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Brooks, Oregon
Brooks' historic railroad depot
Brooks' historic railroad depot
Location of Brooks, Oregon
Location of Brooks, Oregon
Country United States
State Oregon
County Marion
Area
 • Total 0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2)
 • Land 0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
184 ft (56 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 472
 • Density 925.49/sq mi (357.06/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97305
Area code(s) 503 and 971
FIPS code 41-08750
GNIS feature ID 2407909

Brooks is a small community in Marion County, Oregon, in the United States. It's not an official city, but the government counts it as a special area called a census-designated place (CDP) for statistics. In 2020, about 472 people lived there. Brooks is located about nine miles north of Salem, near a main road called Oregon Route 99E.

History of Brooks, Oregon

Brooks started as a station along the Southern Pacific Railroad main line. This railroad line now belongs to Union Pacific. The station was named after an early settler, Linus Brooks. He moved to Oregon from Illinois in 1850.

The Brooks post office opened in 1871, around the same time the railroad reached the community. In 1878, Brooks was officially mapped out with 30 blocks. At that time, 135 people lived there. The community did not grow much and never became an official city.

Geography of Brooks

Brooks is a small area of land. According to the United States Census Bureau, the entire area of Brooks is about 0.5 square miles (1.32 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

Population of Brooks

The number of people living in Brooks has changed over the years.

  • In 2000, there were 410 people.
  • In 2010, the population was 398.
  • By 2020, the population had grown to 472 people.

In 2000, about 26% of the people living in Brooks were under 18 years old. The average age of people in Brooks was 35 years.

Economy and Jobs in Brooks

The economy in Brooks has traditionally focused on farming. The area is known for its agricultural products.

One of the biggest businesses in Brooks is NORPAC. This company processes fruits and vegetables. Another important facility is run by Covanta Energy. This facility turns garbage into energy, helping to manage waste from around the county.

Fun Places to Visit in Brooks

Brooks is home to Powerland Heritage Park, which used to be called Antique Powerland. This park has many museums focused on old vehicles and machinery. It's a great place to learn about how things worked in the past.

The Brooks Historical Society is also located at Powerland Heritage Park. It is in the old Brooks Southern Pacific railroad depot. This is where you can learn more about the history of the community.

Education in Brooks

Students in Brooks attend schools in the Gervais School District. Brooks Elementary School serves students from second to fourth grade. After elementary school, students go to middle and high school in Gervais.

Brooks also has a private school called Willamette Valley Christian School. For older students, the Chemeketa Community College has a campus in Brooks. This campus specializes in training students and professionals for public safety jobs.

Notable People from Brooks

  • George Schoener: He was famous for breeding new types of roses.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Brooks (Oregón) para niños

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