Brookings, Oregon | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 42°3′27″N124°17′11″W / 42.05750°N 124.28639°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Oregon |
County | Curry |
Incorporated | 1951 |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor-Council government |
Area | |
• Total | 4.16 sq mi (10.76 km2) |
• Land | 4.15 sq mi (10.74 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
Elevation | 220 ft (70 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 6,744 |
• Density | 1,626.24/sq mi (627.84/km2) |
U.S. Census | |
Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific) |
ZIP code | 97415 |
Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
FIPS code | 41-08650 [4] |
GNIS feature ID | 2409916 [2] |
Website | www.brookings.or.us |
Brookings is a city in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It was named after John E. Brookings, president of the Brookings Lumber and Box Company, which founded the city in 1908. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,744. [5]
In 1906, the Brookings Timber Company hired William James Ward, a graduate in civil engineering and forestry, to come to the southern Oregon Coast and survey its lumbering potential. After timber cruising the Chetco and Pistol River areas for several years, he recommended that the Brookings people begin extensive lumbering operations here and secure a townsite for a mill and shipping center. [6]
While John E. Brookings was responsible for the founding of Brookings as a company town, it was his cousin, Robert S. Brookings, who was responsible for its actual design. The latter Brookings hired Bernard Maybeck, an architect based in San Francisco who was later involved in the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, to lay out the plat of the townsite. [7]
On September 9, 1942, Mount Emily near Brookings became the only site in the mainland United States and the second in the continental territory after the bombing of Dutch Harbor to suffer aerial bombardment during World War II. A Japanese floatplane piloted by Nobuo Fujita was launched from submarine I-25. The plane was armed with two incendiary bombs on a mission intended to start massive fires in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest. [8] [9]
Fujita was invited to Brookings in 1962 and as a token of friendship, gifted the city his 400-year-old family katana. Fujita later sponsored a trip to Japan for Brookings high school students and returned to the city three more times in the early 1990s. In 1997 Fujita was made an honorary citizen of Brookings by the city council. [10]
The current marketing "brand" for the community, through the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce, [11] is "The Pulse of America's Wild Rivers Coast". America's Wild Rivers Coast is a regional marketing brand for Curry County, Oregon, and Del Norte County, California. [12]
The Port of Brookings Harbor was damaged by tidal surges from a tsunami on March 11, 2011. [13] The largest surge was estimated to be nearly 8 feet (2.4 m). [14] Boats were damaged, sunk, set adrift, and swept out to sea after many docks were torn away and pilings broken. [14] [15] The tsunami was caused by the 9.0 MW [16] Tōhoku earthquake offshore of the east coast of Honshu Island, Japan. The damage was estimated at $25 million to $30 million. [13]
Brookings is located along the southern Oregon coast at the mouth of the Chetco River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.94 square miles (10.20 km2), of which 3.87 square miles (10.02 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water. [17]
Brookings has a mild Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb). [19] According to the Trewartha climate classification, Brookings has a subtropical climate (Cs) since eight months are above 50°F (10°C.)
