Clatskanie, Oregon

Clatskanie is a city located in Columbia County, Oregon. It was named for the Clatskanie River[?], which empties into the Columbia River within the city limits. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,528.

History

According to some reports, the original name of this town when it was platted in 1884 was Bryantville. However, the post office in this location is shown as Clatskanie as early as December, 1871.

Clatskanie comes from a Native American word, Tlatskani. According to the Clatsop County pioneer Silas B. Smith, Tlatskani was a point in the Nehalem River[?] that was reached from the Columbia River by way of the Youngs River[?] or by way of the Clatskanie River. The native inhabitants applied the word Tlatskani to the streams they would follow in order to get to that point, and not the streams themselves, for they were not in the habit of naming the streams. The white men who settled here later carelessly applied the word to the streams.

Clatskanie is also the name of a Native American people[?], whose numbers dwindled from smallpox, intermittent fever[?], warfare, and intermarriage until they numbered only 3 people in a 1910 poll.

Geography

Clatskanie is located at 46°6'11" North, 123°12'13" West (46.103143, -123.203701)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 1,528 people, 608 households, and 406 families residing in the city. The population density is 491.6/km² (1,274.1/mi²). There are 659 housing units at an average density of 212.0/km² (549.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.91% White, 0.07% African American, 1.24% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. 3.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 608 households out of which 35.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% are married couples living together, 12.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% are non-families. 27.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.07.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,833, and the median income for a family is $48,056. Males have a median income of $41,550 versus $24,286 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,717. 11.5% of the population and 11.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 11.4% are under the age of 18 and 12.1% are 65 or older.