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Klamath County, Oregon

Coordinates: 42°41′N 121°39′W / 42.68°N 121.65°W / 42.68; -121.65
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Klamath County
County
Map of Oregon highlighting Klamath County
Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
Map of the United States highlighting Oregon
Oregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°41′N 121°39′W / 42.68°N 121.65°W / 42.68; -121.65
Country United States
State Oregon
FoundedOctober 17, 1882
Named forKlamath Indians
SeatKlamath Falls
Area
 • Total6,136 sq mi (15,890 km2)
 • Land5,944 sq mi (15,390 km2)
 • Water192 sq mi (500 km2)  3.12%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total66,380
 • Density11/sq mi (4.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Websitewww.co.klamath.or.us

Klamath County (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈklæməθ/ KLAM-əth) is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named for the Klamath, the tribe of Native Americans living in the area at the time the first European explorers entered the region. As of 2010, the population was 66,380. The county seat is located at Klamath Falls.

History

The Klamath or Clamitte tribe of Indians, for which Klamath County was named, are the descendants of varying cultures of indigenous peoples, who have lived in the area for 10,000 years.

When European-Americans began to travel through the area in 1846 along the Applegate Trail, they competed with the Klamath for game and water, which precipitated clashes between the peoples. This was exacerbated by European-American settlers, who cleared the land to farm and encroached on hunting territory. They were successful in demanding the removal of American Indians to reservations.

The Modoc people, having been removed to Oregon to share a reservation with the Klamath, traditional rivals, wanted a reservation created on Lost River, near present-day Merrill, Oregon. Captain Jack led his band back to Lost River, but the US Army, accompanied by militia and citizens of Linkville (present-day Klamath Falls) arrived and convinced Captain Jack to return. An argument broke out, shots were fired, and the Modoc War began as the Modoc fled to Captain Jack's Stronghold in northern California.

A treaty was signed with the Klamath on October 14, 1864, which led to the establishment of the Klamath Reservation. At various times over the next 40 years, different individuals of the Modoc tribe were settled within the reservation.

Because of the extensive tracts of forest, the Klamath were very well off as a people until the termination of the reservation by the U.S. government in 1954. Much of the money received after the termination was lost due to squandering, theft or criminal deception, resulting in increased poverty and loss of tribal identity.[citation needed]

A few of the Klamath refused to accept the buyout money, most notably Edison Chiloquin (1924–2003). Instead of cash, he insisted on receiving the title to ancestral land along the Sprague River where he lived. On December 5, 1980, the Chiloquin Act was signed into law, giving him title to the properties he wanted.[citation needed]

Geography

The Klamath County Courthouse in Klamath Falls

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,136 square miles (15,892.2 km2), of which 5,944 square miles (15,394.9 km2) is land and 192 square miles (497.3 km2) (3.12%) is water.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

A panoramic view of Klamath County, Oregon, with Klamath Lake in the background

Economy

Historically, Klamath County's economy was based on timber and agriculture, and although these natural resource industries now contribute only a small fraction to the region's current economic activity and employment, their legacy lives on in local politics, community identity, and landscape. Euro-American settlement in the area was spurred in the early 20th century with the coming of the railroad. In addition, the government-subsidized federal reclamation project, the Klamath Irrigation Project, dammed upper tributaries and drained much of the 128 square miles (331.5 km2) Lower Klamath and Tule lakes to convert 188,000 acres (760 km2) of former lakebed and wetlands into farmland, to be supported by irrigation.

Today the Sky Lakes Medical Center is the largest employer in the area, followed by Klamath County School District and Jeld-Wen, a manufacturer of doors and windows. The area is currently experiencing a boom in housing construction, as its proximity to California brings waves of retirees from population centers to the south. Outdoor recreation, such as hiking, hunting, and world-class trout fishing, as well as Oregon's only National Park at Crater Lake, contribute to the economy of the area. A complex of six National Wildlife Refuges—Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex—seasonally draw some of the largest concentrations of waterfowl in North America. The area is world-renowned as a birdwatcher's paradise. Natural geothermal hot wells provide heat for many homes, businesses, and the Oregon Institute of Technology campus. The full potential of this energy resource continues to be studied.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,444—
19003,97062.4%
19108,554115.5%
192011,41333.4%
193032,407183.9%
194040,49725.0%
195042,1504.1%
196047,47512.6%
197050,0215.4%
198059,11718.2%
199057,702−2.4%
200063,77510.5%
201066,3804.1%
[1][2][3]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 63,775 people, 25,205 households, and 17,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 28,883 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.33% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 4.19% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. 7.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.7% were of German, 10.8% Irish, 10.7% English and 9.8% United States or American ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.6% spoke English and 6.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 25,205 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,537, and the median income for a family was $38,171. Males had a median income of $32,052 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,719. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Klamath County votes by party
in presidential elections
Year Republicans

Democrats

2012 67.8% 18,654 29.6% 8,140
2008 65.0% 19,113 31.9% 9,370
2004 72.1% 22,733 26.2% 8,264
2000 67.7% 18,855 27.1% 7,541
1996 54.2% 12,116 32.2% 7,207
1992 44.6% 11,864 29.8% 7,918
1988 60.0% 13,484 37.5% 8,429
1984 69.8% 17,686 29.9% 7,575
1980 62.8% 16,060 28.8% 7,371
1976 50.8% 10,726 42.9% 9,061
1972 58.9% 11,169 30.2% 5,719
1968 56.4% 9,604 33.1% 5,629
1964 48.5% 8,530 51.5% 9,066
1960 50.5% 9,095 49.5% 8,928

Politics

Klamath County is represented in the Oregon House of Representatives by two Republicans, Bill Garrard and Mike McLane, and in the Oregon State Senate by Republican Doug Whitsett. Federally, Greg Walden, a Republican, is Klamath County's representative in the United States House. The county has reliably given a majority of its votes to Republican politicians for years; the last time a Democratic candidate for US president carried Klamath County was in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson won by a landslide nationwide against Barry Goldwater — but only by three percentage points in Klamath County.

Education

Colleges and universities

Communities

Incorporated cities

Unincorporated communities and CDPs

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/or190090.txt
  2. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
  3. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/

Media related to Klamath County, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons

42°41′N 121°39′W / 42.68°N 121.65°W / 42.68; -121.65

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