Editing Ontario, Oregon

{{use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ontario
| official_name      = Ontario, Oregon
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = Where Oregon Begins
| image_skyline      = OntarioOregon.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street (now Oregon Street) looking south, early 1920s
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Malheur_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ontario_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Oregon]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Oregon}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Deborah Folden<ref>{{cite web |title=City council |series=Ontario, Oregon |website=ontariooregon.org |url=https://www.ontariooregon.org/citycouncil.html}}</ref>
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1899<!-- OBB also lists this year -->
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.17
| 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     = 13.38
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.17
| area_land_km2      = 13.38
| 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_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_total   = 11645
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 870.42
| population_density_sq_mi = 2254.60
| timezone           = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|Mountain]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;7
| timezone_DST       = Mountain
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;6
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|1|37|N|116|58|7|W|type:city_region:US-OR|display=it}}
| elevation_m        = 655
| elevation_ft       = 2150
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 97914
| area_code          = [[Area code 541|541]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 41-54900<ref name="GR2">{{cite report |title=U.S. Census website |publisher=U.S. [[Department of Commerce]] |department=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=2008-01-31}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1125001<ref name="GR3">{{cite report |title=U.S. Board on Geographic Names |date=2007-10-25 |department=[[United States Geological Survey]] |publisher=U.S. [[Department of the Interior]] |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov |access-date=2008-01-31}}</ref>
| website            = {{cite web |title=City of Ontario, Oregon |url=http://www.ontariooregon.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| named_for          = [[Ontario]], Canada
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of the city of Ontario, Oregon.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
}}

'''Ontario''' is the largest city in [[Malheur County, Oregon|Malheur County]], [[Oregon]], United States. It lies along the [[Snake River]] at the [[Idaho]] border. The population was 11,645 at the 2020 census. [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ontariocityoregon/PST045223] The city is the largest community in the region of far [[eastern Oregon]], also known as the Western [[Treasure Valley]].

Ontario is the principal city of the Ontario, OR-ID [[Ontario micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes Malheur County in Oregon and [[Payette County, Idaho|Payette County]] in Idaho.

Ontario is approximately halfway between [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] and [[Salt Lake City]]. It is the closest city to the Idaho border along [[Interstate 84 in Oregon|Interstate 84]]. The city's slogan is "Where Oregon Begins".

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2014}}
Ontario was founded on 11&nbsp;June 1883, by developers William Morfitt, Mary Richardson, Daniel Smith, and James Virtue. In March&nbsp;1884, Richard Welch started a post office for the quarter<!--used to say "quartet"?? source?--> of Ontario, so named by James Virtue after [[Ontario, Canada]]. Two months later Joseph Morton applied for a Morton post office at an island about one mile south of town, with Oscar Scott as postmaster. Unfortunately for Morton and Scott, merchants Morfitt and Richardson of Malheur City, gold miner Virtue, and lumberman Smith of [[Baker City, Oregon|Baker City]] acquired more land and were better financed. More importantly, Morfitt had negotiated a train depot for Ontario. All the settlers and speculators knew the railroad was coming and how important that would be to Ontario's future so Scott closed his Morton post office and built a hotel at present-day Ontario. By December, Scott was Ontario's postmaster.

The town continued to grow with the arrival of the [[Oregon Short Line Railroad]] in later 1884, and freight and passenger service were added to the town's offerings. Soon after, stock began arriving from Eastern Oregon's cattle ranches to Ontario's stockyard for transshipment to markets throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ontario became one of the largest stockyards in the [[Western United States|West]]. In addition, the construction of the Nevada Ditch and other canals aided the burgeoning agricultural industry, adding those products to Ontario's exports.

Ontario was incorporated by the [[Oregon Legislative Assembly]] on 11&nbsp;February 1899.<ref>{{cite report |editor-last=Leeds |editor-first=W.H. |year=1899 |chapter=Special Laws |title=The State of Oregon General and Special Laws and Joint Resolutions and Memorials Enacted and Adopted by the Twentieth Regular Session of the Legislative Assembly |publisher=State Printer |location=Salem, Oregon |page=683 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsCwAAAAIAAJ&q=%22ocean%20grove%22%20seaside%20oregon&pg=PA683}}</ref>

