Willamina, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willamina, Oregon
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Willamina City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
Timbertown, USA
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Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| Counties | Yamhill, Polk |
| Incorporated | 1903 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.99 sq mi (2.55 km2) |
| • Land | 0.94 sq mi (2.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 233 ft (71 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,239 |
| • Density | 2,371.82/sq mi (915.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP code |
97396
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| Area code(s) | 503 |
| FIPS code | 41-82350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412264 |
| Website | www.willaminaoregon.gov |
Willamina is a small city in the state of Oregon, USA. It is located in both Polk and Yamhill Counties. In 2020, about 2,239 people lived there.
Willamina is known as "Timbertown, USA" because of its history with the timber industry. Part of the city is near the larger Portland area, and another part is close to the Salem area.
Contents
Discovering Willamina's Past
Willamina got its name from Willamina Creek. This creek was named after an early settler, Willamina Williams. She was born in Ohio in 1817. In 1845, she came to Oregon with her first husband, James Maley. They were looking for land to settle. They found a small river that flowed into the South Yamhill River. They named it after Mrs. Maley.
James Maley passed away in 1847. Willamina then married Enos Williams in 1848. They made their home in what is now Amity.
How Willamina Grew
The first Willamina post office opened in 1855. It was about a mile east of where the city is today. The office moved a few times. In 1866, it moved and was renamed to Sheridan.
A new Willamina post office started in 1878. It operated for many years. Around the same time, a gristmill (for grinding grain) and a sawmill (for cutting wood) were built. The town was officially planned in 1879. Willamina became an official city in 1903. At that time, about 200 people lived there.
Where is Willamina Located?
Willamina covers about 0.96 square miles (2.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The city is located near where several main roads meet. These include Oregon Route 18, Oregon Route 18 Business, and Oregon Route 22. The South Yamhill River also flows nearby. Willamina is about 18 miles southwest of McMinnville. Nearby towns include Shipley and Sheridan to the northeast. Valley Junction is about 6 miles southwest.
Who Lives in Willamina?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 68 | — | |
| 1910 | 376 | — | |
| 1920 | 247 | −34.3% | |
| 1930 | 360 | 45.7% | |
| 1940 | 677 | 88.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,082 | 59.8% | |
| 1960 | 960 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,193 | 24.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,749 | 46.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,717 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,844 | 7.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,025 | 9.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,239 | 10.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Willamina's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,239 people living in Willamina. There were 852 homes and 852 families. Most residents, about 1,748 people, were White. There were also 177 Native Americans, 12 Asians, and 8 Pacific Islanders. About 197 people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many people in Willamina have German, Irish, or English family roots. The average age in the city was 35.4 years old. About 14.6% of the people were over 65.
The average income for a household was about $49,773. For families, it was around $57,656. About 15.7% of the people in Willamina lived below the poverty line.
Willamina's Population in 2010
In 2010, Willamina had 2,025 people. There were 698 households and 501 families. The city had about 2,201 people per square mile.
Most residents (82.1%) were White. About 8.8% were Native American. Hispanic or Latino people made up 6.0% of the population.
About 40.1% of homes had children under 18. The average household had 2.89 people. The average family had 3.26 people. The median age was 33.2 years. About 28.4% of residents were under 18.
Willamina's Economy
Willamina's economy grew a lot in 1907. This happened when the Pacific Face Brick Company moved there. They opened the Willamina Clay Products plant. A railroad was built to the city because of this brick plant. The plant made bricks for 82 years. These bricks were used in famous buildings in Portland, like the Portland Art Museum. The brick plant closed in 1974.
The timber industry has also been very important to Willamina. When the Pacific Plywood Corporation opened a plant in 1939, the city's population tripled. Willamina became known as "The Little Town with the Big Payroll."
As of 2002, some of the biggest employers in the area included Spirit Mountain Casino. This casino is in nearby Grand Ronde. Other major employers were Hampton Lumber Company and the Willamina School District.
Learning in Willamina
Willamina has its own school system, called the Willamina School District. This district includes Willamina High School.
Local News
Willamina used to have its own weekly newspaper, The Sun. This newspaper stopped publishing in 2014. Now, Willamina gets its news from the News-Register. This newspaper covers the whole county and is based in McMinnville.
Transportation in Willamina
Railroad History
The Sheridan and Willamina Railroad started in 1907. It later became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1913. Another railroad company, the Willamina and Grand Ronde Railroad (W&GR), extended the line. They built tracks from Willamina to Grand Ronde in 1922.
The W&GR changed owners several times. In 1980, the Willamette Valley Railway bought it. Today, the railroad lines around Willamina are owned by the Portland and Western Railroad. However, part of the line from Fort Hill to Grand Ronde is no longer used.
See also
In Spanish: Willamina para niños
