Lexington, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lexington, Oregon
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Grain elevators in Lexington, May 2009
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Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Morrow |
| Incorporated | 1903 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2) |
| • Land | 0.44 sq mi (1.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,450 ft (440 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 238 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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236 |
| • Density | 540.05/sq mi (208.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code |
97839
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| Area code(s) | 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-42200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136476 |
Lexington is a city in Morrow County, Oregon, United States. The population was 238 at the 2010 census. It is part of the –Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Lexington was named by early settler William Penland for his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. Lexington post office was established in 1885. In 1886, shortly after Morrow County was created, Lexington lost by 33 votes to Heppner in an election to determine the county seat. The city was incorporated in 1903, and had a population of 185 at the 1910 census.
Sheep ranching was important in the region during the days of early settlement by non-natives. It continues in the 21st century and has been joined by wheat farming and cattle ranching as significant uses of the land.
Geography
Lexington is at an elevation of 1,450 feet (440 m) between the Columbia River to the north and the Blue Mountains to the southeast. The city is along Oregon Route 74, about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Heppner. Lexington is about 38 miles (61 km) southwest of Hermiston and 174 miles (280 km) east of Portland.
Willow Creek flows though Lexington, which is downstream of Heppner and upstream of Ione and Arlington. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.44 square miles (1.14 km2), all of it land.
Route 74 forms part of the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, a 130-mile (210 km) set of roads connecting Interstate 84 (I-84) along the Columbia River with the North Fork John Day River in the Blue Mountains. Part of the route follows the Willow Creek drainage through Lexington.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 23 | — | |
| 1890 | 100 | — | |
| 1900 | 175 | 75.0% | |
| 1910 | 185 | 5.7% | |
| 1920 | 264 | 42.7% | |
| 1930 | 180 | −31.8% | |
| 1940 | 223 | 23.9% | |
| 1950 | 237 | 6.3% | |
| 1960 | 240 | 1.3% | |
| 1970 | 230 | −4.2% | |
| 1980 | 307 | 33.5% | |
| 1990 | 286 | −6.8% | |
| 2000 | 263 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 238 | −9.5% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 236 | −0.8% | |
| source: | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 238 people, 94 households, and 70 families residing in the town. The population density was 540.9 inhabitants per square mile (208.8/km2). There were 101 housing units at an average density of 229.5 per square mile (88.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.4% White, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 94 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 17% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the town was 43 years. There were 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.4% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 55% male and 45% female.
Transportation
Lexington Airport, which is open to the public, is about one mile north of the city. Operations involve an average of about 85 aircraft a week, mostly local. Seasonally, many flights are related to agriculture.
Economy and education
As of 2002, Lexington's largest employers were the Morrow County Grain Growers (farms), the Columbia Basin Electric Co-op in Heppner, a metal fabrication company in Heppner, and a small company in Lexington that repaired farm equipment.
The headquarters of the Morrow County School District is in Lexington. The nearest public schools in this district are in Heppner.
See also
In Spanish: Lexington (Oregón) para niños