A city by the time of [[World War II]], Ontario Mayor [[Elmo Smith]] allowed [[Japanese American]]s to settle at a time when much of the West Coast supported their exclusion. Smith told the [[Associated Press]] "If the Japs, both alien and nationals, are a menace to the Pacific Coast safety unless they are moved inland, it appears downright cowardly to take any other stand than to put out the call, 'Send them along; we'll cooperate to the fullest possible extent in taking care of them.'" A population of about 134 in the city and surrounding county before the war ballooned to 1,000 as the county recruited farm workers during the war.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Robert |last1=Kinoshita |first2=Benjamin |last2=Tanaka |first3=Augustus "Gus" |last3=Tanaka |year=2004 |chapter=Resettlement and return to the West Coast |editor1-last=Hirahara |editor1-first=Naomi |editor2-last=Jensen |editor2-first=Gwenn |title=Silent Scars of Healing Hands |page=143 |publisher=California State University |place=Fullerton, CA |department=Center for Oral and Public History}}</ref>

==Geography==
Ontario is located at an elevation of {{convert|2150|ft|m}} above sea level.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.17|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite report |title=U.S. Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |department=[[United States Census Bureau]] |publisher=U.S. [[Department of Commerce]] |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>

[[File:SnowyRoad Ontario.jpg|thumb|Snow in Ontario]]

===Climate===
Ontario has a [[cold desert climate|cold desert]] [[dry-summer continental climate]], abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ontario, Oregon Köppen climate classification |website=Weatherbase (weatherbase.com) |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=46057&cityname=Ontario,%20Oregon,%20United%20States%20of%20America&units= |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref> As is common with the [[High Desert (Oregon)|high deserts]] of Oregon, winters are cold and snowy, while summers are hot, dry and sunny. The record high temperature of {{convert|113|°F|°C|1}} was observed on August 4, 1961 and July 12, 1967, while the record low of {{convert|−25|°F|°C|1}} was observed on January 27, 1957, and January 22, 1962.<ref name = NOWData/> On average, Ontario experiences 60.8 days with high temperatures of at least {{convert|90|F|C|1}}, 10.5 days with high temperatures of at least {{convert|100|F|C|1}}, 128.4 days with low temperatures at or below {{convert|32|F|C|1}}, and 2.1 days with low temperatures at or below {{convert|0|F|C|1}}.<ref name = NOAA/>
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = [[Ontario Municipal Airport]], Ontario, Oregon (1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1945&ndash;present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan avg record high F = 49.1
|Feb avg record high F = 58.5
|Mar avg record high F = 71.0
|Apr avg record high F = 80.1
|May avg record high F = 91.0
|Jun avg record high F = 98.1
|Jul avg record high F = 104.2
|Aug avg record high F = 102.1
|Sep avg record high F = 94.7
|Oct avg record high F = 81.5
|Nov avg record high F = 63.2
|Dec avg record high F = 52.4
|year avg record high F = 104.7

|Jan high F = 38.3
|Feb high F = 46.9
|Mar high F = 58.4
|Apr high F = 66.0
|May high F = 76.4
|Jun high F = 84.7
|Jul high F = 95.1
|Aug high F = 93.4
|Sep high F = 82.7
|Oct high F = 66.9
|Nov high F = 49.8
|Dec high F = 38.9
|year high F= 66.5

|Jan mean F = 31.3
|Feb mean F = 37.5
|Mar mean F = 46.1
|Apr mean F = 52.7
|May mean F = 62.1
|Jun mean F = 69.8
|Jul mean F = 78.3
|Aug mean F = 76.2
|Sep mean F = 66.0
|Oct mean F = 52.8
|Nov mean F = 39.7
|Dec mean F = 31.6

|Jan low F = 24.3
|Feb low F = 28.0
|Mar low F = 33.9
|Apr low F = 39.4
|May low F = 47.9
|Jun low F = 54.9
|Jul low F = 61.5
|Aug low F = 58.9
|Sep low F = 49.2
|Oct low F = 38.7
|Nov low F = 29.5
|Dec low F = 24.4
|year low F= 40.9

|Jan avg record low F = 6.1
|Feb avg record low F = 13.4
|Mar avg record low F = 20.5
|Apr avg record low F = 24.7
|May avg record low F = 32.5
|Jun avg record low F = 41.1
|Jul avg record low F = 49.5
|Aug avg record low F = 45.4
|Sep avg record low F = 35.1
|Oct avg record low F = 23.7
|Nov avg record low F = 14.4
|Dec avg record low F = 7.8
|year avg record low F = 0.8

|Jan record high F =  64
|Feb record high F =  67
|Mar record high F =  85
|Apr record high F =  94
|May record high F = 103
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 113
|Aug record high F = 113
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F =  93
|Nov record high F =  74
|Dec record high F =  66

