Lexington, Oregon

Lexington, Oregon
City

Grain elevators in Lexington

Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°26′43″N 119°41′17″W / 45.44528°N 119.68806°W / 45.44528; -119.68806Coordinates: 45°26′43″N 119°41′17″W / 45.44528°N 119.68806°W / 45.44528; -119.68806
Country United States
State Oregon
County Morrow
Incorporated 1903
Government
 • Mayor Arletta Arnspiger
Area[1]
 • Total 0.44 sq mi (1.14 km2)
 • Land 0.44 sq mi (1.14 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,450 ft (440 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 238
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 239
 • Density 540.9/sq mi (208.8/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) Pacific (UTC-7)
ZIP code 97839
Area code(s) 541
FIPS code 41-42200[2]
GNIS feature ID 1136476[4]

Lexington is a city in Morrow County, Oregon, United States. The population was 238 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Lexington was named by early settler William Penland for his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky.[5] Lexington post office was established in 1885.[5] In 1886, shortly after Morrow County was created, Lexington lost by 33 votes to Heppner in an election to determine the county seat.[6] The city was incorporated in 1903, and had a population of 185 at the 1910 census.[7]

Sheep ranching was important in the region during the days of early settlement by non-natives. It continues in the 21st century and has been joined by wheat farming and cattle ranching as significant uses of the land.[8]

Geography

Lexington is at an elevation of 1,450 feet (440 m)[4] between the Columbia River to the north and the Blue Mountains to the southeast.[9] The city is along Oregon Route 74, about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Heppner.[9] Lexington is about 38 miles (61 km) southwest of Hermiston and 174 miles (280 km) east of Portland.[9][10]

Willow Creek flows though Lexington, which is downstream of Heppner and upstream of Ione and Arlington.[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.44 square miles (1.14 km2), all of it land.[1]

Route 74 forms part of the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, a 130-mile (210 km) set of roads connecting Interstate 84 (I-84) along the Columbia River with the North Fork John Day River in the Blue Mountains. Part of the route follows the Willow Creek drainage through Lexington.[8]

Economy and education

As of 2002, Lexington's largest employers were the Morrow County Grain Growers (farms), the Columbia Basin Electric Co-op in Heppner, a metal fabrication company in Heppner, and a small company in Lexington that repaired farm equipment.[10]

The headquarters of the Morrow County School District is in Lexington. The nearest public schools in this district are in Heppner.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
187023—
1890100—
190017575.0%
19101855.7%
192026442.7%
1930180−31.8%
194022323.9%
19502376.3%
19602401.3%
1970230−4.2%
198030733.5%
1990286−6.8%
2000263−8.0%
2010238−9.5%
Est. 2015236[12]−0.8%
source:[2][7]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 238 people, 94 households, and 70 families residing in the town. The population density was 540.9 inhabitants per square mile (208.8/km2). There were 101 housing units at an average density of 229.5 per square mile (88.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.4% White, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.[2]

There were 94 households of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 17% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.86.[2]

The median age in the town was 43 years. There were 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.4% were from 25 to 44; 31.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 55% male and 45% female.[2]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 263 people, 102 households, and 72 families residing in the city. The population density was 637.9 people per square mile (247.7/km²). There were 111 housing units at an average density of 269.2 per square mile (104.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.96% White, 1.14% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.[2]

There were 102 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.[2]

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.[2]

The median income for a household in the city was $43,125, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $37,969 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,152. About 6.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 or older.[2]

Transportation

Lexington Airport, which is open to the public, is about one mile north of the city. Operations involve an average of about 85 aircraft a week, mostly local. Seasonally, many flights are related to agriculture.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "U.S. Gazetteer: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Lexington". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  5. 1 2 McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 576. ISBN 978-0875952772.
  6. ↑ Lynch, James E.; Derickson, Patrick M. (August 17, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Morrow County Courthouse" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. 1 2 Ostertag, Rhonda (2004). Backroads of Oregon: Your Guide to Oregon's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures. Stillwater, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. pp. 105–06. ISBN 0-89658-081-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 The 2013 Road Atlas. Chicago, Illinois: Rand McNally. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-052-80062-2-7.
  10. 1 2 "Lexington Community Profile". Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority. 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to Our District". Morrow County School District. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ "9S9 Lexington Airport". Air Nav. June 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
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