Sweet Home, Oregon
City
The Weddle Bridge spans Ames Creek in Sweet Home, Oregon.
The Weddle Bridge spans Ames Creek in Sweet Home, Oregon.
Motto(s): 
Sweet Home: Oregon at its Best
Gateway to the Santiam Playground
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 44°24′05″N 122°43′12″W / 44.40139°N 122.72000°W / 44.40139; -122.72000
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLinn
Incorporated1893
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorSusan Coleman (R)[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total5.76 sq mi (14.91 km2)
 • Land5.30 sq mi (13.73 km2)
 • Water0.46 sq mi (1.18 km2)
Elevation
[3]
604 ft (184 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total9,828
 • Estimate 
(2023)[5]
10,156
 • Density1,853.64/sq mi (715.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code
97386
Area code(s)458 and 541
FIPS code41-71950[6]
GNIS feature ID2412022[3]
Websitewww.sweethomeor.gov

Sweet Home is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States, with a population of 8,925 at the 2010 census.[7] Built near the site of a prehistoric petrified forest, Sweet Home experienced substantial growth during the construction of the Green Peter and Foster dams in the 1940s. The town's main attraction nowadays is the Cascade mountains through Santiam Pass.

History

Settlers first arrived in the Sweet Home Valley in the early 1850s. A community known as Buckhead developed near the mouth of Ames Creek and the South Santiam River. Buckhead was named after a saloon that featured a set of elk antlers on the gable end of its building. East of Buckhead, a community called Mossville developed with a store and post office. In 1874, the two communities merged to become one community called Sweet Home. In 1893, the city of Sweet Home was incorporated.[8]

The Santiam Wagon Road, a toll road connecting the Willamette Valley with central Oregon, was opened in 1865. The road extended from the Sweet Home Valley across the Santiam Pass in the Cascades to Camp Polk near Sisters. The Santiam Wagon Road was a vital means of supplying livestock and goods from western Oregon to central Oregon and transporting wool from east of the Cascades back to Willamette Valley woolen mills.[9] Competition with railroads that extended south from the Columbia River into central Oregon and the newly opened McKenzie Pass Highway made the wagon road obsolete by the late 1930s. U.S. Route 20 was constructed across much of the same route as the Santiam Wagon Road.[10]

Sweet Home experienced significant growth during the 1940s due to the demand for timber from local forests. Further growth occurred when construction began on nearby Green Peter Dam in 1962 and continued as construction began on Foster Dam in 1966.[11]

During the 1980s, Sweet Home experienced a number of sawmill and plywood mill closures due to economic cycles, increased competition, increased productivity, and logging restrictions placed on nearby forests resulting from environmental concerns for endangered species.[12][13] In response, community members sought out other economic development opportunities such as the Oregon Jamboree country music and camping festival.[14]

Geography

Foster Lake is on the eastern edge of Sweet Home.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.75 square miles (14.89 km2), of which 5.30 square miles (13.73 km2) is land and 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) is water.[15]

The intersection Oregon Route 228 and U.S. Route 20 occurs at the Western end of Sweet Home.[16]

The South Santiam River flows from Foster Reservoir along the northern city limits of Sweet Home. Ames Creek and Wiley Creek flow into the South Santiam River within the city limits.[17]

Sweet Home is built on a prehistoric petrified forest. In addition to fossil wood, the area includes a variety of agate, jasper, crystals and minerals.[18] The abundant petrified wood at Holleywood Ranch (between Sweet Home and Holley, Oregon) was the subject of an episode of the Travel Channel program Cash and Treasures.[19]

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, Sweet Home has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[20]

