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Milwaukie, Oregon

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Milwaukie, Oregon
City
Nickname: 
The Dogwood City of the West
Motto(s): 
A great place to live, work, and play.
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountiesClackamas, Multnomah
Incorporated1903
Government
 • MayorJames Bernard
Area
 • Total4.8 sq mi (12.5 km2)
 • Land4.8 sq mi (12.5 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
39 ft (11.9 m)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total20,835
 • Density4,256.5/sq mi (1,644.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP codes
97222, 97267, 97269
Area code503
FIPS code41-48650Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1166682Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.cityofmilwaukie.org

Milwaukie (Template:PronEng) is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,490 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimate is 20,835 residents.[1] Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in 1903 and is noted as the birthplace of the Bing cherry. It is more recently known as the home of Dark Horse Comics. The city has become a suburb of Portland and also adjoins the unincorporated areas of Clackamas and Oak Grove.

History

Bing cherries

Milwaukie was founded in 1848 as a rival to the upriver Oregon City by Lot Whitcomb, who named it for Milwaukee, Wisconsin[2] (which would later settle on the spelling "Milwaukee").[3][4] Whitcomb arrived in Oregon in 1847 and settled on a donation land claim, where he built a sawmill and a gristmill.[5] Milwaukie rivaled Portland and Oregon City for a time, but Portland eventually became the bigger city because it had a deeper port.[5] Milwaukie post office was established in 1850, with Whitcomb as the first postmaster.[4] The Oregon and California Railroad named their station there Milwaukee in 1870 and corrected it to Milwaukie in 1892.[4] As the city center grew further from the railroad and a branch line was built across the Willamette to Lake Oswego, Oregon, Milwaukie station was replaced and renamed Lambert for Joseph H. Lambert, a pioneer orchardist who developed the Lambert cherry.[4] The name of the station was changed to East Milwaukee in 1913 and corrected to East Milwaukie in 1916.[4]

The Bing cherry, among other varieties, was developed in Milwaukie by another pioneer orchardist, Seth Lewelling, who settled in the area with his brother Henderson Luelling.[5]

Geography

Milwaukie is located at 45°26′44″N 122°37′24″W / 45.44556°N 122.62333°W / 45.44556; -122.62333Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (45.445491, -122.623353)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 20,490 people, 8,561 households, and 5,282 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,256.5 people per square mile (1,644.7/km²). There were 8,988 housing units at an average density of 1,867.1/sq mi (721.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.96% White, 0.95% African American, 0.94% Native American, 2.36% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.

There were 8,561 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,635, and the median income for a family was $51,649. Males had a median income of $36,674 versus $29,957 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,342. About 6.2% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Currently, the downtown area of Milwaukie is undergoing a revival in which new apartments and retail space are under construction and a riverfront park is being developed.[citation needed] Existing attractions include a Sunday farmers' market and many restaurants, coffee shops and stores.[citation needed]

Bob's Red Mill is a modern-day gristmill and natural foods company based in Milwaukie.

Milwaukie is the home of Dark Horse Comics. Dark Horse is known for publishing works including Sin City and the original graphic novel 300, adapted into a motion picture by the same title released March 9, 2007. The total office space of Dark Horse Comics occupies three of the city blocks in downtown Milwaukie, sporting numerous display windows visible to transit riders.[citation needed]

Education

Milwaukie is served by the North Clackamas School District and most children attend one of ten public elementary schools, Rowe Middle School, Alder Creek Middle School, Rex Putnam High School, Milwaukie High School, and New Urban High School. Since 1996, Milwaukie High School has annually hosted the nationally recognized[6] Living History Day. On this day thousands of veterans are welcomed into the school to help educate students about the past. There is also a private Catholic high school, La Salle High School, named after St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, and the Portland Waldorf School, which serves grades K-12.

Transportation

Milwaukie is served by one of nine TriMet transit centers.[7]

Notable residents

Sister city

Milwaukie has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:[8]

References

  1. ^ PSU:Population Research Center
  2. ^ City of Milwaukie official website: "MILWAUKIE 101"
  3. ^ "When Milwaukee was Milwaukie"
  4. ^ a b c d e McArthur, Lewis A. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (Seventh Edition ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 557, 648. ISBN 0-87595-277-1. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c Cogswell, Philip Jr. (1977). Capitol Names: Individuals Woven Into Oregon's History. Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society. pp. 113–115. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "Living History Day: Milwaukie High School". The Virtual Schoolhouse.
  7. ^ "TriMet".
  8. ^ "Sister Cities International".
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