Philomath, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philomath, Oregon
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Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath
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| Nickname(s):
City of Volunteers
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Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Benton |
| Incorporated | 1882 |
| Government | |
| • Body | Philomath City Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.23 sq mi (5.76 km2) |
| • Land | 2.06 sq mi (5.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 282 ft (86 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,838 |
| • Density | 2,592.05/sq mi (1,000.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code |
97370
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| Area code(s) | 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-57450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411413 |
| Website | www.ci.philomath.or.us |
Philomath (/fɪˈloʊmɪθ/ fi-LOH-mith) is a city in Benton County, Oregon, United States. The city's name comes from two Greek words that mean "love of learning." This is because Philomath was named after Philomath College, which was founded there a long time ago. In 2020, about 5,838 people lived in Philomath. It is also part of the larger Corvallis, Oregon area.
Contents
History of Philomath
Philomath was named after the Philomath College. The United Brethren Church started this college in 1867. The name "Philomath" comes from Greek words meaning "lover of learning." This was a fitting name for a college! The city officially became a city on October 20, 1882. The college closed in 1929 because fewer and fewer students were enrolling.
Geography and Climate
Philomath is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Corvallis. It sits along U.S. Route 20.
Land and Water Area
The United States Census Bureau says that Philomath covers a total area of about 2.05 square miles (5.31 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.86 square miles (4.82 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.19 square miles (0.49 square kilometers), is water.
Philomath's Climate
Philomath has a type of weather called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means that the summers are warm and dry, but not extremely hot. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C).
Population Changes in Philomath
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 224 | — | |
| 1900 | 343 | — | |
| 1910 | 505 | 47.2% | |
| 1920 | 591 | 17.0% | |
| 1930 | 694 | 17.4% | |
| 1940 | 856 | 23.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,289 | 50.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,359 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,688 | 24.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,673 | 58.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,983 | 11.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,056 | 36.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,584 | 13.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,350 | 16.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the census showed that 4,584 people lived in Philomath. There were 1,733 households, which are groups of people living together. About 1,203 of these were families. The city had about 2,464.5 people living per square mile (951.5 per square kilometer).
Most people in Philomath were White (91.1%). Other groups included African American (0.7%), Native American (1.2%), and Asian (1.0%). About 6.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Philomath was 34.3 years old. About 27.9% of the residents were under 18 years old. Also, 9.4% of the people were 65 years old or older.
Economy and Local Businesses
Philomath is home to several important businesses. There are a few sawmills, like Interfor and Paw Lumber Co. These companies process wood. Gene Tools, LLC makes special products called Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. Wet Labs creates equipment used to measure things in the ocean.
Pioneer Connect offers phone, internet, and video services, including fast fiber internet. Alyrica Networks provides WiFi and high-speed wireless internet. Solar Summit makes solar panels and products for alternative energy. Gathering Together Farm is one of the first farms in the U.S. to be certified organic. It's also a place where people from other countries visit to learn about farming.
In 2020, people in Philomath were among the first in the world to get their food delivered by a robot! This robot is called Daxbot. It's built by a company based right in Philomath. Daxbot is a 36-inch robot that can keep food hot or cold. It makes free deliveries for businesses and people in Philomath. The Philomath City Council allowed Dax to make deliveries and travel around town. Dax is seen as a pedestrian, not a vehicle, so it shares roads and sidewalks with people walking, biking, and driving.
Education in Philomath
Students in Philomath attend schools within the Philomath School District. The schools include:
- Philomath Elementary School
- Clemens Primary School
- Blodgett Elementary School
- Philomath Middle School
- Philomath Academy
- Philomath High School
- Kings Valley Charter School (which teaches students from Pre-K all the way through 12th grade)
Parks and Recreation
The city of Philomath has at least 8 public parks for everyone to enjoy. These parks are located within or very close to the city.
The biggest park in Philomath is Marys River Park. It covers about 28 acres (11 hectares) along the Marys River. This park has three bridges, a covered picnic area, and restrooms.
| Name | Size (Acres) | Location | Features |
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| Marys River Park | 28 | 300 S 11th St | Picnic shelter, 9 hole disc golf course, horseshoe pits, walking paths, playground area, off-leash dog area. |
| Philomath City Park | 10.5 | 299 S 23rd St | Baseball field, beginners skate park, 2 large playground areas, horseshoe pits, fitness area. |
| Flossie Overman Discovery Park | .42 | 524 N 11th St | Basketball court, swings, slide, sand jump, climbing features, with a natural playscape. |
| Westbrook Park | .78 | 250 Jade Place | Small basketball court, playground equipment, covered picnic area, gravel walking path. |
| Newton Creek Park & Path | 3.46 | 2686 Applegate St | Neighborhood park stretching from Applegate St. to Main Street featuring a paved bike path, two playground areas, and picnic tables. |
| Triangle Park | N/A | 700 College Street | Small basketball court, small covered shelter, playground area and benches. |
| Reservoir Park | 2.03 | 3100 Applegate Street | Nature park including a park bench and picnic tables with views of Philomath and Marys Peak. |
| Pioneer Park | N/A | 1202 Pioneer Street | Small neighborhood pocket park with a park bench and grass. |
| Dale Collins Park | N/A | 1501 Applegate Street | Features an electronic readerboard that displays local events, a mosaic public art structure, a bench, and picnic tables. |
Local Media
The Philomath News is a digital newspaper that shares local news. It is owned by Brad Fuqua.
Documentary Film
A film called Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon tells the story of Philomath. It shows how the traditional timber industry and newer technology jobs have come together in the town. This film was shown at the famous Sundance Film Festival in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Philomath para niños