Climate data for Foster Dam, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1969–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19)		 71
(22)		 79
(26)		 86
(30)		 96
(36)		 112
(44)		 106
(41)		 105
(41)		 102
(39)		 93
(34)		 73
(23)		 69
(21)		 112
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 60.1
(15.6)		 63.6
(17.6)		 71.2
(21.8)		 77.6
(25.3)		 85.1
(29.5)		 89.8
(32.1)		 96.1
(35.6)		 97.1
(36.2)		 91.8
(33.2)		 79.7
(26.5)		 65.9
(18.8)		 59.2
(15.1)		 99.5
(37.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 47.5
(8.6)		 51.2
(10.7)		 55.5
(13.1)		 60.3
(15.7)		 67.0
(19.4)		 72.9
(22.7)		 81.7
(27.6)		 82.6
(28.1)		 76.4
(24.7)		 64.1
(17.8)		 52.9
(11.6)		 46.5
(8.1)		 63.2
(17.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 40.9
(4.9)		 42.8
(6.0)		 46.2
(7.9)		 49.9
(9.9)		 55.5
(13.1)		 60.4
(15.8)		 66.4
(19.1)		 66.4
(19.1)		 61.6
(16.4)		 53.0
(11.7)		 45.3
(7.4)		 40.4
(4.7)		 52.4
(11.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.3
(1.3)		 34.5
(1.4)		 36.9
(2.7)		 39.6
(4.2)		 43.9
(6.6)		 47.9
(8.8)		 51.0
(10.6)		 50.3
(10.2)		 46.8
(8.2)		 41.9
(5.5)		 37.6
(3.1)		 34.3
(1.3)		 41.6
(5.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 22.7
(−5.2)		 24.4
(−4.2)		 27.2
(−2.7)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 34.6
(1.4)		 40.3
(4.6)		 43.8
(6.6)		 42.2
(5.7)		 38.0
(3.3)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 26.1
(−3.3)		 22.0
(−5.6)		 18.1
(−7.7)
Record low °F (°C) 0
(−18)		 2
(−17)		 19
(−7)		 22
(−6)		 26
(−3)		 35
(2)		 39
(4)		 36
(2)		 31
(−1)		 20
(−7)		 16
(−9)		 0
(−18)		 0
(−18)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 7.15
(182)		 5.56
(141)		 6.26
(159)		 5.37
(136)		 3.80
(97)		 2.46
(62)		 0.54
(14)		 0.64
(16)		 1.99
(51)		 4.64
(118)		 7.64
(194)		 8.40
(213)		 54.45
(1,383)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.1
(0.25)		 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)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 19.1 16.8 18.6 17.9 12.8 9.2 2.8 3.0 6.8 13.1 18.4 20.0 158.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 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
Source: NOAA[21][22]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910202—
1920175−13.4%
19301898.0%
19401,090476.7%
19503,603230.6%
19603,353−6.9%
19703,79913.3%
19806,92182.2%
19906,850−1.0%
20008,01617.0%
20108,92511.3%
20209,82810.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[23][4]

The median income for a household in the city was $43,589; 20.7% of persons were below the poverty line.[7]

2020 census

As of the census[24] of 2020, there were 9,828 people, 3,721 households, and 2,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684.0 inhabitants per square mile (650.2/km2). There were 4,037 housing units at an average density of 710.9 per square mile (274.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population.

There were 3,721 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 27.1% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 23.2% had a male householder with no spouse present. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 39.0 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18. The gender makeup of the city was 51.6% male and 48.4% female.

Economy

Major employers in Sweet Home include Ti Squared Technologies, a titanium foundry; White's Electronics, a metal detector manufacturer;[25] HEVI-Shot, a manufacturer of shotshell ammunition;[26] Cascade Timber Consulting, a timber investment management organization;[27] United States Forest Service, Radiator Supply House, Murphy Plywood, McCool Millworks and the Sweet Home School District.

Arts and culture

Country music fans watch an evening concert at The Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home.

Annual cultural events

Covered bridges

The Weddle Covered Bridge, relocated from Thomas Creek near Scio, crosses Ames Creek at Sankey Park in Sweet Home.[28] The Crawfordsville Covered Bridge spans the Calapooia River 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Sweet Home and the Short Covered Bridge crosses the South Santiam River 12 miles (19 km) east of Sweet Home.[29][30]

2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

The 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree, which comes from a different national forest every year, was acquired by the Sweet Home Ranger District (it is named after the town in which it is headquartered). The ranger district, part of the Willamette National Forest, was awarded the opportunity to present the tree to the American people for the 2018 Christmas season.[31]

Recreation

Fly fishing on the South Santiam River near Sweet Home

Sweet Home has seven city parks within city limits,[32][33] but most recreational opportunities occur outside of town; the nearby wilderness supports boating, hunting, fishing, hiking, white-water sports, camping and gold panning.[34][35] For this reason, Sweet Home describes itself as the "Gateway to the Santiam Playground."[36]

Foster Reservoir on the South Santiam River has boat ramps and a year-round marina while Green Peter Reservoir provides two improved boat ramps.[37][38] The South Santiam River offers salmon and steelhead fishing while Quartzville Creek is recognized for Class 4 and Class 5 kayaking.[39]

The South Santiam also supports gold panning,[39] and petrified wood deposits nearby continue to draw attention.[19]

Hiking trails include Horse Rock Ridge, Soda Creek Falls Trail at Cascadia State Park and numerous trails throughout the Willamette National Forest. The Menagerie Wilderness has rock faces amenable to climbing.

