halfway between [[Pine, Oregon|Pine]] and Cornucopia, which gave the town its name.<ref>{{cite map
| publisher = Rand McNally
| title = The Road Atlas
| edition = 2008
| section = Oregon
}}</ref>  The city's geographic coordinates of 44°52′42″N 117°6′38″W (making it close to the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole) were part of the reason for Half.com to choose the town for its advertising gimmick.<ref name="Wired" />

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.37 |sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

==Climate==
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Halfway has a dry-summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] Dsb).

{{Weather box
|location = Halfway, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1936–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 57
|Feb record high F = 66
|Mar record high F = 78
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 106
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 71
|Dec record high F = 61

|Jan avg record high F = 44.9
|Feb avg record high F = 51.2
|Mar avg record high F = 67.6
|Apr avg record high F = 79.4
|May avg record high F = 87.9
|Jun avg record high F = 94.6
|Jul avg record high F = 100.5
|Aug avg record high F = 99.4
|Sep avg record high F = 93.8
|Oct avg record high F = 79.9
|Nov avg record high F = 61.7
|Dec avg record high F = 47.4
|year avg record high F = 101.4

|Jan high F = 31.8
|Feb high F = 38.7
|Mar high F = 51.3
|Apr high F = 61.6
|May high F = 71.2
|Jun high F = 78.9
|Jul high F = 89.6
|Aug high F = 88.6
|Sep high F = 78.8
|Oct high F = 62.6
|Nov high F = 45.3
|Dec high F = 33.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 25.4
|Feb mean F = 30.4
|Mar mean F = 40.6
|Apr mean F = 47.9
|May mean F = 56.1
|Jun mean F = 62.8
|Jul mean F = 70.8
|Aug mean F = 69.3
|Sep mean F = 60.5
|Oct mean F = 48.0
|Nov mean F = 36.1
|Dec mean F = 26.6
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 19.1
|Feb low F = 22.1
|Mar low F = 30.0
|Apr low F = 34.3
|May low F = 41.0
|Jun low F = 46.7
|Jul low F = 52.1
|Aug low F = 49.9
|Sep low F = 42.2
|Oct low F = 33.4
|Nov low F = 27.0
|Dec low F = 20.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -4.1
|Feb avg record low F = 1.6
|Mar avg record low F = 13.8
|Apr avg record low F = 20.2
|May avg record low F = 24.9
|Jun avg record low F = 33.8
|Jul avg record low F = 39.8
|Aug avg record low F = 38.0
|Sep avg record low F = 28.4
|Oct avg record low F = 18.6
|Nov avg record low F = 10.1
|Dec avg record low F = -0.5
|year avg record low F = -9.7

|Jan record low F = -34
|Feb record low F = -33
|Mar record low F = -8
|Apr record low F = 9
|May record low F = 18
|Jun record low F = 26
|Jul record low F = 30
|Aug record low F = 28
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = 4
|Nov record low F = -23
|Dec record low F = -31

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.57
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.08
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.85
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.55
|May precipitation inch = 1.78
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.31
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.48
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.32
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.68
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.31
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.56
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.78
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.5
|Feb precipitation days = 10.1
|Mar precipitation days = 10.0
|Apr precipitation days = 9.9
|May precipitation days = 8.9
|Jun precipitation days = 7.1
|Jul precipitation days = 2.9
|Aug precipitation days = 3.1
|Sep precipitation days = 4.0
|Oct precipitation days = 6.4
|Nov precipitation days = 10.9
|Dec precipitation days = 12.7

|Jan snow inch = 22.8
|Feb snow inch = 9.3
|Mar snow inch = 2.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 6.3
|Dec snow inch = 21.6
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 7.2
|Feb snow days = 3.6
|Mar snow days = 0.7
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 2.2
|Dec snow days = 6.9

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00353604&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Halfway, OR
|access-date = May 28, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=boi
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boise
|access-date = May 28, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 186
|1920= 324
|1930= 351
|1940= 416
|1950= 312
|1960= 505
|1970= 317
|1980= 380
|1990= 311
|2000= 339
|2010= 288
|2020= 351
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

