Encyclopedia:
Coos Bay, Oregon,
Talk:Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in
Coos County, Oregon. As of the
2000 census, the city had a total population of 15,374. The city is located at the mouth of the
Coos River on
Coos Bay on the
Pacific Ocean, and borders on the nearby city of
North Bend. Together, the cities are often referred to as one entity, called either Coos Bay or the Bay Area. Coos Bay is also home to
Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Recreational activities
The Bay Area is known for its superb recreation. Its most popular and unique recreation opportunity is the
Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area, which brings approximately 1.5 million visitors each year.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/tripplanning/oregondunes/index.shtml. Many of these visitors enjoy exploring the 6,000-acre
sand dunes on their
ATVs. The area's popularity has increased tourism—a growing industry in the formerly depressed economy.
Geography
Coos Bay is located at 43°22'35" North, 124°14'14" West (43.376456, .
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.3
km² (15.9
mi²). 27.4 km² (10.6 mi²) of it is land and 13.8 km² (5.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 33.52% water.
Demographics (2000 census)
There are 15,374 people residing in the city, comprising 6,497 households and 4,028 families. The
population density is 560.5/km² (1,451.9/mi²). There are 7,094 housing units at an average density of 258.6/km² (669.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.75%
White, 0.37%
African American, 2.27%
Native American, 1.44%
Asian, 0.31%
Pacific Islander, 1.35% from
other races, and 3.51% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population are
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There are 6,497 households out of which 27.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% are
married couples living together, 11.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% are non-families. 30.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.83.
In the city the population is spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,212, and the median income for a family is $38,721. Males have a median income of $32,324 versus $22,192 for females. The
per capita income for the city is $18,158. 16.5% of the population and 12.7% of families are below the
poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Chronology of events
*1579
Francis Drake is said to have sought shelter in the bay for the Golden Hind and its crew.
*1853 City founded and named Marshfield after the Massachusetts hometown of one of the founders.
*1866
Cape Arago Lighthouse begins operation.
*1871 Marshfield
post office established.
*1872 Coos Bay Wagon Road opens, connecting Coos County with Douglas County's
Umpqua River valley, across the Coast Range of mountains. (Oregon Highway 42 roughly follows the old wagon road's right of way.)
*1874 Marshfield incorporated.
*1908 The first automobile arrives in Marshfield via the Coos Bay Wagon Road. (Previous autos arrived by ship at the Port of Coos Bay, or by way of lesser trails.)
*1922 A fire ends up burning down a large portion of the business district.
*1928 KOOS-AM radio begins broadcasting.
*1944 Residents vote to name the city
Coos Bay.
*1962 The most powerful non-tropical storm in U.S. mainland history, the
Columbus Day Storm, hits.
*1969 Distance runner
Steve Prefontaine graduates from Marshfield High School.
*1972 The
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is established.
*1999 The M/V
New Carissa freighter runs aground.
*2002 Three Coos Bay firemen die when the roof of a burning car-supply store collapses. It is considered the worst loss of life for a fire department in modern Oregon history.
Points of interest
*
Coos Bay Iron Works, a producer of logging equipment, opened in 1882 and is still in business on Front Street, using a variety of antique tools dating to the
Industrial Revolution.
http://www.coosbayironworks.com/*The
Egyptian Revival style Egyptian Theatre was part of a popular
architectural movement and is the only Oregon movie house that still has its original
theatre organ installation. Built in 1925, the theatre was closed as of 2006, but there were plans by a nonprofit agency to reopen it.
http://www.pstos.org/instruments/or/coos-bay/egyptian.htm Mass media
Radio
KSBA 88.5 FM (college)
KSOR 89.1 FM (college, translator)
KJCH 90.9 FM (Christian)
WPCS 91.3 (Christian, translator)
KEAR 91.7 (translator)
KDCQ 92.9 FM (commercial)
KOOS 94.9 FM (commercial)
KOOS 95.7 FM (translator)
KSHR 97.3 FM (commercial)
KYTT 98.7 FM (Christian)
KJMX 99.5 FM (commercial)
KJMX 100.3 FM (translator)
KVIP 102.1 FM (Christian, translator)
KYSJ 105.9 FM (commercial)
KACW 107.3 FM (commercial)
KACW 107.7 FM (translator)
KWRO 630 AM (commercial)
KGRV 700 AM (Christian)
KDUN 1030 AM (commercial)
KHSN 1230 AM (commercial)
KBBR 1340 AM (commercial)
KMHS 1420 AM (high school)
See
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Coos+Bay&state=OR&sid=&x=0&y=0for more info.
Television
KCBY (CBS)
KEZI (ABC)
Newspaper
*
The World (Coos Bay)Sister City
Coos Bay has one
sister city:
Choshi,
JapanSource: http://www.econ.state.or.us/oregontrade/sistercities.htmTrivia
Muppet creator
Jim Henson reportedly thought "Coos Bay" was a funny name for a town.
[The Muppet Show: Season 1 Special Edition DVD] The name inspired a long-running Muppet gag,
Planet Koozebane. Comedy sketches set on this fictional planet appeared on "
The Muppet Show" and in several other Henson projects.
References
External links
*
http://www.coosbay.org/ City of Coos Bay*
http://www.portofcoosbay.com/ Oregon International Port of Coos Bay*
http://www.coos-bay.k12.or.us/ Coos Bay School District*
http://bluebook.state.or.us/local/cities/ad/coosbay.htm Oregon Blue Book entry for Coos BayCategory:Cities in OregonCategory:Coastal cities in the United StatesCategory:Coos County, OregonCategory:Oregon Coastio:Coos Bay, Oregon