Tillamook County, Oregon

Economy Dairy farms dominate the county's fertile valley, and it is the home of the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The reforested, 355,000 acre "Tillamook Burn" is rapidly maturing, and there is local expectation that it will assist in the recovery of the local timber industry. The state of Oregon owns 44% of the land inside the county boundaries, mostly as part of the Tillamook State Forest[?]. Its scenic coastline, which include four bays and nine rivers, not only help the tourist industry, they provide locations for vacation homes for inhabitants of nearby Portland, Oregon.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,452 km² (1,333 mi²). 2,855 km² (1,102 mi²) of it is land and 597 km² (231 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 17.30% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 24,262 people, 10,200 households, and 6,793 families residing in the county. The population density is 8/km² (22/mi²). There are 15,906 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (14/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 93.86% White, 0.22% African American, 1.19% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 1.89% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 5.13% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 10,200 households out of which 24.60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% are married couples living together, 7.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% are non-families. 27.90% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.33 and the average family size is 2.82.

In the county, the population is spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $34,269, and the median income for a family is $40,197. Males have a median income of $31,509 versus $21,555 for females. The per capita income for the county is $19,052. 11.40% of the population and 8.10% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.40% are under the age of 18 and 8.10% are 65 or older.

History Tillamook County, the twelfth county in Oregon to be organized, was established on December 15, 1853, when the Territorial Legislature approved an act to create the new county out of an area previously included in Clatsop, Yamhill and Polk Counties. Boundary changes were enacted with Clatsop County (1855, 1870, and 1893), with Lincoln County in 1893, Washington County (1893, 1898), and with Yamhill County in 1887.

The Coast Range[?] behind Tillamook was the scene of a repeated series of forest fires called The Tillamook Burn[?] between 1933 and 1951. In 1948, a state ballott approved the sale of bonds to buy the burned-over areas and have the state rehabilitate the lands. The state lands were renamed the Tillamook State Forest[?] by governor Tom McCall on July 18, 1973. By the end of the twentieth century, the replanted growth was considered mature enough to be commercially harvested.

The Tillamook airbase for blimps was commissioned on December 1, 1942, with the name U.S. Naval Air Station. It was closed after World War II. The remaining blimp hanger is a local landmark.

Cities and Towns

• Bay City
• Beaver
• Cape Meares
• Cloverdale
• Garibaldi
• Hebo
• Manzanita
• Nehalem
• Neskowin
• Netarts
• Oceanside
• Pacific City
• Rockaway Beach
• Tillamook
• Wheeler