Oakridge, Oregon

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,205 as of the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about Template:Convert east of Eugene and Template:Convert southeast of Portland. Surrounded by the Willamette National Forest and the Cascade Range, Oakridge is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its hiking, mountain biking, wildflowers, fly fishing, birding, watersports, and the nearby Willamette Pass Resort.<ref name=motto/><ref name=ormtb>Template:Cite web</ref>

The city was originally a community called "Hazeldell", and its post office was established on July 26, 1888. When a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad opened in May 1912, it was named "Oak Ridge" by a railroad executive for the surrounding topography, and on July 19 of that year the name was changed to be spelled as a single word.<ref name=OGN>Template:Cite OGN</ref>

The economy of Oakridge and that of nearby Westfir is centered on recreation. Since the lumber mills closed in the 1980s, the economy has been transitioning, with a new general store opening in 2010, a bakery in 2011, and a brewery and mercantile.<ref name=oregonian>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=bakery>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=brewpub>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=nytimes>Template:Cite news</ref>

History

File:Oakridge Ore. Highway 58.jpg

Highway 58 in Oakridge, Template:Circa

Oakridge as seen from a hill to the north

Oakridge as seen from the north, along the North Fork Trail, with snow-capped Diamond Peak in the distance

The area now known as Oakridge was first explored by Euro-Americans in 1852 as a possible route for pioneers coming from Central Oregon to the Willamette Valley. Before that Oakridge was the land of the Kalapuya who had villages on the rivers since time immemorial. A post office was named "Hazeldell" in 1888, and the place's name later changed to "Big Prairie", and then "Oak Ridge".<ref name=oregonbusiness>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=citywebsite>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1912, a new community was formed and officially named Oakridge. Since its beginnings as a mountain ranch, Oakridge has been a railroad boomtown, a loggers' haven,<ref name=oregonbusiness/> and an outdoor enthusiast's destination.<ref name=motto/><ref name=npr>Template:Cite news</ref>

The early boom for Oakridge can be attributed to the Southern Pacific Railroad. By 1910, work had already begun on Tunnel 22, a short route connecting Oakridge to the area now known as Westfir. Oakridge was a station on Southern Pacific's Cascade subdivision, a line that goes over Willamette Pass via the Natron Cutoff that was built in 1926, and the railroad played an integral part of the economy and lifestyle in Oakridge. The Union Pacific Railroad still operates the rails and trains are a common sight in Oakridge.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Today, Amtrak's Coast Starlight passes through the town but does not stop.

On July 2, 1946, the Pope and Talbot Lumber Company purchased timberland near Oakridge. By 1948, the company had built a large sawmill and had begun a massive timber logging operation. While the railroad and Westfir's Hines sawmill began to slow down, the Pope and Talbot mill expanded and eventually employed more than 500 people. The combined economic base of the railroad and sawmills accounted for the population growth of the 1960s and 1970s, when the community of Willamette City was consolidated into Oakridge.<ref name=citywebsite/><ref name=tobe>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in 1978, the Hines mill in Westfir closed, and by 1985 the Pope and Talbot Mill had laid off all of its workers. The City of Oakridge now owns the property that formerly housed the Pope and Talbot sawmill.<ref name=tobe/>

In February 2019, an Amtrak Coast Starlight train was stranded near Oakridge for over 36 hours, after a rare heavy snowstorm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Oakridge sits at an elevation ranging from Template:Convert above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Oakridge lies in a small valley in the foothills of the Cascade Range and is completely surrounded by the Willamette National Forest. Five streams are located in and around Oakridge; they are Salmon Creek, Salt Creek, Hills Creek, and the Middle and North forks of the Willamette River, the latter of which has been designated Wild and Scenic. Diamond Peak, a shield volcano located in the nearby Diamond Peak Wilderness to the southeast, can be seen from various spots in and around Oakridge. Waldo Lake, known as one of the purest lakes in the world, and Salt Creek Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in Oregon, are located about Template:Convert east of town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="usfs">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

This region experiences warm and dry summers, with average monthly temperatures around Template:Convert. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Oakridge has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Oakridge, Oregon</ref> Oakridge is located below the snow line for the Cascades, making it the last stop from Eugene on Highway 58 where chains are not necessary.

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Demographics

Template:US Census population As of the census<ref name="Census 2010"/> of 2010, there were 3,205 people (up from 3,148 people at the 2000 census), 1,437 households, and 849 families residing in the city. The population density was about Template:Convert. There were 1,605 housing units at an average density of about Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was about 91% White, 1% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 1,437 households, of which about 24% had children under the age of 18 living with them, about 42% were married couples living together, about 11% had a female householder with no husband present, about 6% had a male householder with no wife present, and about 41% were non-families. About 34% of all households were made up of individuals, and about 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was about 2.2 and the average family size was about 2.8.

The median age in the city was about 48 years. Twenty percent of residents were under the age of 18; about 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; about 19% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and about 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

Economy

The town's two largest employers are the Oakridge School District and the United States Forest Service. However, in recent yearsTemplate:When there has been a cultural and economic revival centered on the outdoor recreational activities and local artists and craftspeople in the Oakridge area. Many new small businesses have opened, including a bicycle shop/ski shop/mercantile, an outdoor guide service, a microbrewery, and a bakery. The Uptown business district has formed the Uptown Business Revitalization Association (UBRA) and has worked to attract new businesses to the district. Oakridge is less than an hour from Eugene; as such, many people commute.<ref name=nytimes/>

Transportation

Land

State Highway 58, a designated freight route,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> serves as a major connection between Highway 97 and Interstate 5. Running east–west, Highway 58 links the Willamette Valley with Central Oregon while crossing through the Willamette National Forest and Cascade Range.

Rail

Union Pacific Railroad's main north–south line in the western two-thirds of the United States, with cargo shipping services, runs through Oakridge. Amtrak shares the rail line and provides passenger train service to nationwide destinations from Eugene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bus

Lane Transit District's Diamond Express runs three trips inbound and outbound on weekdays to the Eugene/Springfield area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Air

File:Oakridge State Airport.JPG

Oakridge State Airport

Oakridge State Airport is a public airport located Template:Convert west of Oakridge. Eugene Airport, located Template:Convert west, is the closest regional terminal providing passenger and cargo air services with access to all world markets.

Ports

The closest international shipping ports to Oakridge are the Port of Coos Bay, located Template:Convert to the west in Coos Bay, and the Port of Portland, located Template:Convert to the north in Portland.

Education

The Oakridge School District consists of two schools and serves the children of Oakridge, Westfir, and outlying areas including High Prairie.

Oakridge Elementary School - Grades K–6
Oakridge High School - Grades 7–12

In 2008, Oakridge High School was recognized as one of the best high schools in America by U.S. News & World Report.<ref name=oregonian/>

The University of Oregon and Lane Community College are located Template:Convert to the west.

The Oakridge Public Library was built at 48318 E. First St., next to the city hall, in 2012. It was paid for with a federal grant of $800,000 and replaced a smaller library that had been located in the city hall building.<ref name=library>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=markstrom>Template:Cite news</ref>