Ontario, Oregon

Ontario
City
Ontario, Oregon
Main Street (now Oregon Street) looking south, early 1920s
Logo
Motto:  Where Oregon Begins
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 44°1′37″N116°58′7″W / 44.02694°N 116.96861°W / 44.02694; -116.96861
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Malheur
Incorporated	1899
Named for	Ontario, Canada
Government
•  Mayor	Deborah Folden [1]
Area [2]
• Total	5.17 sq mi (13.38 km2)
• Land	5.17 sq mi (13.38 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	2,150 ft (655 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	11,645
• Density	2,254.60/sq mi (870.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (Mountain)
ZIP code	97914
Area code	541
FIPS code	41-54900 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1125001 [5]
Website	"City of Ontario, Oregon".

Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 11,645 at the 2020 census. The city is the largest community in the region of far eastern Oregon, also known as the Western Treasure Valley.

Ontario is the principal city of the Ontario, OR-ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Malheur County in Oregon and Payette County in Idaho.

Ontario is approximately halfway between Portland and Salt Lake City. It is the closest city to the Idaho border along Interstate 84. The city's slogan is "Where Oregon Begins".

History

Ontario was founded on 11 June 1883, by developers William Morfitt, Mary Richardson, Daniel Smith, and James Virtue. In March 1884, Richard Welch started a post office for the quarter of Ontario, so named by James Virtue after Ontario, Canada. Two months later Joseph Morton applied for a Morton post office at an island about one mile south of town, with Oscar Scott as postmaster. Unfortunately for Morton and Scott, merchants Morfitt and Richardson of Malheur City, gold miner Virtue, and lumberman Smith of Baker City acquired more land and were better financed. More importantly, Morfitt had negotiated a train depot for Ontario. All the settlers and speculators knew the railroad was coming and how important that would be to Ontario's future so Scott closed his Morton post office and built a hotel at present-day Ontario. By December, Scott was Ontario's postmaster.

The town continued to grow with the arrival of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in later 1884, and freight and passenger service were added to the town's offerings. Soon after, stock began arriving from Eastern Oregon's cattle ranches to Ontario's stockyard for transshipment to markets throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ontario became one of the largest stockyards in the West. In addition, the construction of the Nevada Ditch and other canals aided the burgeoning agricultural industry, adding those products to Ontario's exports.

Ontario was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on 11 February 1899. ^[6]

A city by the time of World War II, Ontario Mayor Elmo Smith allowed Japanese Americans to settle at a time when much of the West Coast supported their exclusion. Smith told the Associated Press "If the Japs, both alien and nationals, are a menace to the Pacific Coast safety unless they are moved inland, it appears downright cowardly to take any other stand than to put out the call, 'Send them along; we'll cooperate to the fullest possible extent in taking care of them.'" A population of about 134 in the city and surrounding county before the war ballooned to 1,000 as the county recruited farm workers during the war. ^[7]

Geography

Ontario is located at an elevation of 2,150 feet (660 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.17 square miles (13.39 km²), all land. ^[8]

Climate

Snow in Ontario

Ontario has a cold desert dry-summer continental climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. ^[9] As is common with the high deserts of Oregon, winters are cold and snowy, while summers are hot, dry and sunny. The record high temperature of 113 °F (45.0 °C) was observed on August 4, 1961 and July 12, 1967, while the record low of −25 °F (−31.7 °C) was observed on January 27, 1957, and January 22, 1962. ^[10] On average, Ontario experiences 60.8 days with high temperatures of at least 90 °F (32.2 °C), 10.5 days with high temperatures of at least 100 °F (37.8 °C), 128.4 days with low temperatures at or below 32 °F (0.0 °C), and 2.1 days with low temperatures at or below 0 °F (−17.8 °C). ^[11]

