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RESOUR ó NATURAL HUMAN ATLAS ECONOMIC PUBLIC
JANUARY 1974
EXTENSIONEJ..O44t46tcutzt9 t4JtCOj344(t(LV PROJECT
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Hood River County, Oregon
NATURAL
RESOURCE HUMAN
ATLAS ECONOMIC
PUBLIC
January, 1974
Oregon State University Extension Service
Prepared by Marilyn Ruttle, Research Assistant, Under the supervision of: Robert 0. Coppedge, Extension Economist, and Russell C. Youmans, Extension Resource Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics
For sale by the Extension Business Office, Extension Hall 188, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331. $2.50 per copy. Contents
Page
General Description 1
Physical Aspects 2 Climate 2 Soils 4 Soil Characteristics and Land Capability 7 Land Use and Ownership...... 9 Agricultural Land 11 Forest Land 12 Water 15 Water-based Recreation 20 Minerals 20 Wildlife 20
Human Resources 21 Population 21 Employment 25 Income 32 Education 35 Health and Vital Statistics 37 Public Welfare 41 Housing 43
The County's Economy 45 Agriculture . 45 Logging and Wood Products 51 Manufacturing 52 Mining - Mineral and Metal Industries 53 Outdoor Recreation 54 Business 58
Public Services 59 Transportation. 59 Communication 60 Library Facilities. . . 62 Utilities 62
Public Finance 64
Selected List of Agencies . . 68
Selected Bibliography 70 HOOD RIVER COUNTY lvii Lt. 10 15 20
HOOD RIVER COUNTY
LEGEND PRIMARY HIGHWAYS 0 SECONDARY HIGHWAYS Q COUNTY ROADS INTERSTATE HIGHWAYSO GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Hood River County is located along the northern edge of Oregon. It is bounded on the west by the lower Willamette River Basin, andon the north by the Columbia River. It is approximately 45 miles east of the city of Portland.
The county contains a total 536 square miles 1/, and is thenext to smallest county in Oregon. Topographically, the cunty is predominately in the mountains.
Primary industries in the county include lumbering, agriculture, and recreation. The county is the leading Anjoupear producing area of the world. The county also commercially produces apples, cherries, and strawberries.
Hood River County lies in a transition zone between the the maritime zone of western Oregon and the semi-arid zone of eastern Oregon. Average annual precipitation is about 30 inches. Its temperate climate helps to produce its fine fruits.
The county's population is generally scattered throughout the Hood River Valley, with concentrations at Hood River, (thecounty seat Odell, Parkdale, and Cascade Locks.
A brief summary of major facts for the county is noted below. 1/
Area: 536 square miles Population: 13,540 (July, 1972) County Seat: Hood River True Cash Value: $138,163,312 (1972) Elevation at Hood River: 154 feet Principal industries: Average temperature: Agriculture, Lumbering Summer - 66.9 F Recreation 0 Winter - 33.6 F
1/ Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Myers, Secretary of State, Oregon Blue 1ook, 1973-74, January, 1974. PHYSICAL ASPECTS
Hood River county is located in north central Oregon on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains. Located on the southwestern edge of the county is Mount Hood which is the highest and most prominent topo- graphic feature.in the county. The Columbia River Gorge marks the north bondary of the county. The west boundary is the uplifted crest of the Cascade Mountains. Two northeast-southwest trending folds located in the north central section and a north-south trending fault along the east side are the main structural units.
Structural changes such as uplifting, folding, and faulting have made significant contributions to the present topography of the county. In early or middle Pliocene times a north-south trending fault occurred along the east side of the Hood River Valley. The down dropped side of the fault is the present Hood River Valley.and may have been the location of a south flowing river before the development of the present Columbia River. The main valley is wide and maturely eroded, but the tributary valleys are in a youthful stage. Elevation ranges from 154 feet at Hood River to 11,245 feet on Mount Hood.
Climate
Extreme climatic contrasts exist in Hood River County. The county is in a transitional zone between the marjUme temperate climatic zone to the west and the semi-arid continental climatic zone to the east.
Annual precipitation varies from about 130 inches on the crest of the Cascade range to about 10 inches in the eastern portion of the county.
The growing season varies from 217 days at Cascade Locks to zero days on the higher elevations of Mt. Hood.
Table 1. Selected Hood River County Weather Stations, and Elevation
Station Elevation in feet
Hood River Experiment Station 500 Parkdale 1,740
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
-2- Table 2. Temperature and Precipitation, by Month, 1951-1960 Averages, Hood River County
Station Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. MayJune JulyJ Aug. Sep.oct.JNov.JDec.Annual
Average Temperature degrees Farenheit Hood River Exp Station 33.5 38.4 42.3 49.7 56.6 61.5 66.7 65.7 61.151.9 40.6 36.7 50.4 Parkdale 30.9 35.6 39.0 46.3 52.9 58.2 63.7 62.2 58.149.1 38.6 34.2 47.4
Total Precipitation inches Hood River Exp. Station...... 6.18 3.39 3.74 1.66 1.16 .79 .13 .38 .842.76 4.46 5.09 30.58 Parkdale 9.22 5.23 5.54 2.61 1.84 1.21 .15 .42 .953.68 6.53 7.63 45.01
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951-1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
The following table depits average day-time high and night-time low for each month over the years 1951-1960.
Table 3. Mean Daily Maximum and Minimum Temperatures, Hood River County, by Month, 1951-60 Averages
Stat ion Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.MayJuneJulyAug. Sep.Oct.Nov.Dec.JAnnual
Mean Daily Maximum Temp. degrees Farenheit Hood River Exp Station 39.3 45.6 51.6 61.2 69.0 73.5 81.1 79.6 75.6 63.7 48.6 42.5 60.9 Parkdale 37.9 43.6 48.8 58.6 66.6 71.5 81.0 78.174.2 61.4 47.6 40.8 59.2
Mean Daily Minimum Temp. degrees Farenheit Hood River Exp Station 27.7 31.2 32.9 38.1 44.1 49.5 52.2 51.846.5 40.0 32.4 30.8 39.8 Parkdale 23.9 27.6 29.2 33.9 39.1 45.0 46.4 46.342.1 36.7 29.6 27.6 35.6
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Conmrnrce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951-1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965. Table 4. Freeze Data for Hood River County, 1951-1960 Averages
0 Mean Number of Days with Temperature of 32 or Below Station JülyJAug. JSep.I Oct.1Nov.1 Dec.
Hood RiverEx. Station 21 16 14 16 1 0 + 15 19 97 Parkdale 26 22 22 13 6 + + 19 27 145 + Less than 0.5 days. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
More recent information on the climate of Hood River County may be obtained by consulting the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration, Environmental Data Service, Climatological Data, Annual Summary 1971, Vol. 77, no. 13, 1971.
Soils
The soils ofHood River County are discussed in five general groups. The factors used in grouping the soils are:physiography, kind and shape of landform; geology, kind and source of parent and underlying material; and soil genesis, soil profile characteristics. Alluvial soils adjacent to the streams and intermixed miscellaneous land types are associated with each group.
Soils derived from lacustrine materials on terraces occur in the lower Hood River Valley on nearly level to gently sloping, deeply dissectedterraces of water laid volcanic deposits. In recent geologic time as a result of a lava or mud flow or landslide damming the Columbia River and creatinga lake, sediments of gravel, sand, and silt were deposited in varying depthson these terraces. Soils developed from this lacustrine materials are deep to very deep, and excessively to imperfectly drained.
Soils derived from colluvial and glacial sediments are located along the west side of lower Hood River Valley. The colluvial sediments were moved by gravity from the hills on the west. The glacial sediments, over- lying the colluvim in places, were deposited by the Columbia Riveras a result of the melting of the continental glaciers. These terraces are rolling and undulating and dissected by V-shaped stream channels. The soils are moderately deep to deep, well to imperfectly drained andmay have stony profiles.
The soils derived from volcanic ash are on gently to moderately sloping, moderately dissected terraces in upper Hood River Valley. The terraces are formed from intermixed water laid, semi-consolidated ande- sitic gravel, sand and mud flow breccia, and recent basaltic and andesitic flows and breccias. Over this mixed material 5 to 20 feet of volcanic ash was deposited. The parent material of the soils is volcanic ash and a minor amount of other volcanic material. Soils have developed that moderately deep to very deep, well to imperfectly drained, andsome soils have a firm to very firm horizon or a gravelly substratum. -4- Some soils derived from volcanic materials are also located on the uplands of the county. They occur in the mountaincs area west and south of the Hood River Valley and extend from the Columbia River to Mount Hood and to the east. The volcanic material is basalt, andesite, consolidated breccias and tuffs, and volcanic ash. Considerable glacial action from Mt. Hood has left areas of unsorted bouldery, gravelly moraines and stratified gravel, sand, silt, and clay deposits.Most of the soils are moderately deep to deep, excessively to well drained, and stony to non-stony.
The soils derived from volcanic and sedimentary materials are located on Middle Mountain and on the uplands between Hood and Wasco Counties that extendnorthward from Shellrock Mountain to the Columbia River. This upland is characterized by gently to moderately sloping ridgetops and steep to very steep canyons. The soil parent material is basalt and andesite rock, consolidated breccias and tuffs, volcanic ash, and sedi- ments of recent to Pliocene geologic age. The soils are moderately deep to deep, somewhat excessively to well drained, and medium textured, and some soils have stony to very stony profiles. Talus slopes, rock bluffs and escarpments, and outcrops of sediments are interspersed in the area.
The following table gives information on the soil series in the county, their major uses and limitations. Table 5. Major Soil Series, Use, and Limitation, Hood River County
Acres Major Major E:rosion Irrigation Series (000) Land Use Soil Limitation Hazard Suitability
Bald 4.1 Range Stones, slope Medium Not irrigable Bins 88.4 Woodland Slopes Medium Not irrigable Dee 1.6 Pasture Wetness Low Good Divers 20.7 Woodland Stones, slope Medium Not irrigable Fouts 43.9 Woodland Slope Medium Not irrigable Frailey 2.3 Woodland Stones, slope Medium Not irrigable Gilhouly 1.4 Pasture Wetness, slope Low Good Hood 7.8 Cultivated Slope Medium Good Hut son 41.8 Woodland Temp., slope Medium Not irrigable (KF) 5.4 Woodland Slope Medium Very poor Lava Flows... 1.3 NA NA NA NA Oak Grove. 5.3 Cultivated Slope Medium Poor (Ot) 1.7 Cultivated Slope Medium Fair Parkdale 13.6 Cultivated Slope Medium Excellent-poor Riverwash 2.4 NA NA NA NA Rockford 2.8 Cultivated Stones Medium Fair Rockland 16.9 NA NA NA NA Rough, moun- tainous land 13.8 NA NA NA NA Skyline 1.9 Range Depth, slope Medium Not irrigable Van Horn 1.1 Cultivated Slope Medium Not irrigable Wind River 1.7 Cultivated Sand Low Fair Wyea St 1.5 Pasture Wetness Low Fair Wygant 2.5 Woodland Slope High Not irrigable Yallani 24.4 Woodland Stones, slope Medium Not irrigable SOURCE: State Water Resources Board, Oregon's Long Range Requirements for Water, General Soil Mapwith Irrigable areas, Hood Drainage Basin. Soil Characteristics and Land Capability
An interpretive grouping of soils into "Land Capability Classification" has been developed by the Soil Conservation Service. This grouping shows, in general, how suitable soils are for most kinds of farming. Soil char- acteristics such as depth, texture, wetness, slope, erosion hazard,over- flow hazard, permeability, structure, reaction, waterholdingcapacity, inherent fertility and climatic conditionsas they influence the use and management of land are considered in grouping soils into eight land capability classes. These eight classes are designated by Roman numerals. The hazards and limitations of use of thegroups increase as the class number increases. Class I land has few hazards or limitations, whereas Class VIII land is so limited that it is unfit for cultivationand grazing. This land can be used only for recreation, wildlife habitator water supply.
