Editing Monmouth, Oregon

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Monmouth, Oregon
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = Monmouth oregon main street.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Main Street looking east
| image_flag1              = 
| image_seal               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = Polk_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Monmouth_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Oregon]]
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = USA
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
| coordinates              = {{coord|44|51|03|N|123|13|42|W|type:city_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Oregon]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Polk County, Oregon|Polk]]
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = 1859
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Cec Koontz{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
| 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_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 6.04
| area_total_sq_mi         = 2.33
| area_land_km2            = 5.82
| area_land_sq_mi          = 2.25
| area_water_km2           = 0.21
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.08
| elevation_m              = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 207
| population_total         = 11110
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_density_km2   = 1907.59
| population_density_sq_mi = 4939.97
| population_urban         = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_note          = 
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 97361
| area_code                = [[Area code 503|503]]
| website            = [http://www.ci.monmouth.or.us www.ci.monmouth.or.us]
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = Pacific
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 41-49550
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411134<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411134}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Monmouth''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɒ|n|m|ə|θ}}) is a city in [[Polk County, Oregon|Polk County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. It was named for [[Monmouth, Illinois]], the origin of its earliest [[settler]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Monmouth|url=http://www.ci.monmouth.or.us/pView.aspx?id=4750&catid=554|publisher=City of Monmouth|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref> The population is 11,110 at the 2020 Census<ref name ="QF2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/monmouthcityoregon/PST045221 |title=QuickFacts: Monmouth city, Oregon |website=census.gov|accessdate=2022-09-26}}</ref> and it is part of the [[Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The city is home to [[Western Oregon University]].

==History==
Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who allocated {{convert|640|acre|km2}} to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church", and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University, currently known as [[Western Oregon University]].<ref name=OGN>{{cite book |last= McArthur |first= Lewis A. |author-link= Lewis A. McArthur |author2=Lewis L. McArthur |author2-link=Lewis L. McArthur |title= [[Oregon Geographic Names]] |orig-year= 1928 |edition= 7th |year= 2003 |publisher= [[Oregon Historical Society]] Press |location= [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]|page=656 |isbn= 0-87595-277-1 }}</ref> 
For decades, Monmouth was a [[Dry county|dry town]] that banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in supermarkets, restaurants and bars. Monmouth's status as the last dry town in Oregon was ended by a popular vote in the November 2002 election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Family Adventure; Stage-Struck|last=Richard|first=Terry|date=July 3, 2005|work=The Oregonian|page=TDNW1}}</ref>

===Prohibition===
Monmouth was settled by Elijah Davidson and his family. Originally an elder of the Christian Church of Cameron (Monmouth, Illinois), Davidson was a devout advocate of prohibition. In 1850, sixty-seven-year-old Elijah Davidson and his family set out for Oregon Territory. By 1854, more than a dozen additional church of Christ families from Monmouth, many of them related to each other or to Davidson, had joined him.<ref name="jstor.org">{{cite journal|last=Jansson|first=Kyle R.|title=The Changing Climate of Oregon's Driest Town: Monmouth's Prohibition Ordinances|journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly|volume=102|number=3|year=2001|pages=336–51}}</ref> In February 1859, Davidson and other trustees efforts to prohibit the importation, exportation, sale, and consumption of alcohol in Monmouth became a reality. One of the main arguments Davidson and his fellow religious supporters used to push prohibition legislation was, "to enable them to suppress and prevent nuisances, to render the possession of life and property more secure, [and] to enable them to improve and embellish the streets of the town."<ref name="jstor.org"/>

Despite the efforts of certain merchants to repeal prohibition in Monmouth throughout its history, their efforts proved fruitless. What was most important to the local religious community was to keep prohibition for the betterment of the social order of Monmouth. Although opponents raised religious, moral, economic, and quality-of-life arguments similar to those preached during the nineteenth century, they also brought two new arguments to center stage: the historic nature of Monmouth's prohibition and the uniqueness that local prohibition brought to the town.<ref name="jstor.org"/>