Climate data for Ontario Municipal Airport, Ontario, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1945–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	64 (18)	67 (19)	85 (29)	94 (34)	103 (39)	109 (43)	113 (45)	113 (45)	104 (40)	93 (34)	74 (23)	66 (19)	113 (45)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	49.1 (9.5)	58.5 (14.7)	71.0 (21.7)	80.1 (26.7)	91.0 (32.8)	98.1 (36.7)	104.2 (40.1)	102.1 (38.9)	94.7 (34.8)	81.5 (27.5)	63.2 (17.3)	52.4 (11.3)	104.7 (40.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	38.3 (3.5)	46.9 (8.3)	58.4 (14.7)	66.0 (18.9)	76.4 (24.7)	84.7 (29.3)	95.1 (35.1)	93.4 (34.1)	82.7 (28.2)	66.9 (19.4)	49.8 (9.9)	38.9 (3.8)	66.5 (19.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)	31.3 (−0.4)	37.5 (3.1)	46.1 (7.8)	52.7 (11.5)	62.1 (16.7)	69.8 (21.0)	78.3 (25.7)	76.2 (24.6)	66.0 (18.9)	52.8 (11.6)	39.7 (4.3)	31.6 (−0.2)	53.7 (12.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	24.3 (−4.3)	28.0 (−2.2)	33.9 (1.1)	39.4 (4.1)	47.9 (8.8)	54.9 (12.7)	61.5 (16.4)	58.9 (14.9)	49.2 (9.6)	38.7 (3.7)	29.5 (−1.4)	24.4 (−4.2)	40.9 (4.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	6.1 (−14.4)	13.4 (−10.3)	20.5 (−6.4)	24.7 (−4.1)	32.5 (0.3)	41.1 (5.1)	49.5 (9.7)	45.4 (7.4)	35.1 (1.7)	23.7 (−4.6)	14.4 (−9.8)	7.8 (−13.4)	0.8 (−17.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−25 (−32)	−24 (−31)	9 (−13)	17 (−8)	25 (−4)	31 (−1)	34 (1)	33 (1)	24 (−4)	9 (−13)	−6 (−21)	−23 (−31)	−25 (−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.38 (35)	0.89 (23)	0.97 (25)	0.77 (20)	1.17 (30)	0.72 (18)	0.26 (6.6)	0.12 (3.0)	0.29 (7.4)	0.64 (16)	0.88 (22)	1.39 (35)	9.48 (241)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	3.4 (8.6)	1.2 (3.0)	0.3 (0.76)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.3 (0.76)	5.0 (13)	10.2 (26.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	9.5	8.3	9.5	7.2	8.1	5.7	1.5	1.8	3.4	5.4	8.3	11.1	79.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.8	1.5	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	2.4	6.7
Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010) [11] [12]
Source 2: National Weather Service [10]

Demographics

Downtown Ontario

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	200		—
1900	445		122.5%
1910	1,248		180.4%
1920	2,039		63.4%
1930	1,941		−4.8%
1940	3,551		82.9%
1950	4,465		25.7%
1960	5,101		14.2%
1970	6,523		27.9%
1980	8,814		35.1%
1990	9,392		6.6%
2000	10,985		17.0%
2010	11,366		3.5%
2020	11,645		2.5%
Sources: [13] [14] U.S. Decennial Census [15] [3]

2020 census

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Ontario racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^[16]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	5,692	48.88%
Black or African American (NH)	125	1.07%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	112	0.96%
Asian (NH)	193	1.66%
Pacific Islander (NH)	14	0.12%
Some Other Race (NH)	45	0.39%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	415	3.56%
Hispanic or Latino	5,049	43.36%
Total	11,645

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,645 people, 4,315 households, and 2,491 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census ^[17] of 2010, there were 11,366 people, 4,275 households, and 2,678 families living in the city. The population density was 2,198.5 inhabitants per square mile (848.8/km²). There were 4,620 housing units at an average density of 893.6 per square mile (345.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.5% White, 0.7% African American, 1.3% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 22.6% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.3% of the population.

There were 4,275 households, of which 35.4% had children under age 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.28 .

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 28.9% of residents were under age 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 21% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 10,985 people, 4,084 households, and 2,634 families living in the city. The population density was 2,459.3 people per square mile (948.8/km²). There were 4,436 housing units at an average density of 993.1 per square mile (383.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.27% White, 0.55% African American, 2.69% Asian, 0.88% Native American, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 23.09% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.05% of the population.

