| Huntington, Oregon | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Incorporated | 1891 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Donna Rush |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| - Land | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation | 2,110 ft (643.13 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 515 |
| - Density | 700.8/sq mi (272.4/km²) |
| Time zone | Pacific (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | Pacific (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 97907 |
| Area code(s) | 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-35700GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1122160GR3 |
Huntington is a city in Baker County, on the eastern border of Oregon, United States. It is located on the Snake River and along Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 30. The population was 515 at the 2000 census.
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History
Henry Miller settled in the area in August 1862. In 1870, Miller's Stagecoach Station was established before the coming of the railroad in 1884. It soon became the primary shipping point for the cattle country to the south. Miller built the Stage Tavern, known for many years as "Miller Station". It was on the overland route that had been established in the valley, and had become well known to all who traveled in pioneer days.[1] According to Oregon Geographic Names, Huntington was named for J.B. and J.M. Huntington, brothers who purchased Miller's holdings in 1882. The Huntingtons maintained a small trading post on their land. In 1884, the rails of the Oregon Short Line and the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company line were joined in Huntington.Since that time, Huntington has been an important railway division point.[2] With the advent of the railroad came J.T. Fifer, who had been selling general merchandise to the construction crews moving his goods from town to town as the work progressed. Shortly after Fifer arrived, the Huntingtons closed up, leaving him alone in the general merchandise business. The Oregon Construction Company followed soon, with a stock of general merchandise, a blacksmith shop, the Pacific Hotel, several boarding houses and restaurants and a number of saloons. In 1898, the Northwest Railroad Company began extending a short line down the Snake River. It reached Homestead about 1910. This increased transportation at Huntington and gave an outlet for Eagle and Pine Valley fruits, cattle, lumber and ore. This line was flooded by water from the power dam at Brownlee. Huntington became the only incorporated city in Baker County on the Oregon Trail in 1891 with Home Rule Law.[3] Remnants of the Old Oregon Trail can still be seen today when one is traveling north from Farewell Bend State Recreation area toward the town of Huntington on U.S. Route 30.[3] Evidence of the hardships and tragedies of the pioneer movement still exists--a small iron cross, visible from Highway 30, marks the location where Snake River Shoshone Indians killed a number of emigrants in 1860.[3] At the turn of the 19th century, Huntington developed a reputation as "Sin City"—a rugged frontier town, having its share of saloons, Chinese opium dens, and gunslingers.[3] Governor Oswald West was motivated to clean up the city, along with the community of Copperfield, in 1912-1914.[3]
Points of interest
Farewell Bend State Recreation Area is south of Huntington. The Oregon Commercial Company Building in Huntington is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Huntington is located at (44.350279, -117.265515).GR1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²), all of it land. Huntington is across the Snake River from the westernmost point of Idaho.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 515 people, 232 households, and 150 families residing in the city. The population density was 700.8 people per square mile (272.4/km²). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 409.6/sq mi (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.39% African American, 0.97% Native American, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population. There were 232 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.73. In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $25,132, and the median income for a family was $30,781. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,396. About 10.7% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
- Huntington High School [1]
Trivia
The first ransom bill from the 1935 George Weyerhaeuser Kidnapping turned up in Huntington.[4]
References
- ^ Huntington, Oregon. oregoncities.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ A 1940 Journey Across Oregon. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ a b c d e Welcome to Huntington, Oregon. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Harmon and Margaret Waley, two kidnappers of George Weyerhaeuser, are captured in Salt Lake City on June 8, 1935.. HistoryLink.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
External links
- Oregon Blue Book listing for Huntington
- Cached Baker City Herald article on Huntington
- Image of Huntington depot from Salem Public Library
- Huntington, Oregon is at coordinates Coordinates:
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Baker County, Oregon |
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| County seat: Baker City | ||
| Cities |
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| Communities |
Copperfield | Cornucopia | Oxbow | Whitney |
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