Keizer, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Keizer is a city in Marion County
, Oregon
, United States
, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizer, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Salem
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
. The community was named after Thomas Dove Keizur, one of its first settlers. Somewhere in the translation of donation land claim records, his name was misspelled.
The settlement suffered in the flood of 1861
, and the inhabitants rebuilt their homes on higher ground. Further floods in 1943, 1945, 1946 and 1948 hampered the growth of the community, and it was not until dams were built in the 1950s to regulate the flow of the Willamette that Keizer began to flourish.
Many times the City of Salem
tried to annex the growing community adjacent to its city limits. Beginning in 1964, a number of Keizer residents tried to convince the people of Keizer that it would be cheaper and better to form their own city. It was not until November 2, 1982, when, with the support of the nearby unincorporated community
of Clear Lake, residents voted to make Keizer a city.
Keizer Bottom is now the site of Keizer Rapids Park, a public park whose attractions include a dog park
, playground, boat-in camping, nature trails, and sport courts.
, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.03%) is water.
of 2000, there were 32,203 people, 12,110 households, and 8,646 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,455.7 people per square mile (1,719.7/km²). There were 12,774 housing units at an average density of 1,767.4 per square mile (682.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.52% White, 0.75% African American, 1.38% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 7.22% from other races
, and 3.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.27% of the population.
There were 12,110 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07. In the city the population was 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males The median income for a household in the city was $45,052, and the median income for a family was $49,977. Males had a median income of $37,138 versus $27,032 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,119. About 6.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
-growing industry. The festival was founded by Schreiner's Iris Gardens, one of the country's largest retail iris growers, and has been facilitated by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce since 1987. Events include a carnival, a beer garden, craft and food vendors, a 5k walk/run, a vintage car show, and a parade.
Every year from the beginning of December until the day after Christmas the Gubser school neighborhood hosts the "Keizer Miracle of Christmas Lighting Display." Many of the neighborhood's residents decide to put up Christmas lights along with other various holiday themed displays. Up to 20,000 vehicles visit the approximately 3.5 mile route each year. Along the route visitors are able to donate canned foods and non-perishable items. In 2007 19,000 pounds of food were collected for the Marion Polk Food Share and $17,100 was received in cash.
, a single A short season minor league baseball
team in the Northwest League
have their stadium, Volcanoes Stadium
, in Keizer. In addition to minor league baseball, Volcanoes Stadium has hosted the OSAA baseball championship and a Civil War baseball game between the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers
.
Keizer has been a long supporter of its lone high school's sports teams, the McNary Celtics
. The school has won multiple state titles in recent years, the last coming in 2009 when the baseball team won the state championship in Volcanoes Stadium.
and has one high school: McNary
, two middle schools: Claggett Creek and Whiteaker, and seven elementary schools: Clear Lake, Cummings, Forest Ridge, Gubser, Keizer, Kennedy and Weddle.
The first schoolhouse in the Keizer area was built in 1878, and its first teacher was Nina McNary, older sister of U.S. Senator Charles L. McNary
. The first school was torn down in 1915 and replaced in 1916 with the building that now serves as the Keizer Heritage Community Center. By the 1980s, the 1916 Keizer Elementary School was judged unsafe and a new school was built in 1987. Cummings School was built in 1953 to serve the area's growing population. In 1955, Keizer School District #88 and Salem School District # 24CJ merged to form the Salem Keizer School District.
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
, 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...
, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizer, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The original settlement was at Keizer Bottom, near the banks of the Willamette RiverWillamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
. The community was named after Thomas Dove Keizur, one of its first settlers. Somewhere in the translation of donation land claim records, his name was misspelled.
The settlement suffered in the flood of 1861
Great Flood of 1862
The Great Flood of 1862 or Noachian Deluge was the largest flood in the recorded history of Oregon, Nevada and California, occurring from December 1861 to January 1862. It was preceded by weeks of continuous rains that began in Oregon in November 1861 and continued into January 1862...
, and the inhabitants rebuilt their homes on higher ground. Further floods in 1943, 1945, 1946 and 1948 hampered the growth of the community, and it was not until dams were built in the 1950s to regulate the flow of the Willamette that Keizer began to flourish.
Many times the City of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
tried to annex the growing community adjacent to its city limits. Beginning in 1964, a number of Keizer residents tried to convince the people of Keizer that it would be cheaper and better to form their own city. It was not until November 2, 1982, when, with the support of the nearby unincorporated community
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of Clear Lake, residents voted to make Keizer a city.
Keizer Bottom is now the site of Keizer Rapids Park, a public park whose attractions include a dog park
Dog park
A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners...
, playground, boat-in camping, nature trails, and sport courts.