A weather phenomenon known as the "Chetco effect" or the "Brookings effect" can cause the temperature in Brookings near the Chetco River mouth to be much higher than the surrounding area. Adiabatic heating increases the temperature and reduces relative humidity as katabatic wind, driven by high pressure on the Great Basin, descend across the west slopes of the Cascade Range and Oregon Coast Range. [20] The heart of Brookings, with its orientation, is protected from sea breezes coming from the northwest and the warm, dry, down-sloping winds that are funneled down the Coastal Range into the deep Chetco River gorge can reach the coast uninfluenced by the effects of the Pacific. [20] [21]
On July 8, 2008, Brookings recorded a high temperature of 108 °F (42 °C) at the airport. This was not only the highest recorded temperature in the town's history, but also the highest recorded in Oregon on that day. The Crescent City airport, around 30 miles south of Brookings, recorded a high temperature of 68 °F (20 °C) that day, 40 °F (22 °C) cooler. Temperatures in inland Oregon throughout the Willamette Valley reached temperatures into the mid-90s. The Brookings Effect remained very strong and localized until July 13, 2008, when high temperatures in Brookings dropped to 61 °F (16 °C), which is about seven degrees lower than average during the month. [20]
Climate data for Brookings, Oregon, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1913−present [lower-alpha 1] | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) | 85 (29) | 88 (31) | 92 (33) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 108 (42) | 101 (38) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 88 (31) | 79 (26) | 108 (42) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.7 (12.1) | 54.7 (12.6) | 55.4 (13.0) | 57.9 (14.4) | 61.7 (16.5) | 64.6 (18.1) | 66.6 (19.2) | 66.4 (19.1) | 66.9 (19.4) | 62.7 (17.1) | 57.3 (14.1) | 53.0 (11.7) | 60.1 (15.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.6 (9.2) | 48.9 (9.4) | 49.4 (9.7) | 51.4 (10.8) | 54.9 (12.7) | 58.1 (14.5) | 60.0 (15.6) | 60.1 (15.6) | 59.6 (15.3) | 56.0 (13.3) | 51.6 (10.9) | 47.9 (8.8) | 53.9 (12.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43.6 (6.4) | 43.2 (6.2) | 43.4 (6.3) | 45.0 (7.2) | 48.0 (8.9) | 51.4 (10.8) | 53.4 (11.9) | 53.8 (12.1) | 52.3 (11.3) | 49.2 (9.6) | 45.8 (7.7) | 42.7 (5.9) | 47.7 (8.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 24 (−4) | 29 (−2) | 28 (−2) | 32 (0) | 34 (1) | 39 (4) | 37 (3) | 34 (1) | 30 (−1) | 28 (−2) | 17 (−8) | 17 (−8) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 12.57 (319) | 9.91 (252) | 9.89 (251) | 7.09 (180) | 3.37 (86) | 2.06 (52) | 0.39 (9.9) | 0.67 (17) | 1.46 (37) | 4.98 (126) | 11.12 (282) | 14.10 (358) | 77.61 (1,971) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.7 (1.8) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.05 in) | 17.7 | 16.1 | 17.9 | 14.4 | 9.8 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 10.3 | 17.9 | 18.5 | 140.8 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Source: NOAA [23] |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 515 | — | |
1930 | 250 | −51.5% | |
1940 | 500 | 100.0% | |
1950 | 1,000 | 100.0% | |
1960 | 2,637 | 163.7% | |
1970 | 2,720 | 3.1% | |
1980 | 3,384 | 24.4% | |
1990 | 4,400 | 30.0% | |
2000 | 5,447 | 23.8% | |
2010 | 6,336 | 16.3% | |
2020 | 6,744 | 6.4% | |
source: [4] [24] [3] |
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,336 people, 2,717 households, and 1,689 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,637.2 inhabitants per square mile (632.1/km2). There were 3,183 housing units at an average density of 822.5 per square mile (317.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 0.3% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population. [4]
There were 2,717 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81. [4]
The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female. [4]
Azalea Park is located at 640 Old County Road. It has picnic areas, bandshell, snackshack, gazebo, Kidtown playground, disc golf course, softball and soccer fields, and the Capella by the Sea. Several cultural events in the town are held at Azalea Park. [25]
Harris Beach State Park is located on Highway 101 at the north end of Brookings. It includes 173 acres (70 ha) of coastal access as well as RV and tent camping facilities and a rest area. [26]
Each year, the town hosts the "Pirates of the Pacific" festival. [27]
One major event in the town is the Azalea Festival, which includes the Azalea Parade and live music. It is held every year on Memorial Day Weekend. [28]
Another very popular event in Brookings is the Nature's Coastal Holiday light display which takes is open each evening from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas in Azalea Park. [29]
KCIW.org 100.7 FM Curry Coast Community Radio
KCIW.org 100.7 FM CURRY COAST COMMUNITY RADIO
Curry County is the southwesternmost county in the U.S. state of Oregon located on the South Coast. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,446. The county seat is Gold Beach. The county is named for George Law Curry, a two-time governor of the Oregon Territory. Curry County includes the Brookings, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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Gold Beach is a city in and the county seat of Curry County, Oregon, United States, on the Oregon Coast. The population was 2,241 at the 2020 census.
