Pendleton, Oregon
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Pendleton is a city located in Umatilla County, Oregon. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,354. It is the county seat of Umatilla CountyTemplate:GR.
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History
A commercial center in the locality of Pendleton began as early as 1851 when Dr. William C. McKay established a trading post at the mouth of McKay Creek. A Post Office with the name of Marshall (named for the owner of another local store, and sometime gambler) was established April 21, 1865, and later renamed Pendleton. The city was incorporated in 1880.
By 1900, Pendleton had a population of 4,406 and was the fourth-largest city in Oregon. Like many cities in eastern Oregon, it had a flourishing Chinatown from the 1880s into the 1920s.
Pendleton Woolen Mills (http://www.pendleton-usa.com/index.cfm?action=about), founded in 1893, is known world-wide as a maker of fine Indian trading blankets and men's plaid shirts.
First held in 1910, Pendleton is famous for its annual Pendleton Roundup rodeo, part of the PRCA (http://prorodeo.org/) professional rodeo circuit.
It was also famous for its red light district, which as late as 1947 counted 20 brothels in the heart of the city. While the threat of a Presbyterian minister in 1953 to read in church a list of names of patrons of the city's brothels closed the district, one survivor, Stella Darby continued to operate her establishment until she retired in 1965. The four blocks that this red-light district once covered is now the "old town" of Pendleton, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
ORMap-doton-Pendleton.png
Location of Pendleton, Oregon
I-84 passes through Pendleton, connecting the city to Portland to the west and Boise, Idaho to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.0 km² (10.1 mi²). 26.0 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
The Umatilla River flows through Pendleton.
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Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 16,354 people, 5,964 households, and 3,727 families residing in the city. The population density is 628.3/km² (1,627.2/mi²). There are 6,352 housing units at an average density of 244.0/km² (632.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 89.15% White, 1.53% African American, 2.52% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.68% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 6.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,964 households out of which 31.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% are married couples living together, 10.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% are non-families. 30.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 114.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 116.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,800, and the median income for a family is $47,410. Males have a median income of $31,763 versus $23,858 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,551. 13.3% of the population and 8.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Pendleton Web Page (http://www.ci.pendleton.or.us)
- Pendleton Round-up Home Page (http://www.pendletonroundup.com/)