Table 6. Land Area and Use of Inventory Acreage, 1967, Hood River County
Use Acres
Inventory Acreage
Cropland 27,254 Pasture 2,202 Range 4,547 Forest and woodland 82,998 Other land 8,432
Total inventory acres 125,433
Percent of total land area in inventory. 37.04
Non- Inventory Acreage
Federal land 210,603 Urban and built-up areas 2,142 Water areas 382
Total non-inventory acres 213,127
Total land area 338,560 SOURCE: Oregon Conservation Needs Committee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory, U.S. Soil Conservation Service and OSU Extension Service, 1971. Table 7. Use of InventoryAcreage by Capability Class and Type of Limitation, Hood River County, 1967
Capability Class Use inAcres and Limitations 1/ Cropland asture-Range Forest Other Total j
I 464 189 653 II E 4,755 313 1,818 6,886 III E 7,614 314 5,495 1,036 14,486 w 3,317 0 1,564 582 5,463 S 6,320 787 869 1,047 8,933 IV E 1, 179 1,042 1,010 0 3,231 w 1,237 0 383 194 1,814 S 1,906 566 2,816 870 6,158 V 0 0 0 0 0 VI E 552 3,219 32,718 1,432 37,921 S 0 3,338 95 3,433 VIII E 253 24,930 853 26,036 S 568 9,562 289 10,419
Total 27,254 6,749 82,998 8,432 125,433
1/ Limitations: 13 - main limitation is erosion W - water in soil interferes with plant growth S - soil is shallow, droughty, or stony C - main limitation is climate, too cold or too dry. SOURCE: Oregon Conservation Needs Coimnittee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation '1eeds Inventory, U S D A Soil Conservawtion Service and Oregon State University Extension Service, 1971. Table 8. Conservation Treatment Needs, 1967 Hood River County
Classification Acreage
Cropland needing treatment 19,581 Type of treatment needed: Permanent cover 53 Tillage in rotation 9,834 Drainage 448 Management 1,660 Other 5,784
Pasture needing treatment 1,902 Type of treatment needed: Establishment of vegetation 0 Improvement of vegetation 1,902
Range needing treatment 3,747 Type of treatment needed: Improved vegetation 3,747 Re-establishment of vegetatIon 0 SOURCE: Oregon Conservation Needs Committeed, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory, U.S. Soil Conservation Service and OSU Extension Service, 1971.
Land Use and Ownership
About 27 percent of Hood River County is privately owned. Most of the privately owned lands are in farms and forests. Approximately 62 percent of the county is In federal ownership, ofwhich 99 percent is national forest land administered by the U.S. ForestService. This land is en- tirely within the Mount Hood NationalForest.
About two percent of the land is administered bythe State of Oregon. Of thIs, 80 percent is administered by theHighway Division and 17 percent is controlled by the Land Board.
The remaining 9 percent of the county isowned by the county and con- sists of county and city parks, municipalitiesand road right-of-way
The land use within the county is devoted primarilyto forestry. Developing recreational areas had ledto a secondary use of forest lands in the Mount Hood National Forest.
The 9 percent of the county land that is used primarily for intensive agriculture lies mainly in the Hood River Valley. About 5 percent of the land is also used for grazing. Table 9. Land Use and Ownership, Hood River County, 1964
County State I tern Acres I Percent Percent
Total Land Area 338,560 100.00 100.00
Land Use
Urban 4,063 1.20 0.49 Industrial 0.16 Military 0.10 Intensive agriculture 29,895 8.83 6.52 Dryland farming -- 3.33 Forests 273,895 80.09 44.84 Parks 508 0.15 0.32 Conservation 6,0194 1.80 2.25 Grazing 18,248 5.39 41.50 Non-productiveland...... 8,599 2.54 0.49
Land Ownership
Total private land ownership. 89,436 26.41 44.20 Total public land ownership.. 249,124 73.6 55.80 Federal 211,365 62.4 51.80 State 5,776 1.7 2.90 Local 31,983 9.4 1.80
SOURCE: Oregon Department of Planning and Development, Resources for Development, 1964.
Table 10. Land Area in Highways, Streets, and Roads, Hood River County
Ownership County Acres Percent
State highways 2,620 61.43 County roads 1,505 35.28 City streets 140 3.28
Total 4,625 100.00 SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue and Oregon State Highway Division, unpublished data.
- 10 - Table 11. Inventory of State-Owned Real Property, &od River County, 1970
Annual Land Improv. Total Rental Agency Acres Value Value Value Income
Fish Commission 33.17 $ 8,500 $ 24,210 $ 32,710 $ 360 Dept. of Forestry 500 42,170 42,670 Game Commission 9.31 1,862 110,517 112,379 548 Oregon State University 134.15 13,400 13,400 1,020 Division of State Lands.. 1,010.00 112,700 112,700 Military Department 1.68 36,500 171,530 208,030 Aeronautics Division 36.50 21,900 5,210 27,110 Highway Division-Parks. 2,067.41 106,256 180,181 286,437 240 Highway Divison-Office. 24.87 6,705 238,709 245,414
Total 3,317.09 $308,323 $772,527 $1,080,850 2,168 SOURCE: Legislative Fiscal Committee, Inventory of State-Owned Real Property, By County, Sec. 7, 115 State Capitol, Salem, Oregon, 1970.
Agricultural Land
The land base for agriculture consists of 2,232 acres of crop- land pasture, 6,388 acres of woodland, 17,431 acres of cropland, and 3,622 acres of other land. This totals t 29,673 acres.
The 6 percent of the county's area that is classified as crop- land is used primarily for production of fruits, grains, hay crops and vegetables. Table 12. Land in Farms, Hood River County, 1964 and 1969
l964 19 69 I tern Acres Percent Acres Percent
Total land area 334,725 334,976 Proportion in farms 9.5 8.9
Acres in farms 31,966 100.00 29,673 100.00 Cropland harvested 16,571 51.83 16,743 56.42 Cropland pasture 2,140 6.69 2,232 7.52 Other cropland 663 2.07 688 2.31 Woodland including woodland pasture 7,306 22.85 6,388 21.52 Other land 5,273 16.49 3,622 12.20
Irrigated land 18,756 6.03 17,430 8.31 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1967, 1972.
Forest Land
The forests of Hood River County can be divided into the following resource associations: principal forest, upper forest, and alpine.
The principal forest association extends from the valley floor to approximately 3,500 feet. The climate is characterized by 40 to 120 inches of precipitation occuring mostly as winter rain with little snowpack development. Approximately 90 percent of this land is forested. Douglas- fir predominates the type of stands, with lesser amount of wester hem- lock, true firs, and western red cedar scattered intermittently. Maple and red alder stands occur in the stream bottoms where the original conif- erous stand has been removed. Most of the forest land in this zone is privately owned.
The upper forest association begins at approximately 3,500 feet andextends to approximately 5,SOOféet. The climate is characterized by precipitation ranging from 90 to 130 inches, heavy winter snowfall witha significant snowpack, and cool summer temperatures. About 75 percent of this zone is forest; the remainder consists of rock outcrops, shallow stony soils, meadows, and a few lakes. True fir-mountain hemlock stands predominate. Most of the land is in the Mount Hood National Forest.
The alpine association extends from approximately 5,500 feet to the upper limits of tree growth. The climate is characterized by heavy winter snowfall and an average frost-free growing season of approximately 30 days. The principal tree species--subalpine fir, mountain hemlock, white bark pine, and Alaska yellow cedar--grow in scattered stands intermingled with meadows and barren areas. This zone is all national forest.
- 12 - The major uses of forest land in Hood River County are for production of crops of commercial timber, for outdoor recreation, and for watershed protection. Other uses for wildlife habitat and grazing are also important.
On many private holdings the only management is that related to the harvestiig of mature timber, while on other private holdings considerable attention is given to measures that will maximize the continuous production of timber. Tree farming is gaining acceptance by private owners, and some cutover land is being reforested and managed for timber protection.
The national forest land is managed under the "Multiple Use-Sustained Yield" concept. This means the management of forest and related areas in a manner that will conserve the basic land resource itself while at the same time producing high-level sustained yield of water, timber, recreation, wildlife, and forage in the combination that will best meet the needs of the American people.
There was an estimated 258,000 acres of commercial forest land in Hood River County in 1961. Commercial forest land is forest land that is producing, or physically capable of producing, useable crops of wood, economicallyavailable now or prospectively, for timber harvest, and not withdrawn from timber harvest.
In 1961, the U.S. Forest Service estimated there were 30,000 acres of noncommercial:forest land in Hood River County. Noncommercial forest land is physically incapable of producing useable crops of wood or is re- served, that is, withdrawn from timber harvest through statute, ordinance, or administrative order.
Table13. ForestAcreage,Ownership andUse,Hood RiverCounty,1963
Item Acres Percent
LAND Total land 338,000 100.00 Forest land 288,000 85.20 Commercial 258,000 76.33 Unproductive 20,000 5.91 Productive-reserved 10,000 2.95 Nonforest 50,000 14.79
OWNERSHI P All ownerships 258,000 100.00 National forest 177,000 68.60 Other public 43,000 16.66 Forest industry 23,000 8.91 Farmer and miscellaneous private 15,000 5.81 SOURCE: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for Northwest Oregon, Resource Bulletin PNW-7, Pacific Northwest Experiment Station, 1964.
- 13 - Table 14. Volume of All Growing Stock and Sawtimber by Ownership, Hood River County, 1963
Total Commercial Total Commercial Ownership Growing Stock Sawt imber
million million cubic ft. percent board ft.1/ percent National forest 971 81.05 5,138 82.37 Other public 91 7.59 448 7.18 Forest industry 95 7.92 500 8.01 Farmer and misc. private 41 3.42 151 2.42
Total 1,198 100.00 6,237 100.00 SOURCE: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for Northwest Oregon, Resource' Bulletin, PNW-7, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, 1964. 1/ International ¼ inch rule. Not reported in Scribner log rule.
Table 15. Volume of Growing Stock and Sawtiinber on Commercial Forest Land by Species, Hood River County, 1963
Total Commercial Total Commercial Species Growing Stock Sawtimber
mil lion million cubic ft. percent board ft.1/percent Softwoods: Douglas-fir 541 45.15 2,367 49.13 Pines 70 5.84 235 4.87 True firs 337 28.13 1,146 23.79 Western hemlock 83 6.92 355 7.36 Western red cedar 16 1.33 114 2.36 Other softwoods 131 10.93 565 11.72 Total 1,178 98.33 4,728 99.27
Hardwoods: Red alder 8 .66 10 .20 Black cottonwood 1 .08 Bigleaf maple 6 .50 8 .16 Other hardwoods 5 .41 17 .35
Total 20 1.66 35 .72
All species 1,198 100.00 4,817 100.00 1/ Scribner log rule. SOURCE: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for Northwest Oregon, Resource Bulletin PNW-7, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
- 14 - Water
Most of the perennial streams in Hood River County originate in the high-timbered mountains, many being fed by melt water from the Mt. Hood glaciers. Some spring fed streams originate at lower elevations.
The intermittent streams generally originate at lower elevations or on the easterly slopes of the Cascade Range.
In the Hood area, which contains 585 miles of streams and 110 miles of intermittent streams the major stream is HOod River with its West, Middle, and East Forks, and numerous branches. There are several small, independent creeks flowing into the Columbia River, the largest being Eagle and Herman Creeks. Except in their lower valley sections, prac- tically all these streams are rapid,with nunroi.s cascades, and with channels deeply entrenched in steep canyons.
Eliot Branch, heading in Eliot Glacier on the northeast slope of Mt. Hood, is typical of the Hood area's glacial streams with a gradient of 630 feet per mile in its 5.8 mile length. In contrast, the East Fork Hood River has an aveage fall of 125 feet per mile in the first 25 miles above its mouth. The West Fork gradient is about 105 feet per mile, the Middle Fork about 180 feet per mile. The Hood River main stem has a fall of 65 feet per mile.
