Lane County, Oregon (original) (raw)

County in Oregon, United States

County in Oregon

Lane County
County
[Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, built in 1898 and demolished in 1959[1]](/wiki/File:1898%5FLane%5FCounty%5FCourthouse%5F%28Lane%5FCounty,%5FOregon%5Fscenic%5Fimages%29%5F%28lanD0040a%29.jpg "Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, built in 1898 and demolished in 1959[1]")Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, built in 1898 and demolished in 1959[1]
Map of Oregon highlighting Lane CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Oregon
Map of the United States highlighting OregonOregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°57′N 122°53′W / 43.95°N 122.88°W / 43.95; -122.88
Country United States
State Oregon
Founded January 29, 1851
Named after Joseph Lane
Seat Eugene
Largest city Eugene
Area
• Total 4,722 sq mi (12,230 km2)
• Land 4,553 sq mi (11,790 km2)
• Water 169 sq mi (440 km2) 3.6%
Population (2020)
• Total 382,971
• Estimate (2024) 382,396 Decrease
• Density 84.11/sq mi (32.48/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district 4th
Website www.lanecounty.org

Lane County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 382,971,[2] making it the fourth-most populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Eugene, the state's second most populous city.[3] It is named in honor of Joseph Lane, Oregon's first territorial governor. Lane County comprises the Eugene, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third-largest MSA in Oregon, and the 144th-largest in the country.[4][5]

Lane County was established on January 29, 1851. It was created from the southern part of Linn County and the portion of Benton County east of Umpqua County. It was named after the territory's first governor, Joseph Lane.[6] Originally it covered all of southern Oregon east to the Cascade Mountains and south to the California border. When the Territorial Legislature created Lane County, it did not designate a county seat. In the 1853 election, four sites competed for the designation, of which the "Mulligan donation" received a majority vote; however, since it was contiguous to the "Skinner claim" both became part of the new county seat known as Eugene.

In 1846, Elijah Bristow and his wife, the former Susannah Gabbart, had become the first white settlers to build a claim cabin within the present-day boundaries of Lane County, near Pleasant Hill. They had crossed the plains to California in the previous year, and came north with Eugene F. Skinner, Captain Felix Scott, and William Dodson.[7] As their party entered the valley between the Coast Fork and Middle Fork of the Willamette River, Bristow gazed around and exclaimed, "What a pleasant hill! Here is my home!"[8]

In 1852, John Diamond and William Macy led an exploration party to survey a shortcut for the Oregon Trail across the Cascade Range. The shortcut over the Willamette Pass became known as the Free Emigrant Road. Around 250 wagons with 1,027 people left the usual Oregon Trail route at Vale, Oregon, and followed Elijah Elliott through the central Oregon high desert. This became known as the Elliott Cutoff. When they reached what is now Bend, they sent scouts to the south to look for the road. Once settlers in the Willamette Valley discovered the emigrants were coming, a huge rescue effort was launched as the emigrants were out of supplies and in dire condition. The emigrants of this wagon train doubled the population of Lane County in 1853.[9]

The county has been vastly reduced from its original size by several boundary changes. One of the first changes gave it access to the Pacific Ocean, when it acquired the northern part of Umpqua County in 1853. With the creation of Wasco County in 1854, it lost all of its territory east of the Cascade Mountains. Minor boundary changes occurred with Douglas County in 1852, 1885, 1903, 1915, and 1917; with Linn County in 1907 and with Benton County in 1923.

Map of Lane County

Map of Lane County

Heceta Head on the coastline of Lane County

Aerial view of the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,722 square miles (12,230 km2), of which 4,553 square miles (11,790 km2) is land and 169 square miles (440 km2) (3.6%) is water.[10] Lane County is one of two Oregon counties that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascades (the other is Douglas County.)[11] A portion of the Umpqua National Forest is in Lane County. Portions of the Willamette, McKenzie, and Siuslaw rivers run through the county.

National protected areas

[edit]

Historical population

Census Pop. Note %±
1860 4,780 —
1870 6,426 34.4%
1880 9,411 46.5%
1890 15,198 61.5%
1900 19,604 29.0%
1910 33,783 72.3%
1920 36,166 7.1%
1930 54,493 50.7%
1940 69,096 26.8%
1950 125,776 82.0%
1960 162,890 29.5%
1970 213,358 31.0%
1980 275,226 29.0%
1990 282,912 2.8%
2000 322,959 14.2%
2010 351,715 8.9%
2020 382,971 8.9%
2024 (est.) 382,396 [12] −0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]1990–2000[16] 2010–2020[2]

Lane County, Oregon – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[17] Pop 1990[18] Pop 2000[19] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 261,505 265,391 286,075 297,808 298,507 95.01% 93.81% 88.58% 84.67% 77.95%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,566 2,040 2,391 3,102 4,352 0.57% 0.72% 0.74% 0.88% 1.14%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2,471 3,017 3,268 3,418 3,355 0.90% 1.07% 1.01% 0.97% 0.88%
Asian alone (NH) 2,919 5,419 6,390 8,169 9,404 1.06% 1.92% 1.98% 2.32% 2.46%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [22] x [23] 562 732 947 x x 0.17% 0.21% 0.25%
Other race alone (NH) 1,184 193 534 514 2,377 0.43% 0.07% 0.17% 0.15% 0.62%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [24] x [25] 8,865 11,805 26,249 x x 2.74% 3.36% 6.85%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,581 6,852 14,874 26,167 37,780 2.03% 2.42% 4.61% 7.44% 9.86%
Total 275,226 282,912 322,959 351,715 382,971 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

The racial and ethnic make up of the county was 77.9% non-Hispanic White, 1.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 6.9% mixed race of two or more, and 9.9% Hispanic.

