Madras, Oregon

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Madras (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Oregon, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Originally called "The Basin" after the circular valley the city is in, it is unclear whether Madras was named in 1903 for the cotton fabric called "Madras" that originated in the city of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, India or from the name of the city itself. The population was 6,046 at the 2010 census.<ref name="prcjuly08">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The original plat for Madras was filed on July 18, 1902, by Scandinavian immigrant John A. Palmehn, for whom the town was originally named "Palmain". The name was rejected by the U.S. Postal Service over its similarity to a post office named Parmen, and the name "Madras" was adopted, inspired by the cloth fabric of the same name, itself named for the city of Madras (now Chennai) in India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Bellamy House.jpg

Bellamy House in Madras, seen in a real photo postcard Template:Circa

Madras was incorporated as a city in 1911. An Army Air Corps base was built nearby during World War II. This airfield now serves as the Madras Municipal Airport. Homesteads approximately Template:Convert north of the city on Agency Plains were based on dryland wheat.

GMO incident

In 2003, a Scotts Company large field trial of GMO bentgrass near Madras resulted in pollen spreading the transgene, which is Roundup-resistant, over an area of Template:Convert.<ref name=watrud>Template:Cite journal</ref> Because the grower could not remove all genetically engineered plants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture fined the grower $500,000 for non-compliance with regulations in 2007.<ref>USDA USDA CONCLUDES GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CREEPING BENTGRASS INVESTIGATION Template:Webarchive USDA Assesses The Scotts Company, LLC $500,000 Civil Penalty. 26 November 2007</ref>

2017 solar eclipse

The centerline of the path of totality of the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, ran through the center of Madras. Because the city is located in a high desert environment and has consistently clear skies in August, it was considered a prime eclipse viewing location. All of the hotel and motel rooms in the area had been reserved for several years. The town had prepared for an influx of about 100,000 visitors for the eclipse.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sights

Madras is home to the Erickson Aircraft Collection, a privately owned collection of airworthy vintage aircraft. The collection is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.<ref name=Erickson>Template:Cite web</ref> The Jefferson County Fair is held on county property along Fairgrounds Road in Madras.<ref name="Fairgrounds">Template:Cite web</ref> The annual fair takes place in late July.<ref name="Fairgrounds"/>

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Madras has a steppe climate (BSk) according to the Köppen climate classification system, also known as semi-arid.

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Demographics

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2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,046 people, 2,198 households, and 1,430 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,569 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 66.4% White, 0.7% African American, 6.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 19.7% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.5% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 2,198 households, of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.31.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 31.2 years. 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.6% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,078 people, 1,801 households, and 1,251 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,952 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 63.55% White, 0.59% African American, 6.14% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.35% Pacific Islander, 24.56% from other races, and 4.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.74% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 1,801 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.32.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $29,103, and the median income for a family was $33,275. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $19,464 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,937. About 15.2% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highway

Rail

BNSF Railway (formerly Oregon Trunk Railway)
Union Pacific Railroad shares operations on the same tracks

Air

In addition to the public City-County Airport, Madras has several private-use airports in the area:

Notable people

Jacoby Ellsbury (b. 1983) — Major League Baseball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Boyd R. Overhulse (1909–1966) — attorney and state legislator<ref>"1957 Special Session (49th): October 28-November 15", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide 1957 Sessions, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed 1 February 2016.</ref>
River Phoenix (1970–1993) — actor born in Madras<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>