An 18-hole golf course, Mallard Creek Golf Club, is 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Sweet Home. The nearest ski resort, Hoo Doo Ski Bowl, is 52 miles (84 km) to the east, near Santiam Pass.

Transportation

Sweet Home public transportation service is provided by Linn Shuttle.[40]

Education

Sweet Home High School

Sweet Home is served by the Sweet Home School District. The district includes Sweet Home High School, a junior high school and four elementary schools. The district covers Sweet Home, Cascadia, Crawfordsville, Holley, Liberty, Pleasant Valley and other surrounding communities.[41]

Linn–Benton Community College operates a branch campus in Sweet Home.[42]

Media

The New Era newspaper is published weekly. The daily Albany Democrat-Herald also serves the city.[43][44]

Notable people

People born or who lived in Sweet Home:

References

  1. ↑ "Susan Coleman".
  2. ↑ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sweet Home, Oregon
  4. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sweet Home, Oregon Population 2023".
  6. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Sweet Home (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ "City of Sweet Home - History". Sweet-home.or.us. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Santiam Wagon Road". Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Santiam Wagon Road, 1865-1939". Oregon Historic Trails Fund. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  11. ↑ "History of The Willamette National Forest (Chapter 5)". Foresthistory.org. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Historical Look at Oregon's Wood Products Industry". State of Oregon. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ Stein, Mark A. (July 14, 1989). "Industry Fears Environmentalists : Loggers See Spotted Owl as a Harbinger of Doom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  14. 1 2 "About the Oregon Jamboree". Oregon Jamboree. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  15. ↑ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Sweet Home, OR". Google Maps. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  17. ↑ "South Santiam River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  18. ↑ Gregory, Irene (April 1968). "The Fossil Woods near Holley in the Sweet Home Petrified Forest, Linn County, Oregon" (PDF). The Ore Bin. State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. 30 (4): 57–76. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Ast, Ellen (December 27, 2007). "Rockin' in the tree world". Albany Democrat-Herald. Albany, Oregon. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Sweet Home, Oregon Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  21. ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  24. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  25. ↑ "White's Metal Detectors". Whiteselectronics.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Welcome to HEVI-ShotÂŽ". Hevishot.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Cascade Timber Consulting, Inc". Cascadetimber.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  28. ↑ Lair, Patrick (September 28, 2005). "Weddle Bridge closes". Albany Democrat-Herald. Albany, Oregon. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  29. ↑ Klindt, Robert S. (December 3, 1989). "Oregon's bridges uncover simpler times". San Jose Mercury News. San Jose, California. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  30. ↑ "South Fork Santiam River (Short) Covered Bridge" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  31. ↑ "2018 US Capitol Christmas Tree Selection". Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Parks". Sweet Home, Oregon. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  33. ↑ "City of Sweet Home Park System". Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Welcome to Sweet Home". Oregon Jamboree. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  35. ↑ Hyer Waibel, Mona. "Quartzville Gold". OregonPioneers.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Police Chief: City of Sweet Home, Oregon" (PDF). City of Sweet Home. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Boat Escape to Foster Lake". BoatEscape.com. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Green Peter Lake and Foster Lake, Oregon" (PDF). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  39. 1 2 Yuskavitch, Jim (2008). Fishing Oregon: An Angler's Guide to Top Fishing Spots (2nd ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Lyons Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-7627-4145-8. OCLC 213838754.
  40. ↑ "Transportation in Sweet Home". Sweet Home, Oregon. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Our District". Sweethome.k12.or.us. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  42. ↑ "LBCC: Sweet Home Center". Linnbenton.edu. January 2, 2012. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  43. ↑ Era, The New. "The New Era Homepage". The New Era.
  44. ↑ "Albany Democrat-Herald". Albany Democrat-Herald. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Ghosts of Highway 20".
  46. ↑ Eckler Jr., A. Ross (May 2010). "Howard Bergerson". Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics. 43 (2): 82–88.
  47. ↑ Baker, Billy (April 7, 2008). "A witness to global warming". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  48. ↑ Morgan, Sean (March 14, 2018). "SHHS alum, Harvard prof, wins 'Nobel Prize for the Environment'". Sweet Home New Era. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  49. ↑ Gary Bedore (May 22, 2022). "Kansas Jayhawks baseball coach Ritch Price announces retirement after 20 seasons". www.kansas.com. Wichita Eagle. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  50. ↑ Gehrett, Les (July 29, 2011). "Former Sweet Home player goes back to work for Jets". Albany Democrat-Herald. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  51. ↑ Gehlken, Michael (May 7, 2016). "Chargers secure veteran C Matt Slauson". The San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
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