=== 2020 Census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 US Census]], there was a total population of 351 people. The median [[Household income in the United States|household income]] was $39,083 with an employment rate of 45.7%. Total number of households was 161 with 203 total housing units. 12.4% of residents held a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Halfway city, Oregon |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Halfway,+Oregon |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> [[File:Downtown bank - Halfway Oregon.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[US Bank]] building in Downtown Halfway on the corner of Main Street and Grove Lane]]

===2010 Census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 288 people, 153 households, and 76 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|778.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 199 housing units at an average density of {{convert|537.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.5% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-21}}</ref>

There were 153 households, of which 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 0.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.3% were non-families. 46.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.63.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 52.7 years. 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 11.7% were from 25 to 44; 41% were from 45 to 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

===2000 Census===
As of the census of 2000, there were 337 people, 159 households, and 86 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|789.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 196 housing units at an average density of {{convert|459.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.25% White, 2.97% Native American, 0.30% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 159 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.91.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $17,212, and the median income for a family was $27,813. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $13,194 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,997. About 24.5% of families and 28.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 40.2% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

==Economy==
In 2017,{{update after|2014|2|10}} the three largest employers in Halfway were the [[Pine Eagle Charter School|Pine Eagle School District]], the [[Idaho Power Company]], and the [[United States Forest Service|U.S. Forest Service]], which combined to employ over 125 people.<ref>The local economy is based on tourism and cattle ranching.  Pine Valley Ranch, one of Eastern Oregon's largest cattle ranches is located in Halfway. [http://www.orinfrastructure.org/profiles/Halfway/ Halfway Community Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723213339/http://www.orinfrastructure.org/profiles/Halfway/ |date=2011-07-23 }} from [[Business Oregon]]</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The biographical article must mention how they are associated with Halfway, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited in this article, unless it is well-known.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted without further explanation.
-->
*[[Babette Beatty]], the first [[List of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models|''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue cover model]]<ref>{{cite news|title=From Cover to Cover: Reflections from SI's First Swimsuit Star|author=Almasy, Steve|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/02/18/swimsuit.cover/|publisher=Cable News Network (CNN)|date=2011-02-18|access-date=2015-06-08}}</ref>
*[[Barnaby Keeney]], former president of Brown University<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/20/archives/barnaby-c-keeney-is-dead-at-65-exbrown-university-president-finding.html|title=Barnaby C. Keeney Is Dead at 65; Ex-Brown University President; Finding 'the Best People' The Pleasure in Giving 'Doing What I Should'|last=Cook|first=Joan|date=June 20, 1980|access-date=June 19, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
*[[Robert S. Summers]], professor at Cornell Law School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Dec10/SummersProfile.html|date=December 1, 2010|title=Robert Summers, pre-eminent legal scholar and beloved teacher, says goodbye|access-date=June 19, 2012 |last=Gold |first=Lauren |publisher= Cornell University}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="observer">{{Citation
 |url         = http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=4707
 |title       = What Ever Happened to Half.com, Oregon?
 |work        = Design Observer Observery
 |publisher   = The Design Observer Group
 |access-date  = December 30, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130121102350/http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=4707
 |archive-date = January 21, 2013
}}</ref> The proclamation was in name only, so the city did not ''legally'' change its name.<ref name="About">{{Citation
| url = http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa012400a.htm
| title = City Changes Name to Half.com
| work = About.com Geography
| publisher = About.com
| access-date = December 30, 2011
| archive-date = April 5, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150405044019/http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa012400a.htm
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/602161.stm|title=A town called Half.com|work=[[BBC]]|date=2000-01-13}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/e-k/halfway.aspx Entry for Halfway] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''
* [https://www.halfwayoregon.org/ Official website]
* [https://www.hellscanyonchamber.com/areas-of-interest Halfway information] from [[Hells Canyon]] Chamber of Commerce
* [http://hel.stparchive.com/ Archive] of the ''[[Hells Canyon Journal]]'', Halfway's local newspaper

{{Baker County, Oregon}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Baker County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1909]]<!-- <ref name="bbook"/> -->
[[Category:1909 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:EBay]]