Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

West Linn, Oregon

West Linn is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon. It was named after Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri, who advocated the American occupation of Oregon. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,261.

Table of contents
1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History

Geography

West Linn is located at 45°21'55" North, 122°38'28" West (45.365201, -122.641024)1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²). 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.57% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 22,261 people, 8,161 households, and 6,275 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,163.1/km² (3,013.7/mi²). There are 8,697 housing units at an average density of 454.4/km² (1,177.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.32% White, 0.54% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 2.87% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 8,161 households out of which 41.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% are non-families. 18.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.72 and the average family size is 3.11.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $72,010, and the median income for a family is $83,252. Males have a median income of $61,458 versus $38,733 for females. The per capita income for the city is $34,671. 3.9% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 3.6% are under the age of 18 and 4.2% are 65 or older.

History

Robert Moore, shortly after his arrival in 1840, bought 1,000 acres across the Willamette River from Oregon City from a local Native American chief named Wanaxha, on which he founded a town he named Robin's Nest. The Territorial Legislature renamed it Linn City on December 22, 1845. For many years it was a rival to the older town of Oregon City, but it declined in importance following Moore's death in 1857, and a flood put na end to the settlement in November, 1861.

The current West Linn, incorporated in 1913, is located on higher ground to the west of the older settlement.