St. Helens, Oregon

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St. Helens, Oregon
Official seal of St. Helens, Oregon
Seal
Motto: The Payroll City
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°51′34″N 122°49′1″W / 45.85944, -122.81694
Country United States
State Oregon
County Columbia
Incorporated 1889
Government
 - Mayor Randy Peterson
Area
 - Total 5.3 sq mi (13.8 km²)
 - Land 4.3 sq mi (11.3 km²)
 - Water 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²)
Elevation 39 ft (11.9 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 10,019
 - Density 2,305.6/sq mi (889.3/km²)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) Pacific (UTC-7)
FIPS code 41-64600[1]
GNIS feature ID 1126468[2]
Website: http://www.ci.st-helens.or.us

St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain H. M. Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845 as "Plymouth". The name of the community was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850, after the view of Mount St. Helens across the Columbia River in Washington. The population was 10,019 at the 2000 census.

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[edit] History

St. Helens was established as a river port on the Columbia River in the 1840s, and was the primary deep-water port, surpassing Portland until the destruction of the mail docks by fire. The docks burned down twice under mysterious circumstances, after which Portland became the primary port. St. Helens was incorporated as a city in 1889.

[edit] Geography

U.S. Route 30 passes through the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.3 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²) of it (18.27%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,019 people, 3,722 households, and 2,579 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,305.6 people per square mile (889.3/km²). There were 4,032 housing units at an average density of 927.8/sq mi (357.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.74% White, 0.34% African American, 1.68% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.

There were 3,722 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.

City Hall
City Hall

In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,648, and the median income for a family was $45,548. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $26,725 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,237. About 8.7% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Public schools in St. Helens include Mcbride School, Lewis and Clark Elementary, St. Helens Middle School, and St. Helens High School.

[edit] Notable residents

St. Helens is home to former major league baseball player Chris Wakeland.[citation needed]

Battlestar Galactica star Katee Sackhoff grew up in the town.

[edit] Sister city

St. Helens has one sister city:[3]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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