Merrill, Oregon

Merrill
City
Merrill, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 42°1′32″N121°35′58″W / 42.02556°N 121.59944°W / 42.02556; -121.59944
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Klamath
Incorporated	1903
Government
•  Mayor	Tim Saunders [1]
Area [2]
• Total	0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2)
• Land	0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	4,071 ft (1,241 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	821
• Density	1,788.67/sq mi (690.66/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	97633
Area code	541
FIPS code	41-47700 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1124069 [5]

Merrill is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The population was 844 at the 2010 census.

Merrill is an agricultural area and is home to an annual Potato Festival. ^[6] The area was also part of the Klamath Basin water crisis pitting agricultural interests against endangered species water requirements, tribal interests, and environmentalists. ^[7]

Merrill was the birthplace and boyhood home of Carl Barks, the Disney comics artist who created Scrooge McDuck, among other characters. It is home to the Raiders of Lost River Jr./Sr. High School.

Geography

Merrill is at an elevation of 4,071 feet (1,241 m) ^[5] in southern Klamath County, near the Oregon–California border. ^[8] It is along Oregon Route 39 southeast of Klamath Falls and northwest of Tulelake. ^[8] Lower Klamath Lake and Tule Lake, both in California, are slightly south of Merrill. ^[8] By highway, the city is 20 miles (32 km) from Klamath Falls and 300 miles (480 km) from Portland. ^[9]

The Lost River flows by Merrill. ^[8] Mount Shasta in the Cascade Range southwest of Merrill, although it lies across the California state line, is visible from the city. ^[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km²), all of it land. ^[11]

Climate

The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Merrill has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. ^[12]

History

Merrill was named for rancher Nathan S. Merrill, who settled at this location in 1890. Nathan moved to Oregon to escape a murder charge from Rhode Island. It's believed he is a member of the notorious Tinder Affair Killing Spree of 1889. A post office was established in Merrill in 1896. ^[13] H. E. Momyre was the postmaster. ^[10] The first business in Merrill was a grist mill. ^[10]

Economy

As of 2002, the five largest employers in Merrill were the Malin Potato Coop, Klamath County School District, the Martin Food Center, the Merrill Grain and Feed Center, and Country Boy Meats. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	67		—
1910	400		497.0%
1920	237		−40.7%
1930	306		29.1%
1940	648		111.8%
1950	835		28.9%
1960	804		−3.7%
1970	722		−10.2%
1980	809		12.0%
1990	837		3.5%
2000	897		7.2%
2010	844		−5.9%
2020	821		−2.7%
Source: [4] [14] U.S. Decennial Census [15] [3]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 844 people, 308 households, and 221 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,834.8 inhabitants per square mile (708.4/km²). There were 347 housing units at an average density of 754.3 per square mile (291.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.9% White, 0.1% African American, 1.5% Native American, 23.8% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.1% of the population. ^[4]

There were 308 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23. ^[4]

The median age in the city was 35.7 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female. ^[4]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 897 people, 344 households, and 230 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,045.4 inhabitants per square mile (789.7/km²). There were 380 housing units at an average density of 866.5 per square mile (334.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.13% White, 0.11% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 19.18% from other races, 6.35% from two or more races; 33.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[4]

There were 344 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. ^[4]

The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.22. The age distribution was 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. ^[4]

The median income for a household in the city was $23,304, and the median income for a family was $27,639. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,803. Approximately 19.9% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. ^[4]

References

1. "Incorporated Cities: Merrill". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
5. "Merrill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
6. "KOBI NBC5 - Potato Festival". Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
7. "Spud festival brings water talk". Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
8. The 2013 Road Atlas. Chicago, Illinois: Rand McNally. 2013. pp. 84, 85. ISBN   978-052-80062-2-7.
9. "Merrill Community Profile". Infrastructure Finance Authority. 2009. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
10. Shaver, F. A.; et al. (1905). An Illustrated History of Central Oregon Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake and Klamath Counties. Spokane, Washington: Western Publishing Co. pp. 980–81. OCLC   5436491.
11. "U.S. Gazetteer: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 22, 2013.
12. Climate Summary for Merrill, Oregon
13. McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 637–38. ISBN   0-87595-277-1.
14. Moffatt, Riley Moore (1996). Population History of Western U.S. Cities and Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 212. ISBN   978-0-8108-3033-2.
15. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved October 2, 2014.

External links

• Entry for Merrill in the Oregon Blue Book