Curry County, Oregon

Curry County
County
From clockwise: Curry County Courthouse, Patterson Memorial Bridge over the Rogue River in Gold Beach, Cape Blanco, Harris Beach State Park, Rogue River Ranch
Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°28′48″N124°08′12″W / 42.48°N 124.13666666667°W / 42.48; -124.13666666667
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Founded	December 18, 1855
Named for	George L. Curry
Seat	Gold Beach
Largest city	Brookings
Area
• Total	1,988 sq mi (5,150 km2)
• Land	1,627 sq mi (4,210 km2)
• Water	361 sq mi (930 km2)  18.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,446
• Estimate  (2023)	23,296
• Density	12/sq mi (4.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.curry.or.us

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. ^[1] The county seat is Gold Beach. ^[2] The county is named for George Law Curry, a two-time governor of the Oregon Territory. ^[3] Curry County includes the Brookings, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Cape Blanco

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,988 square miles (5,150 km²), of which 1,627 square miles (4,210 km²) is land and 361 square miles (930 km²), comprising 18%, is water. ^[4]

The westernmost point in Oregon is in Curry County at Cape Blanco located at 42°50′08″N124°33′57″W / 42.835508°N 124.565939°W / 42.835508; -124.565939 (westernmost Cape Blanco) .

The county contains significant forests, with the occurrence of black oak, big leaf maple and Douglas-fir. The blue oak, prevalent slightly further south, does not reach into Curry County. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Coos County (north)
• Douglas County (northeast)
• Josephine County (east)
• Del Norte County, California (south)

National protected areas

• Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
• Siskiyou National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	393		—
1870	504		28.2%
1880	1,208		139.7%
1890	1,709		41.5%
1900	1,868		9.3%
1910	2,044		9.4%
1920	3,025		48.0%
1930	3,257		7.7%
1940	4,301		32.1%
1950	6,048		40.6%
1960	13,983		131.2%
1970	13,006		−7.0%
1980	16,992		30.6%
1990	19,327		13.7%
2000	21,137		9.4%
2010	22,364		5.8%
2020	23,446		4.8%
2023 (est.)	23,296	[6]	−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 22,364 people, 10,417 households, and 6,347 families living in the county. ^[11] The population density was 13.7 inhabitants per square mile (5.3 inhabitants/km²). There were 12,613 housing units at an average density of 7.8 units per square mile (3.0 units/km²). ^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% white, 1.9% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.4% of the population. ^[11] In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 16.2% were English, 14.1% were Irish, 6.2% were American, and 5.2% were Swedish. ^[13]

Of the 10,417 households, 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.1% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.62. The median age was 53.5 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,469 and the median income for a family was $53,340. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,842. About 9.2% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 21,137 people, 9,543 households, and 6,183 families living in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile (5.0 people/km²). There were 11,406 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.89% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 2.14% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. 3.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of German, 13.8% English, 10.3% United States or American and 9.9% Irish ancestry. 95.9% spoke English and 2.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,543 households, out of which 20.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.66.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 20.00% from 25 to 44, 29.40% from 45 to 64, and 26.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,117, and the median income for a family was $35,627. Males had a median income of $31,772 versus $22,416 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,138. About 9.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Brookings
• Gold Beach (county seat)
• Port Orford

Census-designated places

• Harbor
• Langlois
• Nesika Beach
• Pistol River
• Wedderburn

Unincorporated communities

• Agness
• Bagnell Ferry
• Carpenterville
• Denmark
• Hunter Creek
• Illahe
• Marial
• Ophir
• Plum Trees
• Sixes

Politics

Curry County, like most of southwestern Oregon, is a Republican-led county, although in part due to a more liberal lean in the city of Port Orford, it does not give so small a proportion of its vote to Democrats as Eastern Oregon does. No Democratic presidential candidate has obtained an absolute majority in Curry County since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide, and the county has been carried by Democrats for Presidents twice since, with only one occurrence being after the "Reagan Revolution". This occurred when Bill Clinton obtained a 32-vote plurality over George H. W. Bush in a three-way contest with billionaire businessman Ross Perot in 1992. Even so, the Republican lean in Curry County has shown a few signs of waning in recent years. In four of the last six presidential elections, Democrats were able to exceed 40 percent of the county’s votes.

In the United States House of Representatives, Curry County is located in Oregon's 4th congressional district, which also includes the more left-leaning Eugene metropolitan area and is currently represented by Democrat Val Hoyle, serving since January 2023. In the Oregon State Senate, Curry County is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican David Brock Smith. In the Oregon House of Representatives, it is located in the 1st District, represented by Republican and former Curry County Commissioner Court Boice.