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 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.03%) is water.
Demographics
2000 Census data
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 32,203 people, 12,110 households, and 8,646 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 4,455.7 people per square mile (1,719.7/km²). There were 12,774 housing units at an average density of 1,767.4 per square mile (682.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.52% White, 0.75% African American, 1.38% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 7.22% 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 3.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.27% of the population.
There were 12,110 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07. In the city the population was 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males The median income for a household in the city was $45,052, and the median income for a family was $49,977. Males had a median income of $37,138 versus $27,032 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 $20,119. About 6.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Annual cultural events
The annual Iris Festival takes place in May and showcases Keizer's irisIris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
-growing industry. The festival was founded by Schreiner's Iris Gardens, one of the country's largest retail iris growers, and has been facilitated by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce since 1987. Events include a carnival, a beer garden, craft and food vendors, a 5k walk/run, a vintage car show, and a parade.
Every year from the beginning of December until the day after Christmas the Gubser school neighborhood hosts the "Keizer Miracle of Christmas Lighting Display." Many of the neighborhood's residents decide to put up Christmas lights along with other various holiday themed displays. Up to 20,000 vehicles visit the approximately 3.5 mile route each year. Along the route visitors are able to donate canned foods and non-perishable items. In 2007 19,000 pounds of food were collected for the Marion Polk Food Share and $17,100 was received in cash.
Museums and other points of interest
The Keizer Heritage Museum is inside the Keizer Heritage Community Center, which was formerly the Keizer School. The school, built in 1916, has been completely restored and is the only public historic building in Keizer. Other tenants of the building include the Keizer Community Library, the Keizer Art Association and gallery, and the Keizer Chamber of Commerce.Sports
The Salem-Keizer VolcanoesSalem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
, a single A short season minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
have their stadium, Volcanoes Stadium
Volcanoes Stadium
Volcanoes Stadium is a stadium in Keizer, Oregon. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes minor league baseball team, a Class-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Nicknamed "Oregon's Field of Dreams", it opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 4,250...
, in Keizer. In addition to minor league baseball, Volcanoes Stadium has hosted the OSAA baseball championship and a Civil War baseball game between the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
.
Keizer has been a long supporter of its lone high school's sports teams, the McNary Celtics
McNary High School
McNary High School is a public high school located in Keizer, Oregon, United States. It is named for Charles L. McNary, a U.S. Senator who was from the Keizer area.-Academics:...
. The school has won multiple state titles in recent years, the last coming in 2009 when the baseball team won the state championship in Volcanoes Stadium.
Education
Keizer is part of the Salem-Keizer School DistrictSalem-Keizer School District
Salem-Keizer School District is a school district in the U.S. state of Oregon that serves the cities of Salem and Keizer. It is the second-largest school district in the state with more than 40,000 students and nearly 4,000 full-time equivalent employees...
and has one high school: McNary
McNary High School
McNary High School is a public high school located in Keizer, Oregon, United States. It is named for Charles L. McNary, a U.S. Senator who was from the Keizer area.-Academics:...
, two middle schools: Claggett Creek and Whiteaker, and seven elementary schools: Clear Lake, Cummings, Forest Ridge, Gubser, Keizer, Kennedy and Weddle.
The first schoolhouse in the Keizer area was built in 1878, and its first teacher was Nina McNary, older sister of U.S. Senator Charles L. McNary
Charles L. McNary
Charles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
. The first school was torn down in 1915 and replaced in 1916 with the building that now serves as the Keizer Heritage Community Center. By the 1980s, the 1916 Keizer Elementary School was judged unsafe and a new school was built in 1987. Cummings School was built in 1953 to serve the area's growing population. In 1955, Keizer School District #88 and Salem School District # 24CJ merged to form the Salem Keizer School District.
Notable people
- Grayson BoucherGrayson BoucherGrayson The Professor Boucher is an American Streetball player. He is most known for playing on the highly stylized, international AND1 Mixtape Tour; he has also appeared in several movies...
(born 1984) – a streetballStreetballStreetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
player for the AND1 Mixtape TourAND1 Mixtape TourThe AND1 Live Tour, formerly known as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, is a traveling basketball competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1. A group of streetball players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from...
who is better known by his nickname "The Professor" - Deen CastronovoDeen CastronovoDeen Castronovo is an Italian American drummer who has played in various bands, including Kandles at Nine, Cacophony, Bad English, Journey, The Enemy, Wild Dogs, Dr. Mastermind, Hardline, Planet Us, Soul Sirkus, Social Distortion, and Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler's G/Z/R, as well as in...
(born 1965) - drummer for Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and JourneyJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded... - Charles L. McNaryCharles L. McNaryCharles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
, U.S. Senator