There were 4,084 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.4% 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 2.63 and the average family size was 3.30 .

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under age 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,173, and the median income for a family was $35,625. Males had a median income of $29,775 versus $21,967 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,683. About 16.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Southwest 4th Avenue overlooking Holy Rosary Medical Center

The Heinz Frozen Food Company (formerly Ore-Ida), a subsidiary of H. J. Heinz Company, processes locally grown potatoes, and annually produces over 600,000,000 pounds (270,000,000 kg) of 75 different potato products, while employing approximately 1,000. ^[18] Tater tots were first created and manufactured here in 1953 (commercial distribution began in 1956). ^[19]

St. Alphonsus Medical Center is a 49-bed, acute-care hospital, serving Ontario and the surrounding communities in Eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho; it is part of the hospital system of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. ^[20]

About five miles (8 km) northwest of central Ontario is the Snake River Correctional Institution, a 3,000-bed medium security facility. Opened in 1991 and expanded in 1998, the prison has approximately 900 employees.

Cannabis legalization

Since 2019, cannabis dispensaries have been an important part of Ontario's economy and a notable example of the border effect. ^[21]

In November 2018, voters overturned a ban on recreational marijuana dispensaries in the town, several years after Oregon legalized recreational marijuana use. As Ontario borders Idaho (where marijuana remains illegal for all purposes), local news outlets reported that by November 2019 the city's dispensaries were generating a significant amount of revenue from Idaho residents driving across the state line. ^[22] Total cannabis sales from Ontario dispensaries topped $100 million in December 2020. ^[23] The additional revenue from cannabis sales reversed a years-long trend of cutting the annual city budget and stoked advocacy for creation of a Greater Idaho, as many in that part of the state did not vote to legalize recreational marijuana or for the decriminalization of harder drugs along with the more liberal parts of the state, as well as those in Idaho who feel the border purchases of marijuana have increased drug abuse and hurt their way of life there.

Education

Tertiary education

• Treasure Valley Community College

K-12 education

Ontario is served by the Ontario School District (8C) public schools. ^[24] Schools include: ^[25]

• Ontario High School 9-12
• Ontario Middle School 7-8
• Aiken Elementary K-5
• Alameda Elementary K-6
• Cairo Elementary K-5
• May Roberts Elementary K-6
• Pioneer Elementary K-5

There is also a charter school:

• Four Rivers Community School (4RCC ^[26] ) - K-12 - It began operations in 2003. ^[27]

The Annex School has an Ontario postal address but is away from Ontario, in the community of Annex. ^[28]

Private schools

• Treasure Valley Christian School Pre K-12
• St. Peter's Catholic School (Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker) K-8 ^[29]

Ontario Community Library of the Ontario Library District is in Ontario. ^[30]

Media

Ontario's daily paper is the Argus Observer .

Transportation

Bus

• Snake River Transit provides public transportation between points in Ontario and nearby Fruitland and Payette. ^[31]
• Ontario is a stop on the Eastern POINT intercity bus line between Bend and Ontario. It makes one stop per day in each direction. ^[32]
• Greyhound Lines offers service east and west on I-84 from Ontario. ^[33]

Air

• Ontario Municipal Airport

Highway

• Interstate 84 - Portland - Boise - Ogden

Notable people

• Cliff Bentz, congressman (2nd district) and former state senator (District 30)
• Jorge Cervantes, horticulturist, writer, and expert in medical cannabis
• Madeline DeFrees, poet
• Tom Edens, MLB pitcher
• A. J. Feeley, NFL quarterback
• Erik Fisher, World Cup alpine ski racer
• Sally Flynn, also known as Sally Hart, singer on The Lawrence Welk Show
• Charles C. Gossett, governor of Idaho and U.S. Senator
• Joel Hardin, Border Patrol agent and mantracker
• Denny Jones, Oregon state representative and rancher
• Randall B. Kester, Oregon judge
• Phyllis McGinley, children's author
• Elmo Smith, newspaper editor, mayor of Ontario and governor of Oregon
• Leland Evan Thomas, WWII pilot killed in action at Guadalcanal
• Dave Wilcox, NFL linebacker