Eventually support for the prohibition ordinance started to wear thin throughout the community of Monmouth. Although die-hard supporters of prohibition continued to fight the inevitable, there were signs that it was starting to become more and more detrimental to the social and economic aspects of the community. Some claim that prohibition had reduced property values, others that it restricted development of the business sector in town. Opponents of repeal brought forth many arguments for staying dry, including initiating one rumor that the land donated so long ago for the site of the university would revert to the heirs of the donors if the ordinance was repealed, resulting in a huge cost to the state to repurchase it.<ref name="jstor.org"/>

After failing by a nearly 5 to 1 margin in the early 1970s, repeal was passed by the voters in November 2002, and Monmouth ended its long tenure as the last dry town on the west coast.

==Geography==
Monmouth is about {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=}} west of [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] on [[Oregon Route 99W]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/salem-or/monmouth-or|title=Distance from Salem, OR to Monmouth, OR|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> It lies in the [[Ash Creek (Polk County, Oregon)|Ash Creek]] watershed, slightly west of the [[Willamette River]].<ref name="topo map">{{cite web|title=United States Topographic Map|publisher=United States Geological Survey|via=Acme Mapper|url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.855278,-123.180556&z=12&t=T&marker0=44.855278,-123.180556,Ash%20Creek%20%28Polk%20County%2C%20Oregon%29|access-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.24|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=December 21, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:Post office - Monmouth Oregon.jpg|thumb|left|Post office in Monmouth]]

{{US Census population
|1880= 267
|1900= 606
|1910= 493
|1920= 582
|1930= 906
|1940= 965
|1950= 1956
|1960= 2229
|1970= 5237
|1980= 5594
|1990= 6288
|2000= 7741
|2010= 9534
|2020= 11110
|footnote=Sources:<br />U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=September 2022|reason=No mention of Monmouth at the given link}} 2020<ref name="QF2020"/><br /><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>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 9,534 people, 3,247 households, and 1,769 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|4256.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,450 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1540.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 13.4% 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=December 21, 2012}}</ref>

There were 3,247 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.5% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 23.7 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 34.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 16.8% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

===2000 census===
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,741 people, 2,757 households, and 1,488 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|4,004.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 2,934 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,517.7|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.67% White, 0.92% African American, 1.05% Native American, 2.04% Asian, 0.74% Pacific Islander, 6.21% from other races, and 3.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.73% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 2,757 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 35.9% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 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 $32,256, and the median income for a family was $48,600. Males had a median income of $33,500 versus $25,185 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,474. About 7.1% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

==Education==
Monmouth is served by the [[Central School District (Oregon)|Central School District]] and is the home of [[Western Oregon University]]. Ash Creek Elementary School and Monmouth Elementary School are located in Monmouth, while Independence Elementary School, Talmadge Middle School and [[Central High School (Independence, Oregon)|Central High School]] are located in the nearby city of [[Independence, Oregon|Independence]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.central.k12.or.us/|title=Home - Central School District 13J|website=www.central.k12.or.us|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-13}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bethel, Polk County, Oregon]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* Scott McArthur, ''Monmouth, Oregon: the Saga of a Small American Town''. Rickreall, Oregon: Polk County History Museum, 2004.
* Edna Mingus, ''Monmouth, 'The Growth of an Idea,' 1856-1956.'' Salem, OR: Johnson & Siewert, n.d. [1956].

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Monmouth (Oregon)}}
{{Commons category}}
*https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/l-r/monmouth.aspx Entry for Monmouth] in the  ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''
*{{Oregon Encyclopedia|monmouth|Monmouth}}
*[http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=/max&CISOBOX1=Monmouth Historic photos of Monmouth] from Salem Public Library
*[http://ncbible.org/nwh/OrPolk2.html Religious history of Monmouth] from Northwest College of the Bible

{{Polk County, Oregon}}
{{Oregon}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Monmouth, Oregon| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[Category:Salem, Oregon metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Polk County, Oregon]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Oregon Territory]]