Many of the tributaries to the Hood River system head in glaciers on the northern and eastern slopes of Mt. Hood. Among these are: Clark, Newton, Eilot, Coe, and Ladd Creeks. Frequently these creeks carry large quantitities of abrasive galcial rock flour. These and others that are glacier-fed cause serious use problems. Streams not heading in glaciers generally are clear until they combine with glacial creeks. Most of the streams are relatively free of pollutants, other than glacial, until they reach the valley agricultural areas where nutrients and insecticides may be picked up in return flows from irrigation.
Other important perennial streams are Indian Creek which passes through Oak Grove and the southern portion of the City of Hood River, Lake Branch which heads at Lost Lake, Tony Creek located about midway between the West and Middle Forks flowing into the most westerly tributary to Middle Fork, and Neal Creek the principal eastern tributary to the main stem Hood River below its forks.
- 15 - Table 16. Annual Yield of Representative Streams, Hood River County
Drainage Years Mean Annual Yield 1/ Stream and Area of acre-feet / Gaging Point sq. miles Record acre-feet 2/ sq. mile
Dog River near Parkdale 4.5 9 4,680 520 West Pork Hood River near Dee 95.6 37 400,400 4,170 Hood River at Tucker Bridge, Hood River... 279 8 821,000 2,942 1/ Annual yield of surface water is the net yield, or quantity of water, leaving a drainage area during the hydrologic, or wateryear, which extends from October 1 of one year to September 30 of the following year. Net yield is the precipitation on the area minus evaporation, transpiration, and net underground percolation. Average or mean annual yield actually reflects a composite of constantly changing conditions due to withdrawals from stream flow and changes in watershed characteristics. 2/ Acre-feet equals the quantity of water (43,650 cu. ft.) that covers one acre to a depth of one foot. SOURCE: U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Water Resources Data for Oregon, Part 1, Surface Water Records, 1968.
Outflow of water is rapid during early winter rainstorms, before heavy snowfall and freezing conditions in mountain areas hold back the flows. Flood peaks are of short duration, reflecting the relatively short, steep watershed characteristics. Recorded extreme discharges on Hood River show a minimum of 1.65 c.f.s. in August 1941 and a maxi- mum of 34,000 c.f.s. in January, 1923. The following table gives additional data on extremes of discharge.
Table 17. Extremes of Discharge at Selected Stations, Hood River County
Maximum Discharge Minimum Discharge Stream and Location Year Flow(cfs) Year Flow (cfs)
Dog River near Parkdale 1968 68 1967 .03 West Pork Hood River near Dee 1964 15,000 1941 93 Hood River at Tucker Bridge, Hood River 2/ 1964 33,200 1915 136
1/ cfs - cubic feet per second. 2/ Maximum discharge occured during 1964 flood; discharge determined from rating curves extended above 1,500 cfs on basis of slope-area measurement of peak flows. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Water Resources Data for Oregon, Part 1, Surface Water Records, 1968.
- 16 - The seasonal runoff distribution pattern for Hood River County varies greatly. Runoff decreases rapidly moving from the western to the eastern portions of the county due to rapdily decreasing rainfall.
Hood River County seems to he in .a transition zone. In the area of the West, Middle, and East forks of Hood River, seasonal runoff distribution is more uniform than for most state streams. Heavy snow and rainfall in the watershed's high timbered areas and on the glaciers of Mt. Hood supply an abundance of summer water. Glacial flows are unique in that yield is high when the irrigation water needs are greatest during hot summers.
August is the month of lowest yield for the entire county, while December is the highest. Comparatively few regulatory reservoirs are required to regulate runoff in the county.
The Columbia River basalt formation appears to offer the best possi- bility of yielding large supplies of ground water suitable for supplementing surface supplies for municipal or group domestic purposes.
In testing the ground water potential of the Columbia River basalt, it would be desirable to select a drilling site so as to eliminate drilling through a thick section of Cascade andesite or glacial deposits. One such favorable site is the Tucker Bridge area in Section 15, Township 2 North, Range 10 East. The Columbia River basalt crops out along the river bank and serves as the foundation for Tucker Bridge.
The static water levels in ground water reservoirs underlying this area are not known, but there is the possibility that ground water may be impounded behind some subsurface barrier, such as a fault zone, and that high pressure artersian conditions could exist. Any deep test well in this area should have the well casing adequately cemented into the basalt to eliminate any threat of leakage. It is probable that a 1,000 foot- well in this area could be developed to yield from 500 to 1,000 gallons per minute. If exceptionally permeable zones are encountered in the basalt, it is possible that yields of 1,000 to 2,000 gallons per minute could be obtained. The infomration gained from a deep test well in this valley would be of great help in evaluating the possibilities for additional ground water developments, The failure of the first test well, if such should occur, should not be grounds for eliminating the Columbia River basalt from further testing in other parts of the valley.
The Oregon State Sanitary Authority requires that municipalities periodically submit samples of their water to determine its bacterial quality. The following sources have conformed with accepted standards of purity for many years to public use: Crystal Spring, Parkdale Cold Springs, Odell (Davis) Springs, Cold and Stone Springs and Dry Creek.
In 1963 the Oregon State Sanitary Authorityan laboratory analyses on 24 group water systems in the Hood River Valley and reported that the treatment used was adequate. Analyses showed that dangerous bacterial contamination existed in a few shallow wells and springs, in agricultural areas, used for domestic purposes.
The following tables gives more detailed information on the municipal water supplies in Hood River County.
- 17 - Table 18. Hood River County Municipal Water Supplies
City Population 1967 Water Source Problems
Hood River 7,000 Cold and Stone Springs Reorganization Eastside 3,050 Crystal Springs Reorganization Cascade Locks 600 Dry Creek Quantity Oak Grove 280 Dcitch Creek and Spring Odell 400 Odell Spring Quantity Parkdal e 500 Trout Creek Spring No municipal water rights
SOURCE: Oregon State Water Resources Board and USDA Cooperative survey, unpublished data.
Practically all of Hood River County's municipal-industrial water supplies are piped from high mountain springs above areas of serious bacterial or chemical contamination. In 1963, the Oregon State Sanitary Authority ran chemical analyses on 24 group water systems in the Hood River Valley and reported that simple treatment undertakenwas adequate. A few shallow wells and springs in agricultural areas used by individuals for domestic use, upon analysis, have shown dangerous bacterial contami- nation. Two wells near Odell and five near the golf course have unde- sirable iron compound and odor characteristics.
Urban area land and stream pollution is approaching critical condi- tions in only a few reported areas. Immediately north of Parkdale, Emil Creek and irrigation ditches carry objectionable quantities of human and packing plant wastes. Odell area septic tank and drainfield facilities inadequately handle town, school, and processing plantsewage thereby causing pollution problems in the area and down Odell Creek.
The milling and hardboard plant at Dee dumps objectionable quantities of wood product waste into the Hood River. These wood sugar, pulp, and bark wastes that escape settling pondsencourage excessive algae growth, decrease aesthetic appearance of the river for. recreational use and contribute to headgate diversion problems for the Farmer's Irrigation District. Minor pollution problems were reported in the areas along Indian Creek, around the western edge of Hood River, and from fruit processing plants in Hood River.
- 18 - Table 19. Sewage Treatment Plants, Hood River County, 1973
Design Year Design PopulationRecieving Location Flow Built Type Population Served Stream MGD
Cascade Locks 1969 AD 1,500 .150 260 Columbia R. Hood River 1964 P 5,200 1.09 3,800 ,, Odell Sanitation District 1968 AD 1,750 .175 755 Odell Cr. Parkdale Sanitation District 1970 AD 700 .07 300 Trout Cr. Mt. Hood Meadows 1967 AD(L) 375 .037 120 East Fk Hood R.
1/ AD - aerobic digestion P - primary AD(L) - Aerobic Digestion (Lagoon) 2/ Million gallons per day. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, unpublished data from Portland office.
Development of irrigation systems began in 1897 with the construction of the Farmer's Irrigation Ditch. Irrigation was accomplished by diverting streams through a system of canals and pipes to the contiguous tracts of land in the valley. Through the years the water distribution system has been maintained and improved. Sprinklers are used to apply water on 85 percent of the irrigated land in the Hood area. There are now 5 major irrigation systems and two minor systems.
In the 1969 Census of Agriculture approximately F?,430 acres of farm land were irrigated in the county. Streamf lows are a source of water for about 93 percent of the irrigated acreage; groundwater is the source of 7 percent; and reservoir and pond storage which may include both ground and surface water, is a source for none.
Major industrial users in the county fall mainly within two cate- gories; lumber and wood products manufacturing; and food and kindred products processing.
Water requirement for use in lumber and wood products manufacturing include water for steam power plant condenser cooling, hardboard plant process water, log washing, cold deck sprinkling, and miscellaneous use. The Edward Hines Lumber Company at Dee is the largest single water user in Hood River Valley. Total annual water demands have been reported at 3,000 mg per year, with a peak demand of 7,300 gpm.
Water requirements for the fruit industry include water used in washing fruit for fresh packing, in canning of fruits and juices, and in the cold storage operation for condenser cooling.
- 19 - Water Based Recreation
Over all use of water-based recreational facilities has been increasing in recent years. Boating, fishing, water-skiing, and stream and lake- oriented picnic and camping activities are essential to this expansion. In addition to the Columbia River which forms the northern border of the county, and the many streams within the county, Hood River contains 10 lakes with a total of 358 acres. The size of the lakes varies widely; the largest is Lost Lake with a total of 240 acres, and the smallest is North Lake with 1.5 acres. For additional information on the actual facilities available in the county, see the Recreation segment of the County's Economy section of this publication.
Minerals
In Hood River County, sand and gravel deposits suitable for con- struction purposes are being developed at two locations bordering the Columbia River east of the Cascade Locks airport. Sand and gravel in the Hood River Valley are generally two fine or soft to meet construction specifications Gravel from the Indian Creek pits southweSt cf Rood River is used by an asphalt plant. Road rock presently is quarried at four sites within the Hood River Valley and crushed by portable equipment.
Wildlife
The most numerous big game animal in Hood River County is the Colum- bia blacktailed deer. In addition there are fair populations of mule deer in the eastern portion. Elk occur in moderate numbers and are increasing. In 1961, 27 percent of the hunters in the county were success- ful.
There are several species of game birds in the county, in addition to rabbits and squirrels. Hunting pressure for these species has been light.
Most of the streams in the county maintain runs of anadromous fish. However, the West Fork of Hood River is closed to all angling to protect spawning steelhead. Many of the lakes and Streams are so 1eavily fished that the Game Commission supplements natural stocking with hatchery- raised fish.
- 20 - HUMAN RESOURCES
Population
The population of Hood River County was about 13,540 in 1972 or about 25.26 persons per square mile. About 30 percent of the people live in urban areas, and 70 percent in rural and rural non-farm areas. There are presently two incorporated cities, with a total 1972 population of 4,820, with Hood River largest at 4,250.
Table 20. Number of Persons by Racial Group, Hood River County, 1970
Racial Group Number of Persons
Total 13,187 Caucasian 12,448 Spanish Language 168 Black 36 American Indian 112 Other 423 SOURCE: Valde, Gary R., and Robert 0, Coppedge, Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups: A Compilation for Oregon Census County Divi- sions, Special Report 367, Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis, Oregon, 1972.
Table 21. Hood River and Bordering Counties, Population and Rank Order in Oregon, 1960 and 1972
1960 1972 County Rank Population Rank Population
HOOD RIVER 26 13,395 25 13,540 Wasco 21 20,205 22 20,520 Sherman 36 2,446 34 2,100 Cl ackamas 4 113,038 4 178,400 Multnomah 1 522,813 1 560,000 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S. Gov- ernment Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962. Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University, July, 1972.