|Jan record low F = −25
|Feb record low F = −24
|Mar record low F =  9
|Apr record low F =  17
|May record low F =  25
|Jun record low F =  31
|Jul record low F =  34
|Aug record low F =  33
|Sep record low F =  24
|Oct record low F =  9
|Nov record low F = −6
|Dec record low F = −23
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.38
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.89
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.97
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.77
|May precipitation inch = 1.17
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.72
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.26
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.12
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.29
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.64
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.88
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.39
|year precipitation inch=9.48
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.3
|Dec snow inch = 5.0
|Jan snow inch = 3.4
|Feb snow inch = 1.2
|Mar snow inch = 0.3
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch=
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.5
|Feb precipitation days = 8.3
|Mar precipitation days = 9.5
|Apr precipitation days = 7.2
|May precipitation days = 8.1
|Jun precipitation days = 5.7
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 1.8
|Sep precipitation days = 3.4
|Oct precipitation days = 5.4
|Nov precipitation days = 8.3
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.8
|Dec snow days = 2.4
|Jan snow days = 1.8
|Feb snow days = 1.5
|Mar snow days = 0.2
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981&ndash;2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00024162&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: Ontario MUNI AP, OR (1991&ndash;2020)
|access-date = May 27, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USW00024162&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: Ontario Municipal Airport, OR (1981&ndash;2010)
|access-date = May 27, 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 27, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[Image:DSCN6514 ontariodowntown e.jpg|left|thumb|Downtown Ontario]]
{{US Census population
|1890= 200
|1900= 445
|1910= 1248
|1920= 2039
|1930= 1941
|1940= 3551
|1950= 4465
|1960= 5101
|1970= 6523
|1980= 8814
|1990= 9392
|2000= 10985
|2010= 11366
|2020= 11645
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR1">{{cite report |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |date=2011-02-12 |publisher=U.S. [[Department of Commerce]] |department=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2011-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Moffatt|first=Riley|year=1996|title=Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990|page=214|place=[[Lanham, Maryland]]|publisher=Scarecrow}}</ref><br />U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite report|title=Census of Population and Housing|department=[[United States Census Bureau]]|publisher=U.S. [[Department of Commerce]]|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref><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>
}}

===2020 census===
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Ontario racial composition'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4154900&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|5,692
|48.88%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|125
|1.07%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|112
|0.96%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|193
|1.66%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|14
|0.12%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|45
|0.39%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|415
|3.56%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|5,049
|43.36%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''11,645'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 11,645 people, 4,315 households, and 2,491 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite report |title=U.S. Census website |department=[[United States Census Bureau]] |publisher=U.S. [[Department of Commerce]] |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=2012-12-21}}</ref> of 2010, there were 11,366&nbsp;people, 4,275&nbsp;households, and 2,678&nbsp;families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2198.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,620&nbsp;housing units at an average density of {{convert|893.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 69.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 22.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 41.3% of the population.

There were 4,275&nbsp;households, of which 35.4% had children under age&nbsp;18 living with them, 41.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.28&nbsp;.

The median age in the city was 32.1&nbsp;years. 28.9% of residents were under age&nbsp;18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 21% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 10,985&nbsp;people, 4,084&nbsp;households, and 2,634&nbsp;families living in the city. The population density was 2,459.3&nbsp;people per square mile (948.8/km{{sup|2}}). There were 4,436 housing units at an average density of 993.1&nbsp;per square mile (383.2/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 69.27% White, 0.55% African American, 2.69% Asian, 0.88% Native American, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 23.09% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.05% of the population.

There were 4,084&nbsp;households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.30&nbsp;.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under age&nbsp;18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females, there were 89.7&nbsp;males. For every 100&nbsp;females age&nbsp;18 and over, there were 85.2&nbsp;males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,173, and the median income for a family was $35,625. Males had a median income of $29,775 versus $21,967 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,683. About 16.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.0% of those under age&nbsp;18 and 14.3% of those age&nbsp;65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:HospitalRoadOntario.jpg|thumb|upright|Southwest 4th Avenue overlooking Holy Rosary Medical Center]]
The Heinz Frozen Food Company (formerly [[Ore-Ida]]), a subsidiary of [[H. J. Heinz Company]], processes locally grown potatoes, and annually produces over {{convert|600000000|lb|kg}} of 75&nbsp;different potato products, while employing approximately 1,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Worksource |series=Workforce Partners |department=Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development |publisher=State of Oregon |url=http://www.odccwd.state.or.us/workforcepartners/display_one.cfm?ID=202}}</ref> [[Tater tots]] were first created and manufactured here in 1953 (commercial distribution began in 1956).<ref name="cnnmoney">{{cite news |last=Lukas |first=Paul |date=1 November 2003 |title=Mr.&nbsp;Potato Head – a dirt-poor farmer turned spud scraps into gold |department=[[CNN Money]] |website=[[CNN]] |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2003/11/01/358297/index.htm | access-date = May 1, 2012}}</ref>

