Yamhill County, Oregon

Economy Yamhill County ranks seventh out of Oregon's thirty-six counties in annual market value of its agricultural production. This agricultural production includes wheat, barley, horticulture, and dairy farming, with 13,201 acres in 1997 planted in orchards. Yamhill County is also the center of Oregon's wine industry, having the most acres of any Oregon county planted in vineyard, 3,252 acres. Thirty-six wineries represent the largest concentration of wineries in any county in the state. One-third of the county is covered with commercial timber, and the economic mainstay of the western part of the county is logging and timber products.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,861 km² (718 mi²). 1,853 km² (716 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.39% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density is 46/km² (119/mi²). There are 30,270 housing units at an average density of 16/km² (42/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 88.98% White, 0.85% African American, 1.47% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 5.08% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. 10.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 28,732 households out of which 37.40% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% are married couples living together, 9.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% are non-families. 19.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.17.

In the county, the population is spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 101.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $44,111, and the median income for a family is $50,336. Males have a median income of $35,686 versus $25,254 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,951. 9.20% of the population and 6.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.10% are under the age of 18 and 7.50% are 65 or older.

History Yamhill county was created in July 5, 1843, one of the original four districts of the Oregon territory along with Twality (later Washington), Clackamas, and Champooick (later Marion) counties.

Lafayette, the principal trading center of the western Willamette Valley in early Oregon history, was made the county seat in 1847.

Cities and Towns

• Amity
• Carlton
• Dayton
• Dundee
• Lafayette
• McMinnville
• Newberg
• Sheridan
• Yamhill