Harbor is an unincorporated community in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It is located across the Chetco River from the city of Brookings. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Harbor as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population of the CDP was 2,391 at the 2010 census.
Port Orford is a city in Curry County on the southern coast of Oregon, United States. The population was 1,133 at the 2010 census.
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The Oregon Coast is a coastal region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Oregon Coast Range to the east, and stretches approximately 362 miles (583 km) from the California state border in the south to the Columbia River in the north. The region is not a specific geological, environmental, or political entity, and includes the Columbia River Estuary.
I-25 (イ-25) was a B1 type (I-15-class) submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served in World War II, took part in the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was the only Axis submarine to carry out aerial bombing on the continental United States in World War II, during the so-called Lookout Air Raids, and the shelling of Fort Stevens, both attacks occurring in the state of Oregon.
The Chetco River is a 56-mile-long (90 km) stream located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately 352 square miles (912 km2) of Curry County. Flowing through a rugged and isolated coastal region, it descends rapidly from about 3,200 feet (975 m) to sea level at the Pacific Ocean. Except for the lowermost 5 miles (8 km), the river is located entirely within the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest. The river rises in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, northwest of Chetco Peak at the junction of the Oregon Coast Range and the Klamath Mountains. It flows generally north, west, and then southwest, before emptying into the ocean between Brookings and Harbor, approximately 6 miles (10 km) north of the California state line. The Chetco River's watershed remains largely undeveloped, protected by the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The upper 45 miles (72 km) of the river have been designated Wild and Scenic since 1988.
Ōtsuchi is a town located in Kamihei District, Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of 1 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 11,572 and a population density of 58 persons per km² in 5308 households. The total area of the town is 200.42 square kilometres (77.38 sq mi).
Nobuo Fujita was a Japanese naval aviator of the Imperial Japanese Navy who flew a floatplane from the long-range submarine aircraft carrier I-25 and conducted the Lookout Air Raids in southern Oregon on September 9, 1942, making him the only Axis pilot during World War II to aerial bomb the contiguous United States. Using incendiary bombs, his mission was to start massive forest fires in the Pacific Northwest near the city of Brookings, Oregon, with the objective of drawing the U.S. military's resources away from the Pacific Theater. The strategy was also later used in the Japanese fire balloon campaign.
The Lookout Air Raids were minor but historic Japanese air raids that occurred in the mountains of Oregon, several miles outside Brookings during World War II.
The Chetco are a tribe of Native Americans who originally lived along the lower Chetco River and Winchuck River in Curry County in the U.S. state of Oregon. The name Chetco comes from the word meaning "close to the mouth of the Chetco River" in their own language, which is part of the Athapascan languages. Although they were once one of the largest tribes on the Pacific coast of Oregon, "the last known full-blooded Chetco" living on the Chetco River died in 1940.
The Port of Brookings-Harbor is the port authority for the city of Brookings, Oregon, United States, and serving the neighboring community of Harbor. The district covers 400 square miles (1,000 km2) from the mouth of the Chetco River south to the Oregon-California border, north to the mouth of the Pistol River, and east to the Curry-Josephine county line. The district is governed by a five-member commission elected at-large from the district population of approximately 16,000.
The Harbor Hills are a range of hills in Oregon, United States, which constitute the first ridge overlooking and parallel to the Pacific Coast north of the California/Oregon border. They run from the Chetco River to their north to the Winchuck River to their South.
The Chetco Bar Fire was a wildfire in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Oregon, United States. The fire, which was caused by a lightning strike and first reported on July 12, 2017. It burned 191,125 acres (773 km2) as of November 4, when it was declared 100% contained. The Chetco Bar Fire area is subject to warm, dry winds known as the Brookings effect, driven by high pressure over the Great Basin. The fire re-burned portions of the 2002 Biscuit Fire and the 1987 Silver Fire. The fire directly impacted communities surrounding it, causing mandatory evacuations.