Port Orford, Oregon
Port Orford is a town located in Curry County, Oregon. It is located on the southern Oregon coast, at the northern end of what coastal oregonians call the Banana Belt, due to the fact that the weather from Port Orford south is warmer and noticeably different than the weather north of Cape Blanco. The town takes it name from George Vancouver's original name for Cape Blanco, which he named for George, Earl of Orford, "a much respected friend." It was later changed to the name of the town close by, possibly also referring to the deep harbor beside the town, that was often used during storms. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,153. At the Coast Guard station there is a short scenic walk out to a bluff that overlooks the harbor. From this vantage point (at the right time of year) you can see orcas, grey whales, california and stellar sea lions and various seabirds.
History
Native Americans originally lived in the area.
A Captain Tichner was the first to settle in the area of the town, which was an important early center for shipping Port Orford Cedar. It was the county seat for Curry between 1855 and 1859; while it was not formally incorporated until 1935, it was the first town to do so in the county.
In October of 1941, then mayor Gilbert Gable, frustrated with the condition of the state roads around Port Orford, whose poor condition hampered economic development, suggested that a number of counties along the Oregon and California state border should secede and create the State of Jefferson. This movement came to an end with US involvement in World War II.
The Port boasts the only dry dock port on the west coast where the fishing boats are lifted in and out of the water by operated cranes.
Geography
Port Orford is located at 42°44'59" North, 124°29'53" West (42.749713, -124.497952)Template:GR. It is 28 miles north of Gold Beach on U.S. Highway 101.
The city is adjacent to Cape Blanco, considered by many to be the furthest point west in the lower 48 states, and located just north of Humbug Mountain, which is considered the tallest mountain in the lower 48 to descend directly into an ocean.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 km² (1.6 mi²). 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.44% water. A lake or natural lagoon exists within city boundaries as well as a large amount of wetlands.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 1,153 people, 571 households, and 311 families residing in the city. The population density is 278.2/km² (719.1/mi²). There are 662 housing units at an average density of 159.7/km² (412.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.40% White, 0.09% African American, 1.39% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 2.60% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 571 households out of which 19.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% are married couples living together, 9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45% are non-families. 39% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2 people and the average family size is 2.66.
In the city the population is spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 50 years. For every 100 females there are 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $23,289, and the median income for a family is $29,653. Males have a median income of $35,221 versus $15,179 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,442. 17.8% of the population and 16.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.9% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.