- 21 - Table 22. Land Area and Population Density, Hood River County, 1950, 1960, 1972
Population Density County and State Land Area 1950 1960 1972
sq. miles - - persons per sq. mile - State of Oregon 96,248 15.8 18.4 2.7 Hood River 536 23.76 24.99 25.26 Was co 2,392 6.50 8.44 8.57 Sherman 834 2.72 2.93 2.51 Cl ackama s 1,893 45.80 59.71 94.24 Mul tnomah 457 1,031.80 1,144.00 1,225.38 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1950, 1960 General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1951, 1961 editions. Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University, July, 1972.
The population of Hood River County has decreased in recent years. Prior to 1965 the county experienced a slow steady increase in population, except during World War II. At that time thepopulation grew rapidly, as it also did during the Bonneville Dam construction years. From 1965 on, however, the population has been slowly decreasing.
Table 23. Population Growth, Hood River County
Percent Increase or Decrease Year Population Period Percent
1910 8,016 1920 8,315 1910-1920 3.7 1930 8,938 1920-1930 7.4 1940 11,580 1930-1940 29.5 1950 12,740 1940-1950 10.0 1960 13,395 1950-1960 5.0 1965 14,200 1960-1965 6.0 1970 13,187 1965-1970 7.1 1972 13,540 1971-1972 2.6 SOURCE: Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University, 1972. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Popu- lation Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
- 22 - Table 24. Components of Change in Hood River County's Population, 1940-1970
Natural Net Year Net Change Increase Migration
1940- 1950 1,160 1,502 -342 1950-1960 655 1,855 -1,200 1960-1970 -208 711 -919 SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, General Demographic Trends for Metropolitan Areas, 1960 to 1970, Final Report PHC (2)- 39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971. Oregon State Board of Census, Components of Population Growth, Popu- lation Bulletin P-3, 1961.
label 25. Urban and Rural Population, Hood River County
Urban Rural Year Population Percent Change Population Percent Change
1950 2,701 9,039 1960 3,657 26.15 9,738 7.7 1970 3,991 8.37 9,196 -5.57
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1961, 1971.
Table 26. Population Estimates of Incorporated Cities, Hood River, Selected Years, 1960-1972
City and County 1971 1972
Hood River County 13,395 14,200 13,190 13,540 Cascade Locks...... 660 700 580 570 Hood River 3,657 3,750 4,0251/ 4,250 Incorporated Area 4,335 4,450 4,605 4,820 Unincorporated Area 9,060 9,750 8,585 8,720 1/ Includes population annexed. SOURCE: Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University, July, 1972.
- 23 - The composition of the population of Hood River County by age and sex is similar to that of- the State of Oregon. However, the median age shows a difference of four years, the state's being 29.0 years, while the county's is 33.3 years.
Males account for 49.5 percent ofHood River County's population and females for 50.5 percent. As detailedin the table below, 36.7 percent of the county's population is under 19years of age, 51.6 percent is between 19 and 65, and the remaining 11.7 percent are 65 and older.
Table27. PopulationbyAge andSex,Hood RiverCounty,1960 and 1970
Male Female Total Percent Age Group 1960 1gb 1960 1970 1960 1970 1960 1970 J Total Population. 6,807 6,538 6,588 6,649 13,395 13,187 100.0 100.0 Under 5.... 711 446 645 471 1,356 917 10.1 7.0 5-9.... 737 611 691 593 1,428 1,204 10.7 9.1 10-14.. 728 74-9 658 710 1,386 1,459 10.3 11.1 15-19.. 470 649 516 607 986 1,256 7.4 9.5 20-24.. 249 310 283 351 532 661 4.0 5.0 25-34.. 721 653 749 659 1,470 1,312 11.0 9.9 35-44.. 842 708 919 804 1,761 1,512 13.2 11.5 45-54.. 974 865 811 887 1,785 1,752 13.3 13.3 55-64.. 652 815 612 754 1,264 1,569 9.4 11.9 65 and over. 723 732 704 813 1,427 1,545 10.7 11.7
Median age 32.1 32.6 31.8 33.9 32.0 33.3 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1961, 1971.
Table 28. Population of Selected Cities by Age and Sex, Hood River County, 1970
Hood River Age Group 197O Percent
Under 5 304 7.61 5-14 762 19,09 15-24 550 13.78 25-34 427 10.69 35-44 448 11.22 45-54 464 11.62 55-64 481 12.05 65 and over 555 13.90
Total population 3,991 100.00
Male 1,883 47.18 Female 2,108 52.81 SOURCE: IJ.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39, Oregon U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1961, 1971 editions.
- 24 - Employment
The Oregon State Department of Employment reported in 1970 the total civilian labor force in Hood River County was 6,310 or 47.8 percent of the total population. At that time the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent of the total labor force or aboutSl0 unemployed. For number of persons unem- ployed in 1970 the county ranked 23rd in the state; however, ranked by percent unemployed it was considerably higher or seventh.
The 1970 Census of Population shows that about 4,912 people were employed in the County Out of a total labor force of 5,417. About 18.1 of those employed worked in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. However, this does not include the large number of seasonal workers employed in growing and harvesting crops during June, July, and August. About 13.9 percent of those employed worked in manufacturing with lumber and wood products employed. 65.8 percent of those employed in manufacturing and 1.54 percent employed in food and kindred products. About 16.4 percent of those employed worked in retail trade, and 28.9 percent worked in the services.
Table 29. Employment Status, Hood River County, 1969 and 1970
Hood River County Hood River Subject 1960 1970 1960 19701' Total males, 14 years and over 4,750 4,523 1,252 1,335 Total labor force 3,867 3,492 988 1,023 Armed forces 4 Civilian labor force 3,863 3,492 988 1,023 Employed 3,575 3,236 923 953 Unemployed 288 256 65 70 Not in labor force 883 1,031 264 312 Inmate of institution 43 42 NA NA Enrolled in school 317 190 NA NA Other 523 798 NA NA
Total females, 14 years and over 4,698 4,746 1,431 1,508 Total labor force 1,683 1,925 602 715 Employed 1,489 1,676 555 639 Unemployed 194 249 47 76 Not in labor force 3,015 2,821 829 793 Inmate of institution 59 54 NA NA Enrolled in school 422 299 NA NA Other 3,282 2,468 NA NA
Married (husbands present), in labor force 733 1,311
1/ 16 years and over. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)- C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962 and 1972.
- 25 - Table 30. Industry Group of Employed, Hood River County, 1960 and 1970
NumberEmployed 1/ Industry 1960 1970
Agriculture 890 Forestry and fisheries ) Mining Construction 301 252 Manufacturing 1,325 683 Lumber and wood products 447 450 Food and kindred products 527 76 Other 351 157 Transportat ion 181 114 Communications 73 80 1o1esale trade 87 646 Retail trade 651 808 Business services 115 220 Personal services 368 354 Hospitals and health services 65 133 Educational services 253 350 Professional and related services 216 132 Public administration 138 134 Utilities and sanitary services 109 98 1/ Persons are not necessarily classified in the same industry group both years SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)- C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing, Office, Washington, D.C., 1962, 1972.
Table 31. Percent of Age Group in Labor Force, Hood River County, 1970
Hood River County Age Group Male Female
Years 14-15 17.2 5.5 16-17 53.9 18.7 1849 63.1 48.4 20-21 86.5 44.6 22-24 100.00 46.9 25-34 97.3 44.6 35-44 93.0 58.5 4S-64 88.0 47.8 65 and over 27.4 11.7 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC (l)-C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972. Table 32. Hood River County Occupations, 1970
Number Employed Occupation Male Female Total
Total employed, 16 years and over 3,236 1,676 4,912 Professional, technical, and kindred workers 346 190 436 Engineers 25 -- 25 Physicians and related practi- t ioners 27 8 35 Other health workers 14 5 19 Teachers 49 115 164 Technicians, except health 25 23 48 Other professional workers 106 39 145 Managers and administrators 399 92 491 Sales workers 101 128 229 Clerical and kindred workers 100 408 508 Craftsmen and kindred workers 521 54 575 Operative except transport 335 290 625 Transport 215 4 219 Laborers except farm 335 24 426 Farmers and farm managers 306 11 317 Farm laborers 416 51 467 Service workers 194 356 550 Cleaning service 72 50 122 Food service 52 198 250 Health service 47 47 Personal service 37 43 80 Protective service 27 -- 27 Private household - - 68 68 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
Table 33. Number of Hired Season Workers in Agriculture by Type of Worker Hood River County, 1965 and 1971, Midmonth Figures
Intrastate Interstate Local Migratory Migratory Month 1965 1971 1965 1971 1965 1971
J May 20 90 20 20 20 15 June 375 90 130 75 125 85 July 555 410 405 340 755 825 August 110 100 165 25 295 25 September 100 180 565 195 1,395 505 October 40 265 110 475 230 1,270 SOURCE: Oregon .State Department of Employment, 1965 Oregon Farm Labor Report, 1966. Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Divi- sion, 1971 Annual Rural Manpower Report, 1972.
- 27 - Table 34. Annual Average Labor Force in Hood River County, 1968-1971
Number of Persons
Industry 1968 I 1969 1970 1971
Civilian labor force 6,030 6,300 6,310 6,520 Workers in labor management disputes 0 0 130 0 Unemployment 440 440 510 550 Percent of labor force 7.3 7.0 8.1 8.4 Employment 5,590 5,860 5,670 5,970 Agricultural 1,040 1,100 950 1,030 Nonagricultural. 4,550 4,760 4,720 4,940 Self-employed, unpaid family and domestics 630 630 630 660 Wage and salary workers 3,920 4,130 4,090 4,280 Manufacturing 1,070 1,070 1,090 1,190 Durable goods Lumber and wood 460 450 430 680 Other durables 180 Nondurable good 510 Food products 460 450 500 490 Other 150 170 160 Nonmanufacturing 2,850 3,060 3,000 3,090 Contract construction 180 130 90 70 Transportation, communication, utilities 360 330 310 310 Wholesale and retail trade 1,040 1,230 1,170 1,170 Finance, insurance,fj real estate 100 100 100 110 Service and miscellaneous 480 530 550 640 Government 690 740 780 790 SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor Force and Employment in Oregon by County, 1968 through 1971 publications, Research and Statistics section, 1969, 1972.
Table 35. Number and Percent of Persons Unemployed in Hood River County and Bordering Counties, 1968 and 1971
Number of People Percent of Labor Force County 1968 1971 1968 1971 j HOOD RIVER 440 550 7.3 8.4 Wasco 690 720 7.4 7.3 Clackamas 2/ 15,500 28,800 3.6 6.1 1/ Includes Wasco and Sherman counties. 2/ Includes Clackamas, Multnoinah, and Washington counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor Force and Employment in Oregon by County, 1968 through 1971 publications, Research and Statistics Section, 1969, 1972.
- 28 - Table 36. Median Earnings of Selected Occupation Groups Hood River County, 1959 and 1969
Occupation Group 1959 1969
Male, total with earnings $4,289 $6,836 Professional, managerial, and kindred workers 5,889 9,619 Farmers and farm managers 3,719 5,260 Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 5,133 8,086 Operatives and kindred workers 4,593 7,265 Farm laborers 1,776 2,759 Laborers, excluding farm and mine 3,653 5,573
Female, total with earnings $1,430 $2,553 Clerical and kindred workers 2,929 3,191 Operatives and kindred workers 1,267 2,382 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC (1)- C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962 and 1972 editions.
Table 37. Covered Payrolls and Employment by Industry, Hood River County, 1970 and 1971
Average Employment Annual Payroll Industry 1970 1971 1971
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 15 13 $36,619 Mining 1/ 1' 1' Contract construction 86 93 742,950 Lumber and wood products manufacturing 428 520 4,894,588 Food and kindred products manufacturing 501 566 3,431,617 Other manufacturing 160 202 1,047,674 Transportation, communication, electric, gas, and sanitary services 260 273 2,360,121 Wholesale and retail trade 723 751 3,764,301 Finance, insurance, and real estate 71 75 425,769 Services and miscellaneous 415 418 2,017,373 Government 157 153 1,365,733
Yearly total 2,817 3,066 $20,092,179 1/ Not published for individual counties. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Oregon Covered Employment and Payrolls, 1970 and 1971, Summary Data, Research and Statistics, Section, 1971, 1972.