United States presidential election results for Curry County, Oregon ^{[15] [16]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,000	56.34%	5,737	40.40%	463	3.26%
2020	8,484	56.84%	6,058	40.59%	383	2.57%
2016	7,212	57.19%	4,300	34.10%	1,099	8.71%
2012	6,598	56.50%	4,625	39.60%	455	3.90%
2008	6,646	53.89%	5,230	42.41%	456	3.70%
2004	7,332	57.29%	5,220	40.78%	247	1.93%
2000	6,551	56.90%	4,090	35.53%	872	7.57%
1996	4,790	43.66%	4,202	38.30%	1,980	18.05%
1992	3,809	34.47%	3,841	34.76%	3,400	30.77%
1988	4,761	52.83%	4,015	44.55%	236	2.62%
1984	5,363	60.84%	3,423	38.83%	29	0.33%
1980	4,910	57.85%	2,656	31.29%	922	10.86%
1976	2,962	45.52%	3,227	49.59%	318	4.89%
1972	2,832	51.77%	2,108	38.54%	530	9.69%
1968	2,323	49.12%	1,934	40.90%	472	9.98%
1964	1,467	31.31%	3,195	68.18%	24	0.51%
1960	2,382	46.23%	2,767	53.70%	4	0.08%
1956	2,306	53.60%	1,996	46.40%	0	0.00%
1952	2,147	67.54%	1,005	31.61%	27	0.85%
1948	1,112	59.18%	677	36.03%	90	4.79%
1944	827	54.16%	678	44.40%	22	1.44%
1940	941	47.26%	1,033	51.88%	17	0.85%
1936	497	29.58%	913	54.35%	270	16.07%
1932	395	27.66%	971	68.00%	62	4.34%
1928	694	59.16%	453	38.62%	26	2.22%
1924	664	54.70%	224	18.45%	326	26.85%
1920	599	60.87%	280	28.46%	105	10.67%
1916	541	45.62%	512	43.17%	133	11.21%
1912	102	16.83%	219	36.14%	285	47.03%
1908	268	58.64%	148	32.39%	41	8.97%
1904	322	70.77%	87	19.12%	46	10.11%

Economy

Mack Arch Cove in 1938

After discovery of gold and other precious metals along the beaches and rivers of Curry County in the mid-19th century, white settlements developed along the coast. Traveling mainly by water or by coast-hugging land routes, residents remained relatively isolated from the rest of Oregon until the 20th century. As mining declined in the region, the economy became more dependent on farming, livestock grazing, forest products such as Port Orford cedar (also known as Lawson's cypress) and myrtlewood, and tourism. Blueberries and nursery plants are among the important farm products, and most of the Easter lilies grown in the United States come from Curry County. ^[17]

In 2001, the native tanoak in the county were afflicted by sudden oak death, caused by infection of Phytophthora ramorum . ^[18] The pathogen, which by 2016 had killed hundreds of thousands of tanoaks in the county, thrives in moist places along the coast. ^[18] It has killed other kinds of oaks such as California black oak in a region that includes many California counties as well as Curry County, and it has infected and damaged a variety of conifers and shrubs such as camellia. ^[19] In Curry County, it threatens timber production, plant nurseries, and Christmas tree farms. ^[18]

As of 2012, the Federal government owned 66 percent of the land in Curry County, while 22 percent was owned by private forest interests. About 7 percent was being farmed; the state of Oregon owned 1 percent, and 4 percent was devoted to other uses. ^[20]

The Port of Brookings Harbor, a shallow-draft harbor at the mouth of the Chetco River, is considered one of the safest harbors on the coast. ^[21] It is listed as a Harbor of Refuge by the United States Coast Guard. ^[21]

Media

• Curry County Reporter
• Curry Coastal Pilot

Education

School districts include: ^[22]

• Brookings-Harbor School District 17
• Central Curry School District 1
• Port Orford-Langlois School District 2J

In 1997 the following districts merged into Central Curry: the Agness, Ophir, Pistol River, and Riley Creek elementary districts and the Gold Beach Union High School District. ^[23]

The entire county is in the Southwestern Oregon Community College district. ^[24]

See also

• Oregon portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Curry County, Oregon
• Siskiyou National Forest
• USS Curry County (LST-685)

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  97.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
5. C. Michael Hogan (2008) Blue Oak: Quercus douglasii, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg Archived February 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
11. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
13. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
14. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
16. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 192 votes, while Socialist Eugene Debs received 89 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 4 votes.
17. "Oregon Historic County Records Guide: Curry County". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
18. Freeman, Mark (November 20, 2016). "Sudden Oak Death Intensifies". Mail Tribune. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
19. "Sudden Oak Death: Protecting America's Woodlands from Phytophthora ramorum" (PDF). United States Forest Service. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
20. "Curry County Land Owners" (PDF). Curry County. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2017.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
21. "Port of Brookings Harbor: General Information". Port of Brookings Harbor. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
22. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Curry County, OR" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022. - Text list
23. "Our District". Central Curry School District. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
24. "Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts" (PDF). Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.

Further reading

• Turnbull, George S. (1939). "Curry County"  . History of Oregon Newspapers  . Binfords & Mort.

External links

• Official county website

42°28′48″N124°08′12″W / 42.48000°N 124.13667°W / 42.48000; -124.13667