Marion County, Oregon

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Marion County, Oregon
Location in the state of Oregon
Oregon's location in the U.S.
Founded	July 5, 1843
Seat	Salem
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,194 sq mi (3,092 km²) 1,184 sq mi (3,067 km²) 10 sq mi (26 km²), 0.85%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	345,920 241/sq mi (93/km²)
Website	www.co.marion.or.us

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 American Revolutionary War. As of the 2020 census, its population was 345,920. The county seat is Salem.

Economy

Agriculture and food processing are important to the county's economy, as are lumber, manufacturing, and education. Marion county has 10,640 acres (43 km²) planted in orchards. Government, however, is the county's main employer and economic base.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,093 km² (1,194 sq mi). 3,066 km² (1,184 sq mi) of it is land and 26 km² (10 sq mi) of it (0.85%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

• Linn County - (south)
• Polk County - (west)
• Yamhill County - (northwest)
• Clackamas County - (north)
• Wasco County - (northeast)
• Jefferson County - (east)

Demographics

Marion County Courthouse

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005 there were 305,265 people, 114,641 households, and 70,437 families residing in the county. The population density was 93/km² (241/sq mi). There were 108,174 housing units at an average density of 35/km² (91/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 81.62% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 1.44% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 10.58% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 17.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 80.8% spoke English, 14.8% Spanish and 1.4% Russian as their first language.

There were 101,641 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,314, and the median income for a family was $46,202. Males had a median income of $33,841 versus $26,283 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,408. About 9.60% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Although Democrats took the presidential vote with pluralities in 1996, 2008, and 2020, no Democrat has carried a majority of the county since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Marion County is one of 12 counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Oregon

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	79,002	47.73%	80,872	48.86%	5,660	3.42%
2016	63,377	46.31%	57,788	42.23%	15,675	11.45%
2012	60,190	50.00%	56,376	46.83%	3,810	3.17%
2008	59,059	47.41%	61,816	49.63%	3,688	2.96%
2004	69,900	53.93%	57,671	44.49%	2,048	1.58%
2000	57,443	50.68%	49,430	43.61%	6,461	5.70%
1996	46,415	43.19%	48,637	45.26%	12,411	11.55%
1992	42,145	38.20%	41,137	37.28%	27,052	24.52%
1988	45,292	51.18%	41,193	46.55%	2,007	2.27%
1984	54,535	59.79%	36,440	39.95%	234	0.26%
1980	42,191	49.38%	32,134	37.61%	11,124	13.02%
1976	35,497	49.08%	33,781	46.70%	3,053	4.22%
1972	36,441	57.51%	23,908	37.73%	3,012	4.75%
1968	30,417	54.80%	22,327	40.23%	2,758	4.97%
1964	18,897	36.90%	32,091	62.67%	221	0.43%
1960	29,124	58.28%	20,791	41.61%	55	0.11%
1956	28,990	64.19%	16,170	35.81%	0	0.00%
1952	29,887	70.41%	12,337	29.06%	224	0.53%
1948	18,997	57.27%	13,183	39.74%	991	2.99%
1944	16,176	56.56%	11,907	41.63%	518	1.81%
1940	16,940	54.25%	14,031	44.93%	256	0.82%
1936	8,595	32.97%	15,536	59.59%	1,940	7.44%
1932	8,633	39.01%	12,572	56.81%	926	4.18%
1928	11,754	61.96%	6,998	36.89%	219	1.15%
1924	8,351	52.14%	3,996	24.95%	3,669	22.91%
1920	8,798	66.16%	3,831	28.81%	669	5.03%
1916	8,316	55.48%	5,699	38.02%	973	6.49%
1912	2,523	31.21%	2,588	32.01%	2,974	36.78%
1908	3,788	57.24%	2,239	33.83%	591	8.93%
1904	4,106	70.03%	1,084	18.49%	673	11.48%
1900	3,112	54.38%	2,318	40.50%	293	5.12%
1896	3,744	50.98%	3,419	46.56%	181	2.46%
1892	2,979	49.77%	879	14.69%	2,127	35.54%
1888	2,235	54.08%	1,567	37.91%	331	8.01%
1884	2,193	56.07%	1,627	41.60%	91	2.33%
1880	2,051	59.21%	1,386	40.01%	27	0.78%

History

Marion county was created in July 5, 1843, one of the original four districts of the Oregon territory along with Twality (later Washington), Clackamas, and Yamhill counties. The four districts were redesignated as counties in 1845.

Originally, this political entity stretched southward to the California border and eastward to the Rocky Mountains. With the creation of Wasco, Linn, Polk, and other counties, its area was reduced in size. Marion County's present geographical boundaries were established in 1856.

In 1849 Salem was designated the county seat. The territorial capital was moved from Oregon City to Salem in 1852. The ensuing controversy over the location of the capital was settled in 1864 when Salem was confirmed as the state capital.

Communities

Incorporated cities

Aumsville Aurora Detroit Donald Gates (also in Linn County)

Gervais Hubbard Idanha (also in Linn County) Jefferson Keizer

Mount Angel St. Paul Salem Scotts Mills Silverton

Stayton Sublimity Turner Woodburn

Unincorporated communities and CDPs

Breitenbush Brooks Butteville Champoeg (a ghost town) Four Corners

Hayesville Jordan Labish Village Marion Mehama

Monitor Pratum St. Louis Santiam Junction West Stayton