- 29 - Table 38. Major Occupation Group of Unemployed, Hood River County, 1960 and 1970
Number of Persons Occupation Group 1960 1970
Professional, technical, and kindred workers. 12 28 Farmers and farm managers 4 1/ Managers, officials and proprietors, exclu- ing farm 4 1/ Clerical and kindred workers 22 33 Sales workers 13 4 Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 30 95 Operatives and kindred workers 192 205 Service workers, including private household 54 59 Farm laborers 50 29 Laborers, excluding farm and mine 81 47 1/ Included in professional, technical, and kindred workers figure for 1970. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962 and 1972 editions.
- 30 - Table 39. Local Government Employees and Payroll, Hood River County, October, 1967
I tern Employees and Earnings
Employees 597 Full-time only 426
Full-time equivalent employment 463 Education 295 Teachers only 194 Functions other than education 168 Highways 30 Public welfare 2 Hospitals Health 4 Police protection 11 Fire protection 5 Sewerage 1 Sanitation other than sewerage... 4 Parks and recreation 8 Natural resources 23 Housing and urban renewal Correction 6 Libraries 6 Financial administration 19 General control 17 Water supply 6 Other local utilities 4 Other and unallocable 22
October payroll $238,000 Education 165,000 Teachers only 124,000 Functions other than education 72,000
Average monthly earnings, full-time employment Teachers $638 Others 420 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol.3, No. 2, Compendium of Public Employment, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969.
- 31 - Inc o me
Table 40. Net Effective Buying Income Estimates, Hood River County, 1967 and 1970
Net Dollars Per Household Area 1967 1970 1967 1970
-- thousand dollars - - dollars - - State of Oregon $5,224,888 $6,650,690 $8,113 $9,440 Hood River County.. 33,443 37,865 7,432 8,606 SOURCE: Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, 1972, University of Oregon, 1972.
Table 41. Bank Debits and Deposits, Hood River County, 1965-1971
Year Bank Debits 1/ Bank Deposits
J thousand dollars 1965 $151,096 $ 23,303 1966 171,886 23,563 1967 175,921 26,766 1968 187,960 31, 779 1969 212,970 30,052 1970 191,227 29,763 1971 213,174 1/ This column includes Sherman County Bank Debits, also. Bank debits represent the dollar value of checks drawn against deposit accounts of individuals and businesses. Included are debits to demand deposit accounts of individuals, business firms, and state and other political subdivisions, and payments from escrow or trust accounts. Excluded are debits to U.S. Government, interbank, time and savings accounts, and several other categories of accounts. SOURCE: Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, 1972, University of Oregon, 1972.
- 32 - Table 42. Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups, Hood River County, 1970
I tern Number Percent
Mean Income Families: All races $9,486 Caucasian 9,504 Spanish Language 6,569 Black Other 9,604 Unrelated individuals: All races 4,165 Caucasian 4,177 Spanish Language Black Other 3,644
Families by Family Income Class All races: under $3,999 607 17.10 $5, 000-$5 ,999 475 13.38 $6,000-$ll,999 1,519 42.80 $ 12,000+ 948 26.71 total 3,549 100.00 Caucasian: under $3,999 578 16.99 $4 ,000-$5, 999 456 13.40 $6,000-$ 11,999 1,468 43.16 $ 12,000+ 899 26.43 total 3,401 100.00 Spanish Language: under $3,999 6 23.07 $4,000-$ 5,999 $6,000-$ 11,999 20 76.92 $l2,000+ total 26 100.00 Other: under $3,999 23 18.85 $4, 000-$5 ,999 19 15.57 $6,000-$l1,999 31 25.40 $ 12,000+ 49 40.16 total 122 100.00
Income below poverty level (bpl) Families bpl All races 420 Caucasian 391 Spanish Language 6 Black Other 23 Persons in families bpl 1,449 Table 42, cont. Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups, Hood River County, 1970
Item Number Percent
Unrelated individuals bpl Under 65 153 65 and over 198 Male family head, 14-64 yrs,, bpl Employed 170 Unemployed 33 Not in laborforce...... 49 Female family heads bpl in labor force with children below 6 yrs.. 4 Income source of families and un- related individuals hip Earnings 361 Social security or railroad retirement Public assistance or welfare. Blank spaces indicate a zero, suppresèd data, ornot applicable. 1/ Poverty levels are federally defined For further definition of poverty levels, see: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1) - C39 Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office,Washington, D.C., 1972. SOURCE Valde, Gary Rand Robert 0Coppedge, Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups A Complilation for Oregon Census County Divisions, Special Report 367, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 1972. Education
Table 43. Formal Education Facilities, Hood River County, 1969-70 and 1971
School District, Type School, 1/ 1971 High School and Number of Each Type Included 1969-70 1970 Graduates
Hood River School District #1 Hood River Valley High School NA NA 794 220 Cascade Locks High School NA NA 49 29 Hood River Jr. High School NA NA 456 Wy'East Jr. High School NA NA 420 Cascade Locks Elementary School 1-8 124 109 Frankton Elementary School 1-3 79 74 May St. Elementary School 5-8 434 423 Mid Valley Elementary School 5-8 299 320 Parkdale Elementary School 1-8 307 265 Pine Grove Elementary School 1-6 123 125 Westside Elementary School 1-6 257 268
1/ Average daily membership. SOURCES: Oregon Board of Higher Education, 1971-72 Oregon School-Community College Directory, and 1971 Oregon Public High School Graduates, and Summary of Pupil Personnel for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1969, School Finance and Statistical Services.
Table 44. Racial and Ethnic Distribution of Public School Enrollment by School District, Hood River County, 1972
American Spanish District White Black Indian Surname Other Total
Hood River County Totals 2,988 15 15 49 110 3,177
1/ Includes Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and others. 2/ Data is not compiled for individual schools in county. SOURCE: Civil Rights Compliance Report, Fall, 1970, Oregon Educational Coordinating Council.
Table 45. Youth Organizations, Hood River County, 1972
Organization Membership
Camp Fire Girls 73 4-H 593 Future Farmers 82 Girl Scouts 98 Neighborhood Yourth Corps 81 SOURCE: Camp Fire Girls, unpublished data from Hood River Council; 4-H, Neighborhood Youth Corps, and Future Farmers from Oregon State Extension Office, 4-H Division, unpublished data, 1972.
- 35 - Table 46. Years of School Completed by Population 25 Years and Over Hood River County, 1970
Number Number Educatrion Males Females Total Percent
Total, 25 years and over 3,765 3,913 7,678 100.00 No school years completed 27 15 42 .54 Elementary: 1-4 years 105 61 166 2.16 5-7 years 323 203 526 6.85 8 years 711 505 1,216 15.83 High School: 1-3 years 729 866 1,595 20.77 4 years 1,185 1,609 2,794 36.38 College: 1-3 years 376 434 810 10.54 4 yrs. or more 309 220 529 6.88
Median school years completed. 11.9 12.2 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)- C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
Table 47. Hood River County Residents Enrolled in Higher Education Inttutions, Fall, 1971
Institution Number Enrolled
Total enrolled 223 Eastern Oregon College.. 20 Oregon College of Education 25 Oregon State University 85 Portland State University 24 Southern Oregon College 1 University of Oregon 56 Oregon Technical Institute 10 University of Oregon Dental School 0 University of Oregon Medical School 2 Total in private and independent institutions 29 SOURCE: Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, Post Secondary Enrollment in Oregon, An Analysis of the Statewide Student Enrollment Data Survey, 1972.
Although Hood River County operates no correctional institutions of its own, it is served by four state correctional institutions in Marion County. These include training schools for socially maladjusted boys be- tween 12 and 18 years of age and girls between the ages of 12 and 21.
- 36 - Table 48. Felonies and Juvenile Delinquency, Hood River County, 1968
Subj ect Number
Commitments to felony and correctional institutions, 1967-68
Total commitments 9 Oregon State Penitentiary 1 Oregon State Correctional Institution 3 MacLaren (boys' training school) 1/ 4 Hillcrest (girls' training school) 1/ 1
Juvenile court cases, 1968 All cases 498 Delinquency 282 Traffic 188 Other 28 1/ Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Children Services Division, Adolescent Population and Commitment Data by County, by Calandar Year 1967-1970. SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District Facts, 1970.
Health and Vital Statistics
In 1969-70 Hood River County allocated $89,416 to its county health department budget. This represents a per capita amount of $6.33 which is about $1.00 more than the state average of $5.31. The county has one hos- pital and one long-term care facility, both located at Hood River. This area is the population center for the county. There are numerous medical personnel in the county as detailed in the following tables. Information is also given in the tables on major health problems in the county, births and deaths in the county, and admissions to various healthcare facilities. Table 49. Existing Medical Facilities, NumberofExisting Beds, and Number of Beds Needed, Hood River'ounty, 1971 1/
Number of Facilities Number of Beds Category and Community existing needed existing needed
General Hospital HoodRiver...... 1 1 47 41 Long-term care facilities Hood River 1 1 83 53 Diagnostic and treatment centers HoodRiver...... 1 1 1/ Mental Facilities: thestate plan of the Mental Health Division is made a part of this plan by reference. Tuberculosis Hospitals: none Rehabilitation Hospitals: none SOURCE: Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility Planning and Construction Section, Qregon:StatePlan forConstruction and Modernization ofHospjtals, PublicHealth Centers and Medical FacilIties, 1971 Annual Revision, 1971
Table 50. Diagnostic or TreatmentCenter Facilities, Hood River County, 1970
Name and Location Outpatient Visits Services during year
Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River 5,349 1'
1/ A diagnostic treatment center must offer the following services in order to be defined by the State Board of Health as a diagnostic treatment center: takes outpatients, has facilities for examination of patients by dentists or physicians, or has diagnostic x-ray and clinical laboratory services available for ren- dering a significant amount of service to the community. SOURCE: Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility Planning and Construction Section, Oregon State Plan for Construction and Modernization of Hospitals, Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annual Revision, 1971 Table 51. Percent Occupancy of Existing Medical Facilities, Hood River County, 1969
Total Percent of Name of Facility Location Capacity Occupancy
General Hospitals Hood River Memorial Hospital Hood River 47 51 Long-term Care Facilities Hood River Convalescent Center Hood River 83 81 Tuberculosis Hospitals None in Hood River County
SOURCE: Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility Planning and Construction Section, Oregon State Plan for Construction and Modernization of Hospitals, Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annual Revision, 1971
Table 52. Number of Licensed Medical Personnel and Ratio of Population Per Professional, Hood River County, 1969
County State Profession Number Ratio Ratio 1
Medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy 10 1,413 770 Dentists 7 2,019 1,470 Registered nurses 34 416 276 Licensed practical nurses 6 2,355 1,002 Pharmacists 8 1,766 1,375
1/ Ratio figure equals population per professional in particular category. SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District Facts, 1970.
Table 53. Number of Admissions to State Psych:iatric Hospitals and Mental Health Clinics and Ratio per 100,000 Population, Hood River County, 1968-69
County State Facility Number Ratio Ratio
Psychiatric hospitals 8 57 134 Mental health clinics 72 510 460
SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District Facts, 1970.
