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Sweet Home, Oregon

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sword Fern (talk | contribs) at 04:53, 2 April 2013 (Updating former Sweet Home resident Matt Slauson's NFL affiliation. Slauson, a former New York Jet, signed a contract with the Chicago Bears.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Sweet Home, Oregon
City
The Weddle Bridge spans Ames Creek in Sweet Home, Oregon
The Weddle Bridge spans Ames Creek in Sweet Home, Oregon
Nickname: 
Gateway to the Santiam Playground
Motto: 
Sweet Home: Oregon at its Best
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLinn
Incorporated1893
Government
 • MayorJim Gourley
Area
[1]
 • Total5.75 sq mi (14.89 km2)
 • Land5.30 sq mi (13.73 km2)
 • Water0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2)
Elevation
537 ft (163.7 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total8,925
 • Estimate 
(2011[3])
9,035
 • Density1,684.0/sq mi (650.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code
97386
Area code(s)458 and 541
FIPS code41-71950Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1127827Template:GR
Websitewww.ci.sweet-home.or.us

Sweet Home is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. The population was 8,925 at the 2010 census.[4] Sweet Home is sometimes referred to as the "Gateway to the Santiam Playground" due to its proximity to nearby lakes, rivers and the Cascade Mountains.[5]

History

Settlers first arrived in the Sweet Home Valley in the early 1850s. A community known as Buckhead developed near the mouth of Ames Creek and the South Santiam River. Buckhead was named after a saloon that featured a set of elk antlers on the gable end of its building. East of Buckhead, a community called Mossville developed with a store and post office. In 1874, the two communities merged to become one community called Sweet Home. In 1893, the city of Sweet Home was incorporated.[6]

The Santiam Wagon Road, a toll road connecting the Willamette Valley with central Oregon, was opened in 1865. The road extended from the Sweet Home Valley across the Santiam Pass in the Cascades to Camp Polk near Sisters. The Santiam Wagon Road was a vital means of supplying livestock and goods from western Oregon to central Oregon and transporting wool from east of the Cascades back to Willamette Valley woolen mills.[7] Competition with railroads that extended south from the Columbia River into central Oregon and the newly opened McKenzie Pass Highway made the wagon road obsolete by the late 1930s. U.S. Route 20 was constructed across much of the same route as the Santiam Wagon Road.[8]

Sweet Home experienced significant growth during the 1940s due to the demand for timber from local forests. Further growth occurred when construction began on nearby Green Peter Dam in 1962 and continued as construction began on Foster Dam in 1966.[9]

During the 1980s, Sweet Home experienced a number of sawmill and plywood mill closures due to logging restrictions placed on nearby forests resulting from environmental concerns for endangered species.[10] In response, community members sought out other economic development opportunities such as the Oregon Jamboree country music and camping festival.[11]

Geography

Foster Lake is located on the eastern edge of Sweet Home

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.75 square miles (14.89 km2), of which, 5.30 square miles (13.73 km2) is land and 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) is water.[1]

Sweet Home is located near the junction of Oregon Route 228 and U.S. Route 20.

The South Santiam River flows from Foster Reservoir along the northern city limits of Sweet Home. Ames Creek and Wiley Creek flow into the South Santiam River within the city limits.

Sweet Home is built on a prehistoric petrified forest. In addition to fossil wood, the area includes a variety of agate, jasper, crystals and minerals.[12]

Demographics

The median income for a household in the city was $37,182. 20.0% of persons were below the poverty line.[4]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 8,925 people, 3,440 households, and 2,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684.0 inhabitants per square mile (650.2/km2). There were 3,768 housing units at an average density of 710.9 per square mile (274.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population.

There were 3,440 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Economy

Major employers in Sweet Home include White's Electronics, a metal detector manufacturer;[13] HEVI-Shot, a manufacturer of shotshell ammunition;[14] Cascade Timber Consulting, a timber investment management organization;[15] Weyerhaeuser; the United States Forest Service and the Sweet Home School District.

Arts and culture

Country music fans watch an evening concert at The Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home

Annual cultural events

Covered Bridges

The Weddle Covered Bridge crosses Ames Creek at Sankey Park in Sweet Home. The Crawfordsville Covered Bridge spans the Calapooia River eight miles southwest of Sweet Home and the Short Covered Bridge crosses the South Santiam River 12 miles east of Sweet Home.

Parks and recreation

Fly fishing on the South Santiam River near Sweet Home.

Sweet Home has seven city parks.[16] In addition, there are numerous nearby opportunities for outdoor activities including boating, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, white water sports, hunting, camping and gold panning.

For water based recreation, Foster Reservoir provides three improved boat ramps and a year round marina while Green Peter Reservoir provides two improved boat ramps. The South Santiam River offers salmon and steelhead fishing while Quartzville Creek is recognized for Class 4 and Class 5 kayaking and gold panning opportunities.

Nearby hiking trails include Horse Rock Ridge, Soda Creek Falls Trail at Cascadia State Park and numerous trails throughout the Willamette National Forest. The Menagerie Wilderness provides rock climbing challenges.

An 18 hole golf course, Mallard Creek Golf Club, is 11 miles northwest of Sweet Home. The nearest ski resort, Hoo Doo Ski Bowl, is 52 miles east of Sweet Home near Santiam Pass.

Sweet Home has also been featured on the Travel Channel program "Cash and Treasures" for an abundant petrified wood find at Holleywood Ranch between Sweet Home and Holley, Oregon.[17]

Education

Sweet Home High School

Sweet Home is served by the Sweet Home School District. The district includes Sweet Home High School, a junior high school and four elementary schools. The district covers Sweet Home, Cascadia, Crawfordsville, Holley, Liberty, Pleasant Valley and other surrounding communities.[18]

Linn–Benton Community College operates a branch campus in Sweet Home.[19]

Media

The New Era newspaper is published weekly,[20] and the daily Albany Democrat-Herald also serves the city.

Notable people


References

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-21. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-21. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-04. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Sweet Home (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  5. ^ "History of Sweet Home". Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  6. ^ "City of Sweet Home - History". Sweet-home.or.us. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  7. ^ "Santiam Wagon Road". Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  8. ^ "Oregon Historic Trails Fund". Oregon Historic Trails Fund. 1995-07-06. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  9. ^ "History of The Willamette National Forest (Chapter 5)". Foresthistory.org. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  10. ^ "Industry Fears Environmentalists : Loggers See Spotted Owl as a Harbinger of Doom - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2003-07-27. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  11. ^ "About The Oregon Jamboree In Sweet Home Oregon". Oregon Jamboree. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  12. ^ "The Ore Bin" (PDF). State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. 1968-04. Retrieved 2012-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "White's Metal Detectors". Whiteselectronics.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  14. ^ "Welcome to HEVI-ShotÂŽ". Hevishot.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  15. ^ "Cascade Timber Consulting, Inc". Cascadetimber.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  16. ^ "City of Sweet Home Park System". Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  17. ^ Ast, Ellen (2007-12-27). "Rockin' in the tree world". The Albany Democrat Herald. Albany, Oregon. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  18. ^ "Our District". Sweethome.k12.or.us. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  19. ^ "LBCC: Sweet Home Center". Linnbenton.edu. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  20. ^ The New Era
  21. ^ Gehrett, Les (2011-07-29). "Former Sweet Home player goes back to work for Jets". Democratherald.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  22. ^ Wright, Michael (2013-03-31). "Matt Slauson, Bears agree on deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2013-04-01.

Media related to Sweet Home, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons

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