Mill City, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mill City, Oregon
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Pedestrian bridge over the North Santiam River at Mill City
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Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| Counties | Linn, Marion |
| Incorporated | 1947 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2) |
| • Land | 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,971 |
| • Density | 2,187.57/sq mi (844.29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code |
97360
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| Area code(s) | 503 and 971 |
| FIPS code | 41-48150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411107 |
| Website | www.mill-city.or.us |
Mill City is a small city in Oregon, a state in the United States. It is located in both Linn and Marion counties. The city sits along Oregon Route 22 and the North Santiam River. In 2020, about 1,971 people lived there.
Mill City is downstream from Detroit Lake. The part of Mill City in Linn County is near the cities of Albany and Lebanon. The part in Marion County is close to Salem. The city has its own fire department and public works. However, the Linn County Sheriff's Office helps with local law enforcement. In September 2020, a large wildfire called the Santiam Fire caused a lot of damage to Mill City.
Contents
A Look at Mill City's History
Mill City became an official city in 1941. It has always been an important place for education in the Santiam Canyon area. The city got its name because of the many lumber mills that used to be there. Famous mills included the Hammond Lumber Company and the Santiam Lumber Company. Today, Mill City is still home to two lumber mills: Frank Lumber Co. and Freres Lumber Plant 3.
One of the oldest and most well-known landmarks in Mill City is a former railroad bridge. This bridge is now used by people walking and biking. The Phoenix Column Bridge was made in 1888. It was moved to different places before coming to Mill City in 1919. The Southern Pacific Railroad stopped using it around 1967. Now, a group called the Save our Bridge Foundation is working to restore it.
Local News and Media
Over the years, Mill City has had several local newspapers. The Mill City Logue was published from 1926 to 1933. Its publishers later started a stamp collecting newspaper that became very popular.
The Mill City Enterprise was the longest-running local newspaper. It served the canyon from 1949 to 1998. George and Norma Long owned and ran the Enterprise for 30 years. After they retired, the paper was sold and its name changed. The University of Oregon is currently keeping old copies of the Mill City Enterprise.
From 1998 to 2014, the Mill City Independent Press covered local news. This paper used to be called the Enterprise. Today, the area is served by The Canyon Weekly, which started in 2010.
Mill City's Location and Nature
Mill City is located about 837 feet (255 meters) above sea level. It is in the Santiam Canyon, which is part of the foothills of the Cascade Range. The North Santiam River shaped this canyon. The river gets water from melting glaciers on Mount Jefferson and other smaller rivers. The Breitenbush River is the largest of these, joining the Santiam about 30 miles (48 km) east of Mill City.
The tall canyon walls are a noticeable feature when driving through on Highway 22. In Mill City itself, these walls look more like large hills. Two bridges in town allow people to cross the North Santiam River.
Mill City is surrounded by forests of evergreen trees. The Santiam State Forest is to the south. Much of the other forest land is owned by companies like Weyerhaeuser, Frank Lumber, and Freres. The forests mostly have Douglas fir trees, but you can also find junipers and maple trees.
The United States Census Bureau says that Mill City covers about 0.83 square miles (2.15 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,792 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,289 | −28.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,451 | 12.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,565 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,555 | −0.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,537 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,855 | 20.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,971 | 6.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Mill City has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 1,855 people living in the city. There were 681 households and 475 families. The city had about 2,235 people per square mile (863 people per square kilometer).
Most people in Mill City are White (90.7%). Other groups include Native American (1.9%), African American (0.4%), and Asian (0.4%). About 9.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Mill City in 2010 was 36.2 years old.
- 27.9% of residents were under 18.
- 8.2% were between 18 and 24.
- 24.2% were between 25 and 44.
- 26.3% were between 45 and 64.
- 13.5% were 65 or older.
The city had slightly more males (51.8%) than females (48.2%).
Education in Mill City
Mill City has been a center for education in the Santiam Canyon for many years. In the early to mid-1900s, Mill City had its own high school. This high school later moved to the new Santiam High School building in the 1950s. The old high school building became Mill City Middle School until the late 1980s. A new middle school was then built on the same site.
Before 2000, different towns like Mill City, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha had their own schools. However, Mill City became the main education hub for the Santiam Canyon. This happened partly when Gates Elementary School closed in 2012.
As of the 2019 school year, the Santiam Canyon area, including Mill City, has several schools:
- Santiam Preschool/Early Childhood Center
- Santiam Elementary School
- Santiam Junior/Senior High School
- Oregon Connections Academy
The Santiam Canyon School District serves Mill City and the surrounding area.
See also
In Spanish: Mill City (Oregón) para niños
