Tumalo, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tumalo, Oregon
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Tumalo Community Church, 2015
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 Tumalo, Oregon
Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Deschutes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| • Land | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,189 ft (972 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 558 |
| • Density | 326.89/sq mi (126.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97703
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| FIPS code | 41-75050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1166071 |
Tumalo is a small community in Deschutes County, Oregon, in the United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a special area the government counts for population, even though it's not officially a city. In 2020, about 558 people lived there.
The name "Tumalo" comes from the Klamath language. The word tumolo means "wild plum," which is a plant that grows a lot in that part of Oregon. Another word, tumola, means "ground fog," which might have described the nearby Tumalo Creek. The original name for Tumalo Creek was Tumallowa, meaning "icy water."
Where is Tumalo Located?
Tumalo is in the middle of Deschutes County. It sits along U.S. Route 20. The town of Sisters is about 15 miles (24 km) to the northwest, and Bend, the main city of the county, is about 7 miles (11 km) to the south. Eagle Crest Resort is about 9 miles (14 km) to the northeast.
Tumalo covers an area of about 1.7 square miles (4.4 square kilometers), and all of it is land. The community is located next to the Deschutes River. Tumalo Creek flows into the Deschutes River about 3 miles (5 km) south of Tumalo.
Population of Tumalo
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 558 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Tumalo was 558 people. This number helps us understand how many people live in the area.
History of Tumalo
Tumalo was first called "Laidlaw." It was named after W. A. Laidlaw, who helped start the town. In 1904, the Tumalo Irrigation Project began, which was a plan to bring water to farms. The Tumalo post office also opened that year.
Even though the irrigation project ended and the post office closed in 1913, the people living in Laidlaw decided to change the town's name to "Tumalo" in 1915.
Later, because more people were moving to the Bend area, a new ZIP code was created. On July 1, 2015, Tumalo's ZIP code changed from 97701 to 97703.
Famous People from Tumalo
- Ben Westlund was a politician who lived in Tumalo. A politician is someone who works in government, helping to make decisions and laws for the community or state.
