Westfir, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Westfir is a city in Lane County
, Oregon
, United States
. The population was 253 at the 2010 census. It is located about 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Eugene
and about 4 miles (6 km) west of Oakridge
in the Willamette National Forest
.
lumber and had established Westfir as a company town
. A major customer of the mill at this time was the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was building its line over Willamette Pass
between Eugene and Klamath Falls
in the 1920s and passing through Westfir. Westfir post office was established in November 1923. The population in 1931 was 500. The Western Lumber sawmill
was later sold to the Westfir Lumber Company and in 1946 to the Edward Hines Lumber Company
. Hines established a plywood
mill in Westfir in 1952. In 1977, Hines closed the mills and sold the entire town, including the water and sewer system. The town's new owners wanted the utilities to be in public ownership, so local residents voted to incorporate
in 1979. The mill operations closed in 1984, after a series of fires.
Oregon's longest existing covered bridge
, the Office Bridge
, was built across the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River in 1944 to connect the Westfir Lumber Company mill to the main office.
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), of which 2.86% is water.
of 2000, there were 276 people, 100 households, and 74 families residing in the city. The population density
was 789.9 people per square mile (304.5/km²). There were 106 housing units at an average density of 303.4 per square mile (116.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.28% White and 0.72% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
There were 100 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples
living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,031, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,324. About 8.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 7.4% of those sixty five or over.
in Oakridge. Westfir High School closed in 2006, after serving for a time as the district's middle school. The Westfir school district merged with the Oakridge school district in 1967.
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, 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...
. The population was 253 at the 2010 census. It is located about 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and about 4 miles (6 km) west of Oakridge
Oakridge, Oregon
Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was estimated at 3,205 in 2010. It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about east of Eugene, and southeast of Portland...
in the Willamette National Forest
Willamette National Forest
The Willamette National Forest is a National Forest located in the central portion of the Cascade Range of US state of Oregon.It comprises 1,675,407 acres making it one of the largest national forests. Over 380,000 acres are designated wilderness which include seven major mountain peaks...
.
History
The name Westfir was first used for the community in July 1923. The name came from the Western Lumber Company, which produced Douglas-firDouglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
lumber and had established Westfir as a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
. A major customer of the mill at this time was the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was building its line over Willamette Pass
Willamette Pass
Willamette Pass is a mountain pass crossing the crest of the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon. The pass is traversed by Oregon Route 58. The Willamette Pass Resort ski area is located at the pass....
between Eugene and Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
in the 1920s and passing through Westfir. Westfir post office was established in November 1923. The population in 1931 was 500. The Western Lumber sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
was later sold to the Westfir Lumber Company and in 1946 to the Edward Hines Lumber Company
Edward Hines Lumber Company
The Edward Hines Lumber Company, based in Buffalo Grove, in the U.S. state of Illinois, is a business firm specializing in lumber, plywood, decking, doors, windows, trim, and other wood products. It also sells related services such as consultations and cost estimates for building projects...
. Hines established a plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
mill in Westfir in 1952. In 1977, Hines closed the mills and sold the entire town, including the water and sewer system. The town's new owners wanted the utilities to be in public ownership, so local residents voted to incorporate
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1979. The mill operations closed in 1984, after a series of fires.
Oregon's longest existing covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
, the Office Bridge
Office Bridge
The Office Bridge is a covered bridge in Westfir, Lane County, Oregon, U.S. crossing the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River at the south end of the Aufderheide National Scenic Byway and edge of the Willamette National Forest...
, was built across the North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River in 1944 to connect the Westfir Lumber Company mill to the main office.
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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), of which 2.86% is water.
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 276 people, 100 households, and 74 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 789.9 people per square mile (304.5/km²). There were 106 housing units at an average density of 303.4 per square mile (116.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.28% White and 0.72% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
There were 100 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% 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, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,031, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $24,375 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 $11,324. About 8.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 7.4% of those sixty five or over.
Economy
The three largest employers in the Westfir area are the Oakridge School District, Armstrong Wood Products, and Oakridge Sand & Gravel.Education
Westfir students are served by the Oakridge School District, which has an elementary, middle, and high schoolOakridge High School (Oregon)
Oakridge High School is a public high school in Oakridge, Oregon, United States. It is the only high school in the Oakridge School District.-Academics:...
in Oakridge. Westfir High School closed in 2006, after serving for a time as the district's middle school. The Westfir school district merged with the Oakridge school district in 1967.
External links
- Entry for Westfir in the Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...
- The Westfir Story by the Plywood Pioneers Association