St. Alphonsus Medical Center is a 49-bed, acute-care hospital, serving Ontario and the surrounding communities in Eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho; it is part of the hospital system of [[Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center]] in [[Boise, Idaho]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About us – history |series=Ontario |website=Saint Alphonsus |url=http://www.saintalphonsus.org/ontario/AboutUs-history.html}}</ref>

About {{convert|5|mi|0|spell=in}} northwest of central Ontario is the [[Snake River Correctional Institution]], a 3,000-bed medium security facility. Opened in 1991 and expanded in 1998, the prison has approximately 900 employees.

===Cannabis legalization===
Since 2019, [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] dispensaries have been an important part of Ontario's economy and a notable example of the [[border effect]].<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Tony |last=Lange |date=9 February 2021 |title=The border-town effect: Dispensaries boom on state line |magazine=Cannabis Business Times |url=https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/dispensaries-boom-ontario-oregon-bordertown-effect-idaho/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219175659/https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/dispensaries-boom-ontario-oregon-bordertown-effect-idaho/ |archive-date=2021-02-19 |quote=A city of 11,000, Ontario grosses $91.7&nbsp;million in 2020 to take over ‘Highest County’ title in Oregon after local voters overturn ban on cannabis sales.}}</ref>

In November&nbsp;2018, voters overturned a ban on recreational marijuana dispensaries in the town, several years after [[Cannabis in Oregon|Oregon legalized recreational marijuana use]]. As Ontario borders [[Idaho]] (where marijuana remains illegal for all purposes), local news outlets reported that by November&nbsp;2019 the city's dispensaries were generating a significant amount of revenue from Idaho residents driving across the state line.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Gretchen  |last1=Parsons |first2=Katie |last2=Terhune |date=10 November 2019 |title='This is the marijuana capital of Idaho': Pot sales bring cash infusion to Ontario [Oregon] |website=[[KTVB]]&nbsp;7 |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/this-is-the-marijuana-capital-of-idaho-pot-sales-bring-boomtown-status-to-ontario/277-3d84d233-63fe-452d-8038-22de046c8b34 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129085915/https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/this-is-the-marijuana-capital-of-idaho-pot-sales-bring-boomtown-status-to-ontario/277-3d84d233-63fe-452d-8038-22de046c8b34 |archive-date=2021-01-29}}</ref> Total cannabis sales from Ontario dispensaries topped $100&nbsp;million in December&nbsp;2020.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lynsey |last=Amundson |title=Pot sales boom in Ontario, top $100&nbsp;million – fueled in part by Idaho customers |date=2020-12-23 |agency=Idaho News&nbsp;6 |website=BoiseDev.com |url=https://boisedev.com/news/2020/12/23/ontario-oregon-marijuana/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210033605/https://boisedev.com/news/2020/12/23/ontario-oregon-marijuana/ |archive-date=2021-02-10}}</ref> The additional revenue from cannabis sales reversed a years-long trend of cutting the annual city budget and stoked advocacy for creation of a [[Greater Idaho]], as many in that part of the state did not vote to legalize recreational marijuana or for the [[2020 Oregon Ballot Measure 110|decriminalization of harder drugs]] along with the more liberal parts of the state, as well as those in Idaho who feel the border purchases of marijuana have increased drug abuse and hurt their way of life there.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

==Education==
===Tertiary education===
*[[Treasure Valley Community College]]

===K-12 education===
Ontario is served by the [[Ontario School District]] (8C) public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41045_malheur/DC20SD_C41045.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Malheur County, OR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-07-15}}</ref> Schools include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Our District |series=Ontario School District |website=ontario.k12.or.us |url=http://www.ontario.k12.or.us|access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>
{{Div col}}
* [[Ontario High School (Oregon)|Ontario High School]] 9-12
* Ontario Middle School 7-8
* Aiken Elementary K-5
* Alameda Elementary K-6
* Cairo Elementary K-5
* May Roberts Elementary K-6
* Pioneer Elementary K-5
{{div col end}}

There is also a [[charter school]]:
*[[Four Rivers Community School]] (4RCC<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.malesd.org/districts/schools-we-serve|title=Schools We Serve|publisher=Malheur Education Service District|accessdate=2022-07-15}}</ref>) - K-12 - It began operations in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4riverscs.org/our-history|title=Our History|publisher=Four Rivers Community School|accessdate=2022-07-15}}</ref>