As of the 2010 census, there were 351,715 people, 145,966 households, and 86,938 families living in the county.[26] The population density was 77.2 inhabitants per square mile (29.8/km2). There were 156,112 housing units at an average density of 34.3 units per square mile (13.2 units/km2).[27] The racial makeup of the county was 88.3% white, 2.4% Asian, 1.2% American Indian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 2.8% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.4% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, 21.8% were German, 14.9% were English, 13.8% were Irish, and 5.3% were American.[28]

Of the 145,966 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.4% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 39.0 years.[26]

Graph of the change in county population from 1860 to 2010

The median income for a household in the county was 42,923andthemedianincomeforafamilywas42,923 and the median income for a family was 42,923andthemedianincomeforafamilywas55,817. Males had a median income of 43,383versus43,383 versus 43,383versus32,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,869. About 10.0% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.[29]

Lane County is the fourth-most populous county in Oregon. It grew more slowly from 2000 to 2010 than did the three larger counties, Multnomah (the most populous Oregon county), Washington and Clackamas.[30]

As of the census[31] of 2000, there were 322,959 people, 130,453 households, and 82,185 families living in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile (27 people/km2). There were 138,946 housing units at an average density of 30 units per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.64% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 2.00% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races, and 3.32% from two or more races. 4.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 130,453 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was 36,942,andthemedianincomeforafamilywas36,942, and the median income for a family was 36,942,andthemedianincomeforafamilywas45,111. Males had a median income of 34,358versus34,358 versus 34,358versus25,103 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,681. About 9.00% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Lane County is governed by a County commission. Commissioners are elected officials and serve four-year terms. The current commissioners are:

In presidential elections from the 1950s through the 70s, Lane County mostly leaned towards Republican candidates, but returned to a solidly Democratic county in 1984, coming to often back Democratic candidates in statewide elections by broad margins. It is one of many counties dominated by college towns that swung heavily Democratic in this period.

Through much of the mid-1800s and the first half of the 20th century, the region served as a stronghold for the pro-slavery National Democratic Party. In the 1920s the county was considered the state headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan. Major Luther I. Powell, a resident of the county and Klan leader, led early efforts to establish the Klan, first in Eugene and then across Oregon.[32]

Lane County is currently one of 11 counties in Oregon in which therapeutic psilocybin is legal.

As of 2022, Lane County has the fifth-largest gross domestic product among Oregon's 36 counties, totaling $17.55 billion.[35]

Tourism has become a key driver of the local economy, with direct visitor spending reaching 1.1billionin2023,andtotaltravelspendinghittingarecord1.1 billion in 2023, and total travel spending hitting a record 1.1billionin2023,andtotaltravelspendinghittingarecord1.4 billion.[36]

PeaceHealth Medical Group is the largest private employer in Lane County, followed by the University of Oregon, Eugene 4J School District, and U.S. Government.[37]

Growth in the next decades is predicted to shift away from timber and agriculture to services, manufacturing of transportation equipment, printing and publishing, and high technology.

Downtown Eugene

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park and part of Cleawox Lake, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, south of Florence

Incorporated cities

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

School districts include:[38]

  1. ^ "About Us". Lane County Historical Society. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2012. Lane County Courthouse, NE corner of 8th Avenue and Oak Street, Eugene; Lane County Jail on left. Lane County Courthouse was built in 1898 and torn down in 1959. — Catalog Number: CS284
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008". www.census.gov. Archived from the original (XSL) on July 31, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 10-02: Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. December 1, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 180.
  7. ^ Walling, Albert G. (1884). Illustrated History of Lane County Oregon. Lane County, Oregon: Printing house of A. G. Walling. p. 476. ASIN B009QBROJE.
  8. ^ Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Press. p. 707. ISBN 0-87004-332-3. Elijah Bristow.
  9. ^ Sullivan, William L. (2002). Thurman, Paula (ed.). Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas (3rd ed.). The Mountaineers Books.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "About Lane County". Official Lane County web site. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008.
  12. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  15. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  17. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 58 - Persons by Race and Table 59 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 39/24-39/32)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Oregon - Table 5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 9-30.
  19. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lane County, Oregon". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lane County, Oregon". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lane County, Oregon". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  23. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  24. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  25. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  26. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  27. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  28. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  29. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  30. ^ Buri McDonald, Sherri (February 24, 2011). "Low-growth pains". The Register-Guard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  31. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  32. ^ Lay, Shawn (2004). The Invisible Empire in the West. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-07171-3. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  33. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  34. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,815 votes, while Socialist Eugene Debs received 773 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 343 votes.
  35. ^ "Gross Domestic Product by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)".
  36. ^ "Travel lane county - Annual report FY2023". marketing.eugenecascadescoast.org.
  37. ^ "Lane County Principal Employers".
  38. ^ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lane County, OR (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 24, 2024. - Text list

English Wikisource has original text related to this article:

43°57′N 122°53′W / 43.95°N 122.88°W / 43.95; -122.88