Cannon Beach, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cannon Beach, Oregon
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An aerial view of Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock in the background
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Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Clatsop |
| Incorporated | 1956 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Land | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,489 |
| • Density | 947.80/sq mi (366.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code |
97110
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| Area code(s) | 503 |
| FIPS code | 41-10850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409975 |
| Website | ci.cannon-beach.or.us |
Cannon Beach is a small city on the coast of Oregon, in Clatsop County. It's a very popular place for tourists to visit, especially because of Haystack Rock. This huge rock stands 235 ft (72 m) tall right off the coast. In 2013, National Geographic magazine called Cannon Beach "one of the world's 100 most beautiful places."
Contents
History of Cannon Beach
Long ago, the area around Cannon Beach was home to the Tillamook people. They lived along this beautiful coast.
Early Explorers and a Beached Whale
In 1806, William Clark from the Lewis and Clark Expedition visited Cannon Beach. His group was staying nearby at Fort Clatsop. They heard about a whale that had washed ashore.
Clark and his team, including Sacagawea, traveled to see the whale. They met the Tillamook people, who were using the whale's blubber. Clark's group traded with them for blubber and whale oil.
Clark named a nearby creek Ekoli, which is a Chinook word for "whale." Today, this creek is called Ecola Creek. You can find a whale sculpture in a park in Cannon Beach. It remembers the meeting between Clark's group and the Tillamook people.
How Cannon Beach Got Its Name
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The city got its name from a real cannon! In 1846, a cannon from a U.S. Navy ship called the Shark washed ashore. The ship had sunk near the mouth of the Columbia River.
This cannon was found again in 1898. It inspired the community to change its name. In 1922, the town of Elk Creek became Cannon Beach. This name also refers to the 8-mile (13 km) long beach. The creek itself was renamed Ecola Creek, honoring William Clark's original name.
Today, the original cannon is in the city's museum. You can see a copy of it near U.S. Route 101. Two more cannons from the Shark were found in 2008.
The 1964 Tsunami
In 1964, a huge tsunami hit the coast after a big earthquake. It flooded parts of Cannon Beach and washed away a highway bridge. The city was cut off from the main highway.
To attract visitors, the city started a sand castle contest. This fun event still happens every June!
Geography and Climate
Cannon Beach is a small city, covering about 1.54 square miles (3.99 km2) of land. It's all land, with no water within the city limits.
Cannon Beach Weather
Cannon Beach has mild weather. Summers are usually dry and not too hot. Winters are wet but not extremely cold.
| Climate data for Cannon Beach, Oregon | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
89 (32) |
78 (26) |
89 (32) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.4 (9.7) |
51.2 (10.7) |
53.5 (11.9) |
56.4 (13.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
66.9 (19.4) |
67.8 (19.9) |
67.0 (19.4) |
60.3 (15.7) |
52.6 (11.4) |
48.3 (9.1) |
58.1 (14.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.9 (3.3) |
37.4 (3.0) |
38.9 (3.8) |
40.8 (4.9) |
45.4 (7.4) |
49.5 (9.7) |
52.7 (11.5) |
52.8 (11.6) |
49.1 (9.5) |
44.7 (7.1) |
40.5 (4.7) |
37.1 (2.8) |
43.9 (6.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 11 (−12) |
9 (−13) |
23 (−5) |
24 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
35 (2) |
38 (3) |
31 (−1) |
24 (−4) |
14 (−10) |
5 (−15) |
5 (−15) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 10.96 (278) |
9.64 (245) |
8.52 (216) |
5.72 (145) |
3.95 (100) |
3.06 (78) |
1.56 (40) |
1.38 (35) |
3.04 (77) |
6.21 (158) |
11.47 (291) |
12.07 (307) |
77.58 (1,971) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.1 (2.8) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.7 (4.3) |
People of Cannon Beach
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 125 | — | |
| 1940 | 125 | 0.0% | |
| 1950 | 125 | 0.0% | |
| 1960 | 495 | 296.0% | |
| 1970 | 779 | 57.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,187 | 52.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,221 | 2.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,588 | 30.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,690 | 6.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,489 | −11.9% | |
| source: | |||
In 2010, about 1,690 people lived in Cannon Beach. The city has a mix of different people and cultures. Many people who live here are older, but there are also families with children.
Economy and Shops
Cannon Beach is a popular place for tourists. Many people from Portland, Oregon visit for weekend trips.
The city tries to keep a small-town feel. You won't find big chain stores like Safeway or McDonald's here. Instead, there are many unique shops and local restaurants. These places help keep the local economy strong.
Arts and Culture
Cannon Beach is known for its art and fun events.
Annual Events in Cannon Beach
- Sand Castle Contest: Every June, the city holds a famous sand castle-building contest. People create amazing sculptures in the sand!
- Fourth of July Parade: The city also has a parade for the Fourth of July.
- Spring Unveiling: This art festival happens on the first Sunday in May. Local art galleries show off new artwork.
- Stormy Weather Arts Festival: In November, artists from the Pacific Northwest come to show their art. You can even buy some of the artwork at an auction.
Many galleries in town feature beautiful works by local artists.
Parks and Recreation
The most famous landmark in Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock. It's a huge rock that stands 235 feet (72 m) tall. At low tide, especially in summer, you can often walk right up to it. There are even small caves you can see.
Haystack Rock is a protected area. This means you can't go within 100 feet (30 m) of it. This helps protect the wildlife that lives there. Near Haystack Rock, you'll also see two tall, thin rocks called the Needles.
Cannon Beach has several parks:
- Haystack Hill State Park
- Les Shirley Park
- John Yeon State Natural Site (currently closed)
- Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site
Media and Film
Cannon Beach has its own monthly newspaper called The Cannon Beach Gazette. It covers local news, sports, and events.
This beautiful area has also been featured in many movies! You might recognize it from:
- The Goonies (1985)
- Free Willy (1993)
- Twilight (2008)
- Hysterical (1983)
- Point Break (1991)
Movies Filmed in Cannon Beach Area
| Year | Title | Scene |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 1941 | Haystack Rock appears in the first scene of the movie. |
| 1985 | The Goonies | The Fratellis drive onto the beach during a police chase. Ecola State Park was also used for the Lighthouse Lounge. |
| 1990 | Kindergarten Cop | A carnival scene was filmed in Ecola State Park. |
| 1991 | Point Break | Indian Beach was used for a surfing scene where Johnny confronts Bodhi. |
| 1993 | Free Willy | Nearby Ecola State Park is seen in the background of a stage show. |
| 2008 | Twilight | Nearby Indian Beach was used for a scene where Bella's friends go surfing. |
| 2021 | Far from the Tree | Cannon Beach was the inspiration for the beach in this animated short film. Haystack Rock is visible. |
Transportation
The main road through Cannon Beach is Hemlock Street. It runs from one end of the city to the other. Both ends connect to U.S. Highway 101.
There's a shuttle bus that runs through Cannon Beach. It also connects Cannon Beach to Seaside every hour.
You can also take the NorthWest POINT bus from Cannon Beach to Portland. You can book tickets through Amtrak.
See also
In Spanish: Cannon Beach para niños