Sister cities

Ontario has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International: ^[34]

• Ōsakasayama, Osaka, Japan

See also

• Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot

References

1. "City council". ontariooregon.org. Ontario, Oregon.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
4. U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau (Report). U.S. Department of Commerce . Retrieved 31 January 2008.
5. U.S. Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (Report). U.S. Department of the Interior. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
6. Leeds, W.H., ed. (1899). "Special Laws". The State of Oregon General and Special Laws and Joint Resolutions and Memorials Enacted and Adopted by the Twentieth Regular Session of the Legislative Assembly (Report). Salem, Oregon: State Printer. p. 683.
7. Kinoshita, Robert; Tanaka, Benjamin; Tanaka, Augustus "Gus" (2004). "Resettlement and return to the West Coast". In Hirahara, Naomi; Jensen, Gwenn (eds.). Silent Scars of Healing Hands. Center for Oral and Public History. Fullerton, CA: California State University. p. 143.
8. U.S. Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau (Report). U.S. Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
9. "Ontario, Oregon Köppen climate classification". Weatherbase (weatherbase.com). Retrieved 24 August 2016.
10. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boise". National Weather Service. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
11. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ontario MUNI AP, OR (1991–2020)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
12. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ontario Municipal Airport, OR (1981–2010)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
13. US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau (Report). U.S. Department of Commerce. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
14. Moffatt, Riley (1996). Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow. p. 214.
15. Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau (Report). U.S. Department of Commerce . Retrieved 2 October 2014.
16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
17. U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau (Report). U.S. Department of Commerce . Retrieved 21 December 2012.
18. "Worksource". Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. Workforce Partners. State of Oregon.
19. Lukas, Paul (1 November 2003). "Mr. Potato Head – a dirt-poor farmer turned spud scraps into gold". CNN Money. CNN . Retrieved 1 May 2012.
20. "About us – history". Saint Alphonsus. Ontario.
21. Lange, Tony (9 February 2021). "The border-town effect: Dispensaries boom on state line". Cannabis Business Times. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021. A city of 11,000, Ontario grosses $91.7 million in 2020 to take over 'Highest County' title in Oregon after local voters overturn ban on cannabis sales.
22. Parsons, Gretchen; Terhune, Katie (10 November 2019). "'This is the marijuana capital of Idaho': Pot sales bring cash infusion to Ontario [Oregon]". KTVB  7. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
23. Amundson, Lynsey (23 December 2020). "Pot sales boom in Ontario, top $100 million – fueled in part by Idaho customers". BoiseDev.com. Idaho News 6. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
24. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Malheur County, OR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved 15 July 2022.
25. "Our District". ontario.k12.or.us. Ontario School District. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
26. "Schools We Serve". Malheur Education Service District. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
27. "Our History". Four Rivers Community School. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
28. "Home". Annex Charter School. Retrieved 15 July 2022. 402 Annex Road | Ontario, Ore. 97914 - Despite the Ontario postal address, it is not in Ontario. Compare with the US Census Bureau school district map here.
29. "Contact". St. Peter Catholic School. Retrieved 16 July 2022. 98 Southwest 9th Street Ontario, OR 97914
30. "Home". Ontario Library District. Retrieved 16 July 2022. 388 S.W. 2nd Avenue Ontario, Oregon USA 97914
31. "Snake River Transit" . Retrieved 24 August 2016.
32. "Eastern Point Schedule". Oregon Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
33. "Greyhound". Archived from the original on 12 March 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
34. "Ontario, Oregon". Interactive City Directory. Sister Cities International. Retrieved 8 May 2013.

External links

• "Ontario, Oregon, Chamber of Commerce".
• "Ontario information". Oregon Blue Book .
• Panoramic photos of Ontario, Oregon (photography). U.S. Library of Congress.
• Photos of 1930s–1940s farming near Ontario, Oregon (photography). U.S. Library of Congress.