Official Name: | Independence, Oregon |
Settlement Type: | City |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Map: | USA |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Oregon |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Polk |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | John McArdle (D)[1] |
Established Title: | Incorporated |
Established Date: | 1874 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.08 |
Area Footnotes: | [2] |
Area Total Km2: | 7.99 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.98 |
Area Land Km2: | 7.72 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.10 |
Area Water Km2: | 0.26 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 9828 |
Population Density Km2: | 1272.41 |
Population Density Sq Mi: | 3295.77 |
Timezone: | Pacific |
Utc Offset: | -8 |
Timezone Dst: | Pacific |
Utc Offset Dst: | -7 |
Coordinates: | 44.8547°N -123.1953°W |
Elevation Ft: | 171 |
Website: | www.ci.independence.or.us |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
Postal Code: | 97351 |
Area Code: | 503 and 971 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank Info: | 41-36150[3] |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 2410099 |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thirty square blocks of the oldest part of Independence form the National Register of Historic Places-listed Independence Historic District.
The population was 9,828 at the 2020 census.[4]
Independence was founded by pioneers who migrated from Independence, Missouri. Elvin A. Thorp arrived in the Independence area in 1845 and staked a claim north of Ash Creek in June of that year. He platted a small townsite that later became known as "Thorp's Town of Independence" or the "Original Town of Independence", now known as "Old Town". Thorp named the town for his eponymous hometown in Missouri, as well as in honor of Andrew Jackson's characteristic of "Independence".[5]
In 1847, Henry Hill came across the plains looking for a level piece of ground on which to raise stock. On November 14, 1847, he found his location on the west bank of the Willamette River (south of Ash Street) and marked off his donation land claim, which was square. In 1867, after returning from the California gold mines, Hill platted 40acres for a townsite, thereafter to be referred to as Henry Hill's Town of Independence. The city charter bill of February 26, 1885, incorporated E.A. Thorp's Independence and Henry Hill's Independence. Henry Hill Elementary School was named in honor of the latter.
Independence thrived as a shipping point, by both rail and boat, for agricultural products and lumber until the 1950s. The city was known for its hops production from the 1890s through the 1940s, hosting a festival called the "Hops Fiesta" from the early 1930s to the mid-1950s.[6]
Downtown Independence was bypassed by major freeways in the 1960s, though the period saw an alternative form of transportation enabled by the construction of the Independence State Airport, which was dedicated on August 14, 1964.[8]
Independence is located at 44.8531°N -123.1914°W.[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.82sqmi, of which 2.73sqmi is land and 0.09sqmi is water.[10] Ash Creek flows through Independence, where it meets the Willamette River.[11]
As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 8,590 people, 2,857 households, and 2,021 families residing in the city. The population density was 3146.5PD/sqmi. There were 3,168 housing units at an average density of 1160.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 19.1% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.3% of the population.
There were 2,857 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.3% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.45.
The median age in the city was 28.3 years. 30.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.5% were from 45 to 64; and 8.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,035 people, 1,994 households, and 1,425 families residing in the city. The population density was 2585.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,131 housing units at an average density of 913.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 73.69% White, 1.49% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.41% African American, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 19.64% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.12% of the population.
There were 1,994 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.41.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,790, and the median income for a family was $40,466. Males had a median income of $30,253 versus $22,527 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,933. About 14.6% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Independence shares a school district (Central School District) with Monmouth.[13] An elementary school (Independence), a middle school (Talmadge), and a high school (Central) are shared between the two cities.
]
.