Florence, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence, Oregon
|
|
|---|---|
|
City
|
|
Aerial view of Florence
|
|
Location in Oregon
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Incorporated | 1893 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.22 sq mi (16.11 km2) |
| • Land | 5.53 sq mi (14.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.69 sq mi (1.78 km2) |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,396 |
| • Density | 1,698.17/sq mi (655.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP Code |
97439
|
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-26050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410511 |
| Website | www.ci.florence.or.us |
Florence is a city located on the coast of Oregon in the United States. It sits right where the Siuslaw River meets the Pacific Ocean. You can find Florence about halfway between the cities of Newport to the north and Coos Bay to the south, along U.S. Route 101. In August 2023, about 9,553 people lived in Florence.
Contents
History of Florence
The land where Florence is now was first home to the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans. The city was officially started in 1893. There are two ideas about how Florence got its name. Some say it was named after A. B. Florence, a state senator from 1858 to 1860. Others believe it was named after a French ship that crashed at the mouth of the Siuslaw River in 1875.
The Exploding Whale Story
On November 12, 1970, something very unusual happened in Florence. City officials tried to get rid of a dead whale that had washed up on the beach. They used 20 cases of dynamite to blow it up! This plan did not go as expected, and it became a famous event. In 2020, people in Florence voted to name a new park Exploding Whale Memorial Park to remember this funny moment.
Geography and Climate
Florence is on the beautiful Oregon Coast, right at the mouth of the Siuslaw River. It is just north of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The city is located at almost the same latitude as Eugene. It is also roughly in the middle of other main coastal cities like Newport and Coos Bay. In 2008, Florence grew by adding the Driftwood Shores Hotel and Conference Center, which is north of town in Heceta Beach.
South of Florence, the small community of Glenada is just across the Siuslaw River. The city of Yachats is about 23 miles (37 km) to the north.
The city covers a total area of about 5.87 square miles (15.20 km²). Most of this, about 5.30 square miles (13.73 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.57 square miles (1.48 km²), is water.
| Climate data for Florence, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2006–2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
68 (20) |
77 (25) |
82 (28) |
91 (33) |
88 (31) |
84 (29) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
82 (28) |
70 (21) |
62 (17) |
93 (34) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.1 (9.5) |
51.1 (10.6) |
52.9 (11.6) |
55.5 (13.1) |
60.1 (15.6) |
63.5 (17.5) |
67.9 (19.9) |
67.4 (19.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
60.7 (15.9) |
53.4 (11.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
58.0 (14.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.9 (6.6) |
44.1 (6.7) |
45.7 (7.6) |
47.7 (8.7) |
51.8 (11.0) |
54.9 (12.7) |
58.7 (14.8) |
58.3 (14.6) |
56.4 (13.6) |
52.3 (11.3) |
46.9 (8.3) |
42.5 (5.8) |
50.3 (10.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.7 (3.7) |
37.2 (2.9) |
38.5 (3.6) |
39.8 (4.3) |
43.5 (6.4) |
46.4 (8.0) |
49.5 (9.7) |
49.3 (9.6) |
46.5 (8.1) |
44.0 (6.7) |
40.3 (4.6) |
37.4 (3.0) |
42.6 (5.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 22 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
12 (−11) |
27 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
35 (2) |
37 (3) |
39 (4) |
34 (1) |
27 (−3) |
23 (−5) |
17 (−8) |
12 (−11) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 10.22 (260) |
9.35 (237) |
9.33 (237) |
6.36 (162) |
3.87 (98) |
2.85 (72) |
0.51 (13) |
1.07 (27) |
2.26 (57) |
5.95 (151) |
11.25 (286) |
12.50 (318) |
75.52 (1,918) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.51) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 20.1 | 20.4 | 21.5 | 18.7 | 13.0 | 10.4 | 3.8 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 15.3 | 19.9 | 21.3 | 179.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Florence has a mild climate. It gets a lot of rain, especially in winter. Summers are usually cool and pleasant.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 68 | — | |
| 1900 | 222 | — | |
| 1910 | 311 | 40.1% | |
| 1920 | 317 | 1.9% | |
| 1930 | 339 | 6.9% | |
| 1940 | 458 | 35.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,026 | 124.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,642 | 60.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,246 | 36.8% | |
| 1980 | 4,411 | 96.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,162 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,263 | 40.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,466 | 16.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,921 | 5.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, about 8,466 people lived in Florence. There were 4,226 homes. Many people living in Florence are older adults, with a large number being 65 years or older. About 13.9% of the residents were under 18 years old.
Economy and Jobs
In the past, Florence's main jobs were in logging (cutting down trees), commercial fishing, and farming. Today, tourism is becoming very important. Many visitors come to enjoy the coast. Some local businesses include Sand Master Park, Mo's Restaurants, and Three Rivers Casino Resort. The casino is run by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. The Port of Siuslaw helps with fishing, shipping, and tourism. About one-third of the people in Florence are retirees.
Arts and Culture
Yearly Events
Florence has a special Rhododendron festival every year. This flower and garden show has been happening since 1908.
The city also hosts "The Power of Florence." This is a yearly event where volunteers help improve the city and give back to the community. It has been held since 2013.
Museums and Fun Places
The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum is a great place to learn about the area's history. It is located in an old schoolhouse built in 1905.
Old Town Florence is a charming area along the Siuslaw riverfront. You can walk along the boardwalk promenade. Many shops and restaurants are located on US101, which goes right through the town. The beautiful Art Deco Siuslaw River Bridge from 1936 is also nearby.
North of Florence, you can visit the Sea Lion Caves. This is a popular tourist attraction where you can see many Steller sea lions living in a large sea cave all year round.
Historic Buildings
Several buildings and places in the Florence area are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. They include:
- The Edwin E. Benedict House
- Heceta Head Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters
- Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Historic District
- The Siuslaw River Bridge
- The William Kyle and Sons Building in Old Town
Parks and Outdoor Fun
There are many parks and outdoor areas near Florence managed by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
- To the north, you can find Darlingtonia State Natural Site and Heceta Head Lighthouse at Devil's Elbow.
- To the south is Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park.
- The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area starts just south of Florence. This area is managed as part of the Siuslaw National Forest. It is a great place for exploring sand dunes!
Education and Schools
Florence is served by the Siuslaw School District. This district has three schools:
- Siuslaw Elementary School
- Siuslaw Middle School
- Siuslaw High School
For older students, Lane Community College also has a center in Florence.
Media and News
- The Siuslaw News is a weekly newspaper published right in Florence.
- The Register-Guard, a newspaper from Eugene, is also available in Florence.
- You can listen to local radio stations like KXCR (90.7 FM), KCST-FM, and KCFM (AM) for music, news, and local sports.
Transportation
Highways
- U.S. Route 101 is a major highway that runs through Florence.
- Oregon Route 126 also serves the area.
Air Travel
- The Florence Municipal Airport is available for small planes.
Healthcare
Peace Harbor Hospital provides medical care for people in western Lane County. It is also one of the biggest employers in the area.
Sister City
Florence has one sister city:
Yamagata, Japan: This city was formed in 2003 when several towns merged, including Ijira, which was Florence's former sister city.
See also
In Spanish: Florence (Oregón) para niños