- 39 - Table 54. Births and Deaths by Major Category, Hood River County and State of Oregon, 1968 and 1971
Hood River County State Number Rate Rate
Category Ier.i: i13r4: 1YI1 1971
All births 1/ 190 193 13.2 14.6 15.6 All deaths 1/ 137 137 9.5 10.4 9.4 Illegitimate births 2/ 14 15 73.7 77.7 78.1 Premature births 2/ 16 8 84.2 41.5 57.4 Infant deaths 2/ 6 4 31.6 20. 7 18.4 Accidental deaths 3/ 8 11 55.6 83.4 61.3 1/ Rates per 1,000 population. 2/ Rates per 1,000 live births. 3/ Rate per 100,000 population. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, state Health Division, Vital Statistics Section, Vital Statistics Annual Report, 1971, and 1968 Statistical Report, 1969.
Table 55. Health Statistics, Hood River County, 1970
Hood River County State Item Number] Rate 1/ RateV Morbidity Tiiercu1os is 4 30.3 11.6 Syphilis 2 15.2 5.3 Gonorrhea 30 227.4 422.0 Influenza 14 106.1 1,171.7 Hepatitis 6 44.0 2/ 45.1 2/ Measles (Rubella) 3 22.7 18.1
Deaths from all causes 137 10.4 3/ 9.4 3/ Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 29 219.9 168.4 Diabetes mellitus 13.3 Heart diseases 42 318.4 349.6 Cerebrovascular diseases 22 166.8 110.9 Arteriosclerosis 5 37.9 Other cardiovascular diseases 3 22.7 17.3 Influenza and pneumonia 5 37.9 26.4 Bronchitis, emphysema, asthma 2 15.2 26.9 Peptic ulcer 1 7.6 4.3 Cirrhosis of liver 2 15.2 15.8 Congenital anomolies 8.2 Certain infancy mortality causes. 2 15.2 14.7
All other diseases 11 83.4 76.9 Accidents 11 83.4 61.3 Suicides 2 15.2 14.9 Homicides 3.8
1/ Rate per 100,000 population. 2/ Rate per 1,000 population 3/ 1966-68 average, taken from Offic of the Govenor, Health Facts, 1969. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, State Health Division, Vital Statistics Section, Vital Statistics Annual Report, 1970.
- 40 - Public Welfare
Table 56. Average Monthly Public Welfare Payments by Type of Service, Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties, Fiscal Years 1968-69 and 1971-72
Average Payment per Case Type of Service 1968-69 1971-72
Old Age Assistance $ 58.96 $ 53.55 Aid to the Disabled 62.94 80.91 id to the Blind 75.41 99.99 ueneral Assistance 28.85 41.10 Aid to Dependent Children 1/ UN 2/ 12.31 40.41 Basic 2/ 37.10 45.48
1/ Payment per person, not case, 2/ The UN figure represents payments to families where the male parent is in the home, but unemployed. The basic figure represents all others. SOURCE: Unpublished data received from Sondra Lipman, Oregon Public Welfare Division, Research and Statistics Section, May 1973.
The State of Oregon operates three special schools for the handicapped, all located at Salem in Marion County. The School for the Blind provides special education for approximately 100 children with acute vision problems in a boarding school situation. The School for the Deaf provides parallel training for severely handicapped children from four years of age through high school. Oregon Fairview Home provides in-and-out patient training for mentally deficient minors and adults.
- 41 - Table 57. Public Welfare Payments for Assistance, Hood River 1/ County, August, 1972
Category Cases Average Payments
Cases receiving non-medical payments Old age assistance 136 $ 51.11 Aid to the blind 11 112.45 Aid to the disabled 83 88.71 Aid to dependent children 2/ 768 37.97 General assistance 83 34.37 Foster care NA NA
Physicians services 2/ OAA 32 13.93 AB 6 11.33 AD 37 20.66 ADC 191 22.04 GA 22 12.57 FC 21 13.92
Hospital payments 2/ OAA 4 303.29 AB 1 78.00 AD 16 269.41 ADC 23 297.16 GA 4 228.78 FC 2 131.91
Drug payments 2/ OAA 107 19.78 AB 7 45.56 AD 53 20.83 ADC 113 6.10 GA 22 10.79 FC 11 4.50
NA - not available. 1/ Hood River County statistics not compiled separately. Figures in this table represent total of Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Public Welfare in Oregon, October 1968 and December 1970 editions.
- 42 - Housing
Table 58. Housing Occupancy and Facilities, Hood River County, 1970
Hood River County State Subj ect Number units Percent Percent j Occupancy All housing units 6,545 100.00 100.0 Seasonal or migratory 1,776 27.13 1.3 Owner occupied 3,062 46.78 61.3 Renter occupied 1,382 21.11 31.5 Vacant year-round 327 4.99 5.9
Population in housing units per unit Owner occupied 3.0 Renter occupied 2.9
Persons per room All occupied units 4,442 100.00 100.0 1.00 or less 4,121 92.77 94.7 1.01-1.50 229 5.15 4.2 1.51 or more 92 2.07 1.1
Facilities Lacking some or all plumbing facilities 215 4.50 3.6 Telephone available 3,670 82.62 89.5 Air conditioning 48 9.81 10.3
Median number of rooms 5.1 Median value 1/ $ 13,200 - $11,300 Median gross rent 2/ 90 - 107
1/ Specified owner occupied. Limited to one-.family homes on less than 10 acres and no business on property. 2/ Specified renter occupied. Excludes one-family homes on 10 acres or more. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report, HC(l)-.B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 43 - Table 59. Housing, Occupancy, and Facilities for Places with over 2,500 Hood River County, 1970
Hood River Subject Number Percent
Occupancy All year-round housing units 1,566 100.00 Owner occupied 982 62.70 Renter occupied 491 31.35 Vacant year-round 93 5.93
Facilities Telephone available 1,186 80.51 Air conditioning 182 11.63
Median gross rent of renter occupied $100
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 44 - THE COUNTY'S ECONOMY
Hood River's industries have been going through a period of ad- justment in recent years. Agriculture potential has been increasing in importance as compared to the other primary industry, lumber and lumber products. The expansion of food processing is the most likely source of increased payrolls while increased mechanization will result in at least a temporary reduction in thlabor force.
The lumber industry has been going through a period of adjustment that has seen the smaller mills close. Virtually all milling of any consequence is now being done by three mills: Cascade Locks Lumber Company, Hanel Lumber Company, and U.S. Plywood Corporation.
Recreation continues to increase in importance to the economy of the county as more people from the Willamette Valley make use of recre- ational areas in the county.
The following tables and narrative give more detailed information on agriculture, forestry, recreation and also the less important industries of mining, manufacturing, and business.
Agriculture
Agriculture has long been an economic force in Hood River County. Production is generally restricted to lands of the Hood River Valley. This valley, approximately 10 miles wide, extends southward from the Columbia River to the slopes of Mount Hood, some 25 miles distant.
The land base for agriculture in Hood River County consists of 2,232 acres of pasture land, 6,388 acres of pastured woodlands, and 16,743 acres of cropland. The total land area in farms is 29,673 acres.
Pasture land and grazed woodlands constitute about 29 percent of the total land area in farms. Pasture land is listed as cropland used only for pasture. Pastured woodland is defined as land grazed by livestock that is at least 10 percent stocked with trees.
About 56 percent of the total area in farms, or 16,743 acres, is cropland. The major uses of cropland are for the production of fruits and hay.
Almost all of the farmland is irrigated. In addition to this, the county experiences an annual rainfall of 30-46 inches. Most of this occurs during the fall and winter months.
- 45 - Horticulture products account for a large percentage of the agricultural income through the fruit industry. In 1967, according to the OSU Ex- tension Service and USDA Cooperating, all tree fruits and nuts accounted for 93 percent of the total agricultural income. The close proximity of farms to the population centers and markets enables farmers to compete favorably with other areas in the Northwest.
Closely tied to the agricultural production industry is food pro- cessing. Principal processors are the Diamond Fruit Growers Coopera- tive. It appears that any increases in agricultural production will come from more intense use of presently available land rather than from additional acreages put into production.
Principal agricultural products of the county include fruit, vege- tables, dairy products, livestock, poultry, and field crops.
The following tables give more detailed information on farm size and value, farm operators, and farm production.
Table 60. Farm Size and Value, Hood River County, 1959, 1964, and 1969
Subj ect 1959 1964 1969
Approximate acres of land area 338,560 334,725 334,976 Proportion in farms 10.8% 9.5% 8.9% Total number of farms 782 641 538 Acres in farms 36,683 31,966 29,673 Average size of farms 46.9 49.9 55.1 Value of land and buildings NA NA $36,479,388 Average per farm $28,848 $48,595 $67,805 Average per acre $657.59 $1 ,071.75 $1,229.37 NA - not available. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1969, Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 46 - Table 61. Number and Percent of Farms by Size, Hood River County, 1959, 1964, and 1969
Number Percent Size 1959 1964 1969 1959 1964 1969
J Less than 10 acres...... 112 81 63 14.32 12.63 11.71 10 to 49 acres 473 363 281 60.48 56.63 52.23 50 to 69 acres 68 73 72 8.69 11.38 13.38 70 to 99 acres 57 57 53 7.28 8.89 9.85 100 to 139 acres 30 21 31 3.83 3.27 5.76 140 to 179 acres 10 15 11 1.27 2.34 2.04 180 to 219 acres 9 6 1 1.15 .93 .18 220 to 259 acres 4 7 5 .51 1.09 .92 260 to 499 acres 14 16 20 1.79 2.49 3.71 500 to 999 acres 4 2 1 .51 .31 .18 1,000 to 1,999 acres 1 - - . 12 - - 2,000 acres or more
Total farms 782 641 538 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964and 1969, Vol. 1 Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1967, 1972.
Classification of farms by economic class considers only thoseclassi- fied by the U.S. Department of Agricultureas "Commercial farms".
In general, all farms with a total value of products soldamounting to $2,500 or more are classified as commercial. Farms with sales of $50 to $2,499 are classifiedas commercial if the farm operator was under 65 years of age and (1) he did not work offthe farm 100 or more days during the year and (2) the income receivedby the operator and members of his family from nonfarmsources was less than the value of all farm products sold.
Table 62. Farm Operators by Tenure, Hood River County,1959, 1964, and 1969
Tenure 1959 1964 1969
Full owners 630 547 458 Part owners 100 76 66 Managers 15 5 - Tenants 20 13 14 Total operators 765 641 538 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of'Agriculture,1964 and 1969, Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon,U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1967, 1972.
- 47 - Table 63. Farms by Economic Class, Hood River County, 1959,1964, and 1969
Number Percent Economic Class 1959 1964 1969 1959 1964 1969 1 Commercial farms Class I(sales of $40,000 or more) 24 26 103 3.13 4.05 19.14 Class II (sales of $20,000 to $39,999) 36 80 90 4.70 12.48 16.72 Class III (sales of $10,000 to $19,999) 140 102 59 18.30 15.91 10.96 Class IV (sales of $5,000 to $9,999) 90 62 73 11.76 9.67 13.56 Class V (sales of $2,500 to $4,999) 90 70 55 11.76 10.92 10.22 Class VI (sales of $50 to $2,499) 20 48 15 2.61 7.48 2.78
Other farms Part-time 260 193 122 33.98 30.10 22.67 Part-retirement 105 59 20 13.72 9.20 3.71 Abnormal - 1 1 - .15 .18
Total farms 765 641 538 100.00100.00 100.00 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Vo. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washing- ton, D.C., 1967, 1972.
Table64. Farm OperatorsbyAge and Years of School Hood River County, 1959, 1964, and 1969
Subj ect 1959 1964 1969
Average age (years) 51.3 51.5 51.6 65 years and over 134 97 68
Years of school completed Elementary: 0-4 years NA 1 NA 5-7 years NA 43 NA 8 years NA 69 NA High school: 1-3 years NA 94 NA 4 years NA 278 NA College. 1-3 years NA 87 NA 4 years or more NA 69 NA NA - not available. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1967, 1972.