The Annex School has an Ontario postal address but is away from Ontario, in the community of [[Annex, Oregon|Annex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.annex.k12.or.us/|title=Home|publisher=Annex Charter School|accessdate=2022-07-15|quote=402 Annex Road <nowiki>|</nowiki> Ontario, Ore. 97914}} - Despite the Ontario postal address, it is not in Ontario. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41045_malheur/DC20SD_C41045.pdf Compare with the US Census Bureau school district map here].</ref>

;Private schools
*[[Treasure Valley Christian School]] Pre K-12
*St.&nbsp;Peter's Catholic School ([[Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker]]) K-8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stpetercatholicschool.com/newsite/contact/|title=Contact|publisher=St. Peter Catholic School|accessdate=2022-07-16|quote=98 Southwest 9th Street Ontario, OR 97914}}</ref>

Ontario Community Library of the Ontario Library District is in Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontariolibrarydistrict.org|title=Home|publisher=Ontario Library District|accessdate=2022-07-16|quote=388 S.W. 2nd Avenue Ontario, Oregon USA 97914}}</ref>

==Media==
Ontario's daily paper is the ''[[Argus Observer]]''.

==Transportation==
;Bus
* Snake River Transit provides public transportation between points in Ontario and nearby [[Fruitland, Idaho|Fruitland]] and [[Payette, Idaho|Payette]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Snake River Transit |url=http://www.snakerivertransit.com/ |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>
* Ontario is a stop on the [[Public Oregon Intercity Transit|Eastern POINT]] intercity bus line between [[Bend, Oregon|Bend]] and Ontario. It makes one stop per day in each direction.<ref>{{cite web |title= Eastern Point Schedule |publisher= Oregon Department of Transportation |url= http://www.oregon-point.com/eastern_point.php |access-date= January 5, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161104230019/http://www.oregon-point.com/eastern_point.php |archive-date= November 4, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Greyhound Lines]] offers service east and west on I-84 from Ontario.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greyhound |url=http://www.greyhound.com |access-date=2020-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312191347/http://www.greyhound.com/ |archive-date=2006-03-12}}</ref>
;Air
* [[Ontario Municipal Airport]]
;Highway
* [[Image:I-84.svg|15px]] [[Interstate 84 in Oregon|Interstate 84]] - [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] - [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] - [[Ogden, Utah|Ogden]]

==Notable people==
*[[Cliff Bentz]], congressman ([[Oregon's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]]) and former state senator (District 30)    
*[[Jorge Cervantes]], horticulturist, writer, and expert in [[medical cannabis]]
*[[Madeline DeFrees]], poet
*[[Tom Edens]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher
*[[A. J. Feeley]], [[National Football League|NFL]] quarterback
*[[Erik Fisher]], [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|World Cup]] alpine ski racer 
*[[Sally Flynn]], also known as Sally Hart, singer on ''[[The Lawrence Welk Show]]''
*[[Charles C. Gossett]], governor of Idaho and U.S. Senator
*[[Joel Hardin]], Border Patrol agent and mantracker
*[[Denny Jones]], Oregon state representative and rancher
*[[Randall B. Kester]], Oregon judge
*[[Phyllis McGinley]], children's author
*[[Elmo Smith]], newspaper editor, mayor of Ontario and governor of Oregon
*[[Leland Evan Thomas]], WWII pilot killed in action at [[Guadalcanal]]
*[[Dave Wilcox]], NFL linebacker

==Sister cities==
Ontario has one [[sister city]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=Ontario, Oregon |work=Interactive City Directory |publisher=Sister Cities International |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Ontario,%20Oregon |access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref>

* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Ōsakasayama, Osaka]], [[Japan]]

==See also==
* [[Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot]]

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Ontario (Oregon)}}
{{commons category|Ontario, Oregon}}
* {{cite web |title=Ontario, Oregon, Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.ontariochamber.com/}}
* {{cite web |title=Ontario information |website=[[Oregon Blue Book]] |url=https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/l-r/ontario.aspx}}
* {{cite AV media |title=Panoramic photos of Ontario, Oregon |publisher=U.S. [[Library of Congress]] |medium=photography |url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/pan:@field(SUBJ+@od1(Oregon--Ontario+))}}
* {{cite AV media |title=Photos of 1930s–1940s farming near Ontario, Oregon |publisher=U.S. [[Library of Congress]] |medium=photography |url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/fsaall:@FILREQ(@field(SUBJ+@band(Oregon--Malheur+County--Ontario+))+@FIELD(COLLID+fsa))}}
{{Ontario, Oregon}}
{{Malheur County, Oregon}}
{{oregon}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ontario, Oregon| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Ontario, Oregon micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Basque-American culture in Oregon]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Malheur County, Oregon]]