Joseph, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Joseph is a city in Wallowa County
, Oregon
, United States
. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph
. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.
ted in 1883. The economy was originally based around agriculture, especially grain and stock. After a railroad line was completed to Joseph in 1908, a lumber mill opened, bolstering the economy.
When the timber industry collapsed in the 1980s, local unemployment
rate approached 17%. However, in 1982 a new industry was born as three bronze foundries opened in the local area.
The city sponsors the annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in July, Bronze, Blues and Brews in August since 2001, and the Alpenfest in September, a Swiss-Bavarian festival staged in the traditional Oktoberfest
style at nearby Wallowa Lake
.
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,054 people, 450 households, and 288 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,234.8 people per square mile (478.8/km²). There were 543 housing units at an average density of 636.2 per square mile (246.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.88% White, 0.47% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races
, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 450 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population dispersal was 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,310, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,938 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,163. About 7.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Wallowa County, Oregon
Wallowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the origins of the county's name are uncertain, with the most likely explanation being that it is derived from the Nez Perce term for a...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph
Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, popularly known as Chief Joseph, or Young Joseph was the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nez Perce during General Oliver O. Howard's attempt to forcibly remove his band and the other "non-treaty" Nez Perce to a reservation in Idaho...
. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.
History
Joseph was platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1883. The economy was originally based around agriculture, especially grain and stock. After a railroad line was completed to Joseph in 1908, a lumber mill opened, bolstering the economy.
When the timber industry collapsed in the 1980s, local unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rate approached 17%. However, in 1982 a new industry was born as three bronze foundries opened in the local area.
The city sponsors the annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in July, Bronze, Blues and Brews in August since 2001, and the Alpenfest in September, a Swiss-Bavarian festival staged in the traditional Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
style at nearby Wallowa Lake
Wallowa Lake
Wallowa Lake is a ribbon lake one mile south of Joseph, Oregon, United States. Impounded by high moraines, it was formed by a series of Pleistocene glaciers. On the south end of the lake is a small community made up of vacation homes, lodging, restaurants, as well as other small businesses....
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,054 people, 450 households, and 288 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,234.8 people per square mile (478.8/km²). There were 543 housing units at an average density of 636.2 per square mile (246.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.88% White, 0.47% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 450 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population dispersal was 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,310, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,938 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,163. About 7.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- "Official" Joseph, Oregon site from the Joseph Chamber Business Committee (no City of Joseph government information)