Molalla, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Molalla, Oregon
City
Vonder Ahe House
Nickname(s):  "Home of the buckeroo"
Motto(s):  "Riding High for America"
Location in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Clackamas
Incorporated	1913
Area
• Total	2.53 sq mi (6.55 km2)
• Land	2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,228
• Density	4,124.19/sq mi (1,592.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	97038
Area code(s)	503
FIPS code	41-49450
GNIS feature ID	2411131
Website	www.cityofmolalla.com

Molalla /məˈlɑːlə/ is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon. It is located in the United States. In 2020, about 10,228 people lived there.

Molalla is known as the "Home of the Buckeroo." Its motto is "Riding High for America."

Discovering Molalla's Past

Molalla got its name from the Molalla River. The river was named after the Molala, a Native American tribe. This tribe used to live in the area.

In 1844, William H. Vaughan claimed land here. The first Molalla post office opened in 1850. It closed and reopened a few times. By 1876, it was in Molalla's current location.

Since the late 1990s, Molalla has grown a lot. More homes and businesses were built. In 2002, the city got its first stoplight. This was because of all the new traffic from growing businesses.

Molalla's Location and Landscape

Molalla is in the foothills of the Cascade Range. It is close to the Mount Hood National Forest. The city is about 15 miles (24 km) south of Oregon City. It is also 13 miles (21 km) from Interstate 5.

Molalla is surrounded by farms and rural areas. There are many rock quarries nearby. Thousands of acres of private timberlands are also in the area. These lands provide natural resources for the economy. Some tree farms are managed to keep forests healthy and growing.

Molalla's Size and Waterways

The United States Census Bureau says Molalla covers about 2.26 square miles (5.85 square kilometers). Most of this area, 2.21 square miles (5.72 square kilometers), is land. The rest, 0.05 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.

Molalla's Climate

Molalla has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperature does not go above 71.6°F (22°C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.

The city gets different amounts of rain throughout the year. In July, it averages about 0.60 inches (15 mm) of rain. In December, it averages about 6.62 inches (168 mm).

Molalla's Population Over Time

Population in 2020

In 2020, Molalla had 10,228 people living in 3,737 homes. The city had about 4,235 people per square mile. Most residents, 94.5%, were White. About 8.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Main Street in Molalla

Population in 2010

In 2010, Molalla had 8,108 people. There were 2,857 households. About 44.8% of homes had children under 18. The average age in the city was 31.4 years. About 30.7% of residents were under 18.

Molalla's Economy

Molalla's economy used to be mainly about logging and agriculture. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. Agriculture means farming.

Now, the city is focusing more on businesses and tourism. This helps the economy grow.

Major Employers

Some big employers in Molalla include the Molalla River School District. Another is RSG Forest Products. Many companies work with timber. They provide services like logging and road building.

Growing Industries

The area also has many rock quarries. These provide gravel for roads. A new industry is "agritourism." This means farms open for visitors. Examples are Posse Acres Elk Farm and Petting Zoo. The Abbey Farm Creamery is another.

Arts and Culture in Molalla

Yearly Events and Celebrations

Molalla is famous for the Molalla Buckeroo rodeo. This rodeo started in 1913. The city also hosts an Apple Festival. The Pacific Coast Freestyle Championships, a model airplane contest, happens here too.

Many Latino rodeos are held at the rodeo grounds. These events bring thousands of families to celebrate. The Fourth of July Parade is also very popular. It can attract 50,000 people. Other fun events include:

• Halloween on Main Street
• Christmas in the City
• Spring Fling
• Easter Egg Hunt in the Park
• Fishing Derbies
• Trail Rides
• The Brew Fest
• The North Valley High School Rodeo

Museums and Interesting Places

You can find a miniature steam train at the Shady Dell Pacific Railroad. It's in Molalla Train Park, east of Molalla. There's also a free exhibit about Rodeo History. It honors rodeo "Heroes" with brass plaques in the sidewalks.

Several historic buildings are in Molalla. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Horace L. Dibble House and the Fred Vonder Ahe House and Summer Kitchen. The Molalla Area Historical Society helps preserve them.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

The Molalla River area is great for outdoor activities. You can go fishing, hunting, and hiking there. East of the city, Table Rock offers amazing views. From there, you can see Molalla and the countryside for miles.

Molalla has several local parks:

• Fox Park: Has a playground, pavilion, and splash pad. It hosts summer concerts.
• Clark Park: Features a large open space, an oak tree grove, and a playground.
• Long Park: Offers a playground, a pavilion, and a beautiful bear carving.
• Ivor Davies Park: Has a long path for walking and biking. It goes over small bridges and around a fish pond.

Education in Molalla

Molalla High School

Molalla is part of the Molalla River School District. The district has two public high schools. One is Molalla High School. There are also seven primary and middle schools.

Molalla is home to the private Country Christian School. This school serves students from preschool through twelfth grade. It has about 288 students. Both Molalla High School and Country Christian School compete in the Oregon School Activities Association.

The city also has two public Charter Schools: Molalla River Academy and Renaissance Public Academy. Molalla has a public library. It is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County.

Molalla in the Media

The Molalla Pioneer is a weekly newspaper. It is published by Pamplin Media Group. It serves as a community newspaper for the Portland Tribune. Molalla also gets radio and TV from Portland. Residents can also use cable and satellite TV.

Molalla's Infrastructure

Getting Around Molalla

Roads

Molalla's main roads are Oregon routes 211 and 213.

• Route 213 goes north to Oregon City and Portland. South, it connects to Silverton and Salem.
• Route 211 crosses Route 213. West, it goes to Canby and Woodburn. East, it leads to Colton, Estacada, and Sandy.

Public Transit

The South Clackamas Transportation District offers bus routes. These routes go around Molalla. They also provide service to Canby and Clackamas Community College in Oregon City.

Airports

Molalla is served by several smaller airports:

• Skydive Oregon (inside the city)
• Portland-Mulino Airport, about 4 miles (6 km) north
• Lenhardt Airpark, about 11 miles (18 km) west
• Aurora State Airport, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest

Rail

Molalla no longer has a train link within the city. The closest Amtrak station is in Oregon City.

City Services

Molalla post office

The City of Molalla provides water and wastewater treatment. NW Natural supplies natural gas. Portland General Electric provides electricity. Internet and phone services are offered by Molalla Communications.

Healthcare Services

Molalla has several healthcare options. These include Providence Medical Group Clinic in Molalla. Legacy Medical Group Family Medicine is also in Molalla. Larger hospitals nearby are Silverton Hospital in Silverton. Meridian Park Hospital is in Tualatin. Willamette Falls Hospital is in Oregon City.

Famous People from Molalla

Some notable people from Molalla include:

• Roger Beyer, an Oregon state senator
• Kevin Freeman, an Olympic equestrian
• Ralph M. Holman, an Oregon Supreme Court judge
• Rufus C. Holman, a United States senator
• Lisa Jackson, a best-selling author
• Macy Morse, a peace activist

See also

In Spanish: Molalla para niños