-- 48 Table 65. Value of Farm Products Sold 1/, Flood River County, 1966-1970
Product 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 2/
thousand dollars All crops, livestock and livestock products 11,465 17,022 11,914 13,796 12,010
All crops 10,498 16,094 10,882 12,559 11,126 All grain, hay F seeds 45 39 36 23 18 All seed crops All grain and hay 45 39 36 23 18 All hay 45 39 36 23 18 All grains Vegetables, fresh and for processing 3 - 7 14 21 All berries 394 210 168 241 202 All tree fruits and nuts 10,005 15,789 10,620 12,223 10,756 Specialty field crops Specialty horticultural crops 32 29 29 28 28 Potatoes 7 3 7 12 83
All livestock and livestock products 967 928 1,032 1,237 884 Dairy products 358 336 353 324 295 Poultry products 167 164 207 417 266 Cattle and calves 214 253 285 311 214 Sheep and lambs 7 3 4 5 8 Hogs 20 16 15 10 14
1/ Crop year includes quantities held for sale or sold. 2/ Preliminary. SOURCE: OSU Extension Service and U.S.D.A. Cooperating, "Oregon Commodity Data Sheets", Oregon State University, 1971-72.
Table 66. Acres of Crops Harvested and Tons Harvested, Hood River County, 1969 1970
Crops Harvested 1969 1970
acres Hay crops 3,300 2,900 Strawberries 175 160 tons Apples 57,600 37,989 Pears 100,100 54,530 Bartlet pears 39,800 25,500 Other pears 60,300 29,030 Sweet cherries 2,400 1,650
1/ Preliminary. SOURCE: OSU Extension Service and U.S.D.A. Cooperating, "Oregon Commodity Data Sheets", 1971-72.
- 49 - The estimated numbers of livestock and poultry in Hood River County are shown in the table that follows.
The number omilk cows in the county has decreased significantly since 1940, consistent with a national trend. The decline in consump- tion of dairy products per capita and the rapid rise in milk production per cow are two of the most important factors contributing to this decrease.
Sheep and lamb numbers since 1940 have shown a gradual decrease. Number of cattle other than milk cows have increased from 1,300 in 1940 to 2,400 in 1970. Total number of poultry have remained constant since 1964.
Table 67. Livestock and Poultry Numbers, Hood River County, 1950, 1960, 1969, and 1970
Category 1/ 1950 1960 1969 1970
All cattle 4,500 5,000 3,500 3,000 Dairy cattle 1,900 1,200 700 600 Sheep and lambs 400 700 300 500 Hogs 700 800 300 NA Chickens NA NA 22,000 20,000 Turkeys raised NA NA 2,500 NA NA - not available. 1/ Numbers as of January 1, unless otherwise indicated. 2/ Preliminary figures. SOURCE: OSU Extension Service and U.S.D.A. cooperating, "Oregon Commodity Data Sheets," 1971-72.
Table 68. Food and Kindred Products Manufacturing, Hood River County, 1968 and 1970
Number of firms Employment Product Group 1968 1970 1968 1970
Canned fruit, vegetables, preserves, jams, and jellies 1 800 800 Distilled, rectified, and blended liquors 1 15 15 Bottled and canned soft drinks and carbonated waters 1 6 12 SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968, and 1970 editions.
- 50 - Logging and Wood Products
Logging and sawmilling have long been a substantial part of Hood River's industry. The trend at present is toward fewer but larger mills. The primary source of logs in the county is the sustained yield program of both federal and county forests.
Continuation of the lumber industry's position in the county's economy will depend a great deal on the availability of new log sources to replace those lost to the reduced allowable cut from federal forests in Hood River County. Current speculation in the county indicates that the loop highway improvements between Hood River and U.S. Highway 26 south of Mount Hood will enable the mills to haul logs from other forest areas where the allowable cut is less restricted.
Table 69. Lumber and Wood Products Manufacturing Excluding Furniture, Hood River County, 1968 and 1970
Number of firms Employment Product Group 1968 1970 1968 1970
J Logging camps and contractors 6 28 Sawmills and planing mills, general 3 2 252 182 Millwork 1 1 10 10 Veneer and plywood containers 1 1 3 3 Wood products, not elsewhere classified 1 2 190 240 1/ One or more firms did not report number of employees. SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968 and 1970.
Table 70. Timber Harvest by Ownership, Hood River County, 1970 1/
Ownership Production 2/ Percent of Total
Total timber harvest 36,841 100.00 Private 3/ 7,629 20.70 Bureau of Land Management 4/ National forest 5/ 27,972 75.92 State 3/ Other public 1,240 3.36 1/ Includes volumes removed as logs but not volume removed for poles, piling, and woodcutting operations. 2/ Scribner Log Rule - thousand board feet. 3/ Compiled by State Forestor. 4/ Compiled by Bureau of Land Management. 5/ Compiled by U.S. Forest Service. SOURCE: U.S.D.A. Forest Service Resource Bulletin PNW-3g, "1970 Timber Harvest", Pacific Northwest Range And Forest Experiment Station, 1971. Table 71. Log Consumption in Thousand Board Feet by Species and Industry Hood River County, 1968 1/
Species Sawmi ils
All Species 83,800 Douglas-fir 36,690 Hemlock 45,610 Pines 1,500 Other softwoods
1/ Scribner Log Rule. SOURCE: Manock, Eugene,R., Grover A. Choate, and Donald R. Gedney, Oregon Timber Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption and Mill Characteristics, Oregon State Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service, Salem, Oregon, 1968.
Table 72. Installed 8-Hour Capacity of Wood-Using Industries, Hood River County, 1968
Industry Capacity
Sawmill-lumber 1/ 370,000 Veneer and plywood 2/ Pulp and board mills 3/ 92
1/ Scribner log rule, board feet. 2/ No mills in county. 3/ 24 hour capacity in tons. SOURCE: Manock, Eugene R., Grover A. Choate, and Donald R. Gedney, Oregon Timber Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption And Mill Characteristics, Oregon State Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service, Salem, Oregon, 1968.
Manufacturing
Table 73. Value Added by Major Manufacturing Industries, Hood River County, 1967
I tern Value Added Percent of Total
All manufacturing $13,000,000 100.00 Food and kindred products NA NA Lumber and wood products 7,100,000 54.61 Other 5,900,000 45.38 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Manufacturers, 1967, Area Series, Oregon, MC67(3)-38, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1970.
- 52 - Table 74. Manufacturing, Other than Lumber and Wood Products; Food and Kindred Products and Mineral, Metal, and Related Products Manufacturing, Hood River County, 1968 and 1970
Number of Firms Employment Product Group 1968 1970 1968 1970
Newspapers, publishing, and printing 1 1 10 10 Commercial printing except
1 itho graphing 1 1 6 6 Manifold business forms 1 1 2 2 Farm machinery and equipment 1 1 2 2 Boat building and repairing 1 1 17 28 Miscellaneous machinery, except electrical 1 2 1/ 3 Sporting and athletic goods, not elsewhere classified 1 1 70 130 1/ One or more firms did not report number of employees. SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968 and 1970
Mining - Mineral and Metal Industries
Most of the income from mineral production is derived from sand, gravel, and stone, and varies considerably fromyear to year, depending on the current construction activities within the county. In Hood River County, sand and gravel deposits suitable for constructionpurposes are being developed at two locations bordering the Columbia River east of the Cascade Locks airport. Sand and gravel in the Hood River Valley are generally too fine or soft to meet construction specifications. Gravel from Indian Creek pits southwest of Hood River is used byan asphalt plant. Road rock presently is quarried at four sites within the Hood River Valley and crushed by portable equipment.
Table 75. Mineral, Metal and Related Manufacturing, Hood River County, 1968 and 1970
Number of Firms Employment Major Groups 1968 1970 1968 1970 f Concrete products, except block and brick 1 - 2 Ready-mix concrete 1 1 20 20 Fabricated metal products, not else- where classified 1 1 3 3 SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968 and 1970.
- 53 - Table 76. Value of Mineral Production, Hood River County
Year Value Minerals Produced in Order of Value
1963 $886,000 Sand and gravel,stone 1965 1,168,000 Sand and gravel,stone 1967 364,000 Sand and gravel,stone 1970 1/
1/ Figure withheld to avoid disclosing individual company confidential data. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, Bureau of Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, various years, University of Oregon.
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation has been important in the county since established in 1908. Recreation has not yet been developed to the extent of lumber or agriculture, but is receivi1ng new attention as a major area of eco- nomic development. Recently, increased urbanization of the county has caused more people to seek the out-of-doors to "get away from it all" through camping, picnicking, wilderness travel, sight-seeing, and re- lated activities. Better and faster transportation, higher family in- comes and icreased leisure time have enabled people to spend more time and money on recreation and to travel farther for recreation.
Popular activities located in the county are camping, picknicking, boating, water skiing, swimming, hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, winter sports, and wilderness.
Most of the public outdoor recreational facilities in the county are adjacent to lakes or streams. The Columbia River is used for a wide variety of activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, and water skiing.
The county's recreation needs can generally be placed in two cate- gories--those to serve local residents and those to serve visitors. In most cases, well-designed facilities will meet both needs. However, if recreational facilities are to offer any economic advantage to the county, their number, capacity, and design must substantially exceed the needs of the local residents.
The developed public recreational facilities of Hood River County consist of national forest recreational areas, state parks, county parks, and city parks.
The largest national forest facilities include campgrounds at Lost Lake, Robinhood, and Sherwood area with 105, 43, and 33 family units, respectively.
The largest state park in the county is Viento, with 45 campsites.
- 54 - Of the parks along the gorge, only Viento, located six mileswest of Hood River, offers camping space although additionalspaces are avail- able at Eagle Creek just outside Hood River County two mileswest of Cascade Locks. A limited number of spaces may also be provided at the old locks park site in Cascade Locks. High visitor counts at gorge sites are partially due to sightseeing attendant withauto travel through the gorge. Visit duration is quite low even where campingspace is available, in which case duration probablycompares with the one and a half days experienced by local national forest campgrounds.
Prior to extenseive planning for the Indian Creek Lakes, sample cores should be taken at the lake locations to determine the presence of soil conditions that will meet lake requirements.
There is a potential for a resort lake developmenton the east side of the valley in the vicinity of Neal Creek where preliminary engineering was done in 1946 for an irrigation reservoir. Unless strong commercial interest is guaranteed, it seems wise to assign sucha development priority behind the Indian Creek project.
The lava flows west of Parkdale provide a potential focal point for hiking, camping and sightseeing. Initial use of the area for recreation purposes will require improved access, iest rooms, picnic andcamping facilities and appropriate signing A similar opportunity is available at the 'Punch Bowl" in the Dee area. An early priority seems warranted for the provision of limited facilities.
The mountainous area of the county provides outstandingpotential for recreational activity.Most of the area is within the Mount Hood National Forest. A relatively small part is owned privately and by the county.
Expansion of Forest Service facilities is proceeding within budgetary limitations. Lost Lake improvements have received first priority after expenditures at the Timber line area on the south slope of Mount Hoodin Clackamas County. Other expenditures will include facilitiesor additions at Wahtum Lake and Cloud Cap as well as additional trailcamp sites and road work. Development of a major ski area of forest landas now pro- posed by the Hood River Meadows Ski Associationmay result in some di- version of funds from contemplated projects if plans materialize.
- 55 - Table 77. Public Park and Recreation Facilities by Ownership, Hood River County
Ownership and Name Facilities and Activities
State Parks Koberg Beach Wayside Sw Zibe Dimmick State Park P, FW, Cs, St, Fp Senaca Founts Memorial State Park H, Ss Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Park H, Ss Viento State Park P, F, Ss, W, Cs, St, Fp Starvation Creek State Park P, H, Ss, His, St, W, Fp Hood River Trout Hatchery Ss, P, W, Cs Lindsey State Park P, Ss Lang State Park Ss Oxbow Salmon Hatchery Ns Sheridan State Park P, H, Ss, His U.S. Forest Service Parks Robin Hood C, P,W, Cs, St, Fp, F Indian Springs C, P, Cs, St, Fp, Hn Kingsley C, Ts, P, Cs, St, Fp, F Ladd Creek C, Cs, St, Fp, F Polallie C, P. Cs, St, Fp, F Old Wagon Road Historical Area His Lindsey Creek Development Site 2/ P, F Wyeth Development Site 2/ C, P Herman Creek Campground C, P, H, F, Ss, G Cascade Locks Indian Picnic Site P, F, Ss, His Overlook Picnic Ground P, Ss Eagle Creek Waterfront Develop- ment Site 2/ F Mt. Hood Meadows P, W, Cs, St. Fp, F, Sk Lost Lake C, Ts, P, W, Cs, St, Fp, F,B, H, Sw Rainy Lake C, P, Cs, F, H Sherwood C, P, W, Cs, St, Fp, F Tilly Jane C, Cs, St, Fp, H, Ss Wahtum Lake C, Cs, St, Fp, F, H Cloud Cap Saddle P, Cs, St, Fp, F, H Devils Half Acre C, Cs, St, Fp, H, Ss Badger Lake C, P, Cs, St, Fp, F, H Bonney Meadows C, P, Cs, St, Fp, F, H Bottle Prairie C, Cs, St, Fp, F Municipal Parks Hood River Small Boat Basin B Cascade Locks Small Boat Basin 2/ B Routson C, Is, 1, W, Cs, St, Fp, F Toll Bridge C, P, W, Cs, St, Fp, F Tucker Bridge C, Ts, P, W, Cs, St, Fp, F, Sh Panorama Point P, W, Cs, Ss Jackson Memorial Park !I Legend: B - Boating Fp - Fireplace Hn - Hunting P - Picnicking C - Camping G - GeologicalHis- History Sh - Showers Cs - Comfort Station H - Hiking Ns - Nature study Ss - Sightseeing St - Stoves Sk -Skiing Sw - Swimming Ts - Trailer Sites= W - Water Available 2/ Proposed for further development. bURCE: Oregon Denartment of Commerce, A Plan for Develonmentof the flregon Mid-Columbia River Waterfront; County Engineer, Hood River County, Bureau of Municipal Research, Growht HOOD River County; U.S. Forest Service Oreqon Parks Division: Hood River County Recreation Commission. Table 78. Attendance at State Parks in Hood River County
Attendance Park and Use 1968-69 1969-70 1970-71 1971-72
J Overnight camping Viento 5,066 5,761 7,259 12,977 Day visitor attendance Koberg Beach 78,208 69,632 151,120 188,576 Zibe Dimniick 17,060 20,969 18,540 10,054 Vi ent o 70,956 89,214 93,070 121,196 Starvation Creek 305,384 315,648 306,508 372,392 SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "Day Visitor Attendance'2 and "Overnight Camping by the Public", State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Table 79. Hood River County Game Harvest
Hunters Harvest Game Percent of Percent of Days Number State Total Number State Total Hunted
Ducks 60 .10 510 .08 730 Geese 20 .07 0 - 210 Pheas ant 94 .13 24 .01 444 Quail 24 .09 174 .11 96 Blue and Ruffed Grouse 68 .88 113 .67 209 Band-tailed pigeon.. 99 .80 508 .42 439 Mourning dove 187 1.14 2,283 1.16 751 Deer 1/ 1,350 .48 120 .13 NA Elk17 130 .17 2 .01 1,270 1/ Figure shown is for Hood River Game Management Unit. This unit is not entirely contained within the county, nor does it cover the entire county. NA - Not available. SOURCE: Oregon State Game Commission, "1966 Upland Game Questionnaire", 1967; "Water Fowl Estimates, 1969-70 Season", 1970, Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin, May 1972.
- 57 - Business
'Fable 80. Retail and WholesaleTrade, Hood River County, 1967
Paid Kind of Business Establishments Employees Sales
number number $1,000 Retail trade, total 164 603 22,891
Lumber, building materials, hard- ware, farm equipment dealers 2/. 15 3,335 General merchandise group stores 5 846 Food stores 22 6,300 Automotive dealers 13 4,831 Gasoline service stations 30 2,277 Apparel, accessory stores 9 * Furniture, home furnishing, equipment stores 7 606 Eating, drinking places 26 1,511 Drug stores, proprietary stores 5 676 Other retail stores 24 1,083 Nonstore retailers 8 *
Wholesale trade, total 24 97 30,644 Merchant wholesalers 9 1,961 Other operating types 15 28,703 * Withheld to avoid disclosure. 1/ Excludes active proprietors of unincorporated businesses. 2/ Only those counties with 500 or more establishments are brokendown into types of businesses. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967 Retail Trade: Oregon, BC 67-Ra 39; U.S. Census of Business, 1967 Wholesale Trade Oregon, BC 67-WA 39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969.
Table 81. Selected Services, Hood River County, 1967
Kind of Business Establishments Receipts Paid Employees 1/
number $1,000 number Selected services, total 86 2,033 97 Hotels, motels, tourist courts, camps 13 NA NA Personal services, 29 NA NA Miscellaneous business services 13 NA NA Auto repair, services, garages 11 NA NA Miscellaneous repair services 15 NA NA Motion pictures, total 1 NA NA Amusement, recreation services, exc. metionpictures 4 NA NA 1/ Excludes active proprietors of unincorporated businesses. NA - Not available. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967, Selected Services, Oregon, BC 67-SA39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969. PUBLIC SERVICE
Transportation
Hood River County is served with an excellent road and highway system. The county is traversed on the northern edge by Interstate Highway 80N connecting Cascade Locks with Hood River. State Highway 35 starts at Hood River, extends southward through Hood River Valley, loops westward around Mount Hood, and connects with U.S. Highway26. Most of the population centers, irrigated tracts, andorchard farming areas are linked with improved county roads. Access across the Columbia River to Washington points is supplied bya bridge at Cascade Locks, and at Hood River. They are named the Bridge of the Gods, and Hood River Bridge respectively.
The main line of the Union Pacific Railroadserves towns along the northern edge of the county. It provides transcontinental passenger and freight service. The Mount Hood spur line connects Hood River, Dee, and Parkdale to transport fruit and timber products.
There are no airports within the county used regualrly by comniercial airlines. Hood River and Cascade Locks have airport facilities for smaller planes.
The port of Hood River supply docks for vessels and barges forup to 27 foot draft; bulk handling equipment between water, rail, and high- way carriers; boat basins and moorage.
Table 82. Miles of Roadway in Hood River County, 1972
Agency Mi 1 e s
Federal agency roads 396 State agency roads 98 County and public usage roads 1/ 238 City streets 26
Total 758 1/ Public usage roads are roads under county jurisdiction butgenerally privately maintained. SOURCE: Transportation Research Institute, Oregon State University, Functtonal Classification of Public Roads and Streets in Oregon, 1970.
- 59 - lable 83. Motor Vehicle Registration, Hood River County, 1970 and 1972
Number of Vehicles Vehicle 1970 1972
J Passenger vehicles 8,995 9,693 Buses 14 3 Trucks 608 671 All trailers 584 258 Motorcycles 416 551 Recreational 1/ 693 882 Snowmobiles NA 27 Total vehicles 11,310 12,085 1/ Includes campers and travel trailers. NA - not available. SOURCES: Oregon State Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicles Division, 1970 figures taken from Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, 1972, University of Oregon; 1971 figures from a telephone interview with State Motor Vehicles Division.
Table 84. Number of Aircraft and Boats in Hood River County, 1968
Subj ect Number
Aircraft 19 Boats 373 SOURCE: Oregon State Executive Department, Local Government Relations Division, District Facts, 1970.
Communication
Hood River County is served by one radio station within thecounty and many other stations from surrounding areas. Telephone service is pro- vided by Cascade Utilities, Pacific Northwest Bell, and United Telephone Company of the Northwest, and telegraph service by Western Union. There are no locally owned television stations; however, several stations are received via cable and individual afltenna.
One newspaper is published locally in Hood River. In addition to this, the county is served by the Oregonian nd the Oregon Journal, both from Portland.
- 60 - Table 85. Communication Facilities, Hood River County
Type Service Location Network Affiliation
Radio Stations K IHR Hood River Telephone Cascade Utilities Inc Mt. Hood Meadows Pacific Northwest Bell Hood River United Telephone Co. of the Northwest Dee, Hood River, Odell Newspapers Hood River News Hood River SOURCES: Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Directory of Radio and Television Stations for the State of Oregon, 1972. Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Meyers, Secretary of State, Oregon Blue Book, 1973-74, January 1973. Pacific Northwest Bell, unpublished data.
Table 86. Residential Communication Facilities, 1960 and 1970, Hood River County
Number of Housing Units Facilities 1960 1970
Battery radio sets Yes 3,956 3,504 No 280 806 Telephone available Yes 3,252 3,670 No 984 772 Television sets None 1,013 418 One 3,127 3,379 Two or more 96 513 UHF equipped Yes NA 2,612 No NA 1,280 NA - Not available. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report HC (l)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D,C,,, 1972.
- 61 - Library Facilities
Public support for libraries in Hood River County is supplied from county funds. In 1970 the county allocated $37,450 or $2.65 per capita for the library operating fund and had a circulation of 64,631 or 4.6 per capita. These figures are slightly lower than the state average of 6.3 and $3.48 per capita.
Table 87. Hood River County Libraries, by City of Location, 1969-70
Circu-Circ./ Firs. Open Operating Expend.! City Volumes lation Capita Per Week Expend. Capita
Hood River 39,636 53,192 NA 65 $ 34,423 NA Cascade Locks 5,750 6,187 9.5 8 Parkdale 4,500 5,252 NA 10
Total 49,886 64,631 4.6 -- $ 34,423 $2.44 SOURCE: Oregon State Library, Directory of Oregon Libraries, annual statistics for the year ending June 30, 1970.
Utilities
Table 88. Housing Units by Water Supply and Sewage Disposal, 1970
Hood River County State Subj ect number percent 1/ percent 1/
Water source Public system or private company 4,304 91.00 79.8 Individual well 138 2.89 16.9 Other or none 267 5.59 3.3
Sewage disposal. Public sewer 1,879 39.40 61.0 Septic tank or cesspool 2,747 57.61 37.5 Other or none 119 2.49 1.5 1/ Percent of all year-round housing. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report, HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 62 - Table 89. Housing Units by Water Supply and Sewage Disposal, forPlaces with over 2,500 Inhabitants, Hood River County, 1970
Hood River Subj ect Number IPercent Water source Public system or private company 1,546 100.00 Individual well
Sewage Disposal Public sewer 1,436 91.69 Septic tank or cesspool 115 7.34 Other or none 13 .83 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Censusof Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report, HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1972.
Table 90. Types of Fuels for Heating, Cooking, Number of Housing Units, Hood River County, 1960 and 1970
Home Heating Water Heating Cooking Type of Fuel Fuel Fuel Fuel 1960 1970 1960 1970 1960 1970
J J Utility gas 407 15 96 15 53 Fuel oil, kerosene, etc 2,444 1,225 21 3 Coal or coke 298 79 29 21 15 Wood 861 212 20 245 41 Electricity 460 1,305 1,733 4,012 1,504 3,995 Bottled, tank, or LP gas 38 125 46 107 258 179 Other fuel 135 67 - - 21 None - - 173 38 - 21 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1960 and 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report HC(l)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
Hood River County is a power deficient area if only that generated from county water supplies is considered. However, when you include power from Bonneville Dam generated from Columbia River energy, this statement is no longer ture. The county is adequately supplied for present and future use by its integration with the Northwest Power Pool. Distribution lines provided mainly by Pacific Power and LightCompany, Hood River Electric Coop, and Cascade Locks Municipal Power Company are adequate for the area.
There is one hydroelectric generating plant andone sawdust thermal plant on Hood River. They are the Powerdale Plant owned by Pacific Power and Light Company and the Dee Plant owned by U.S. Plywood Corporation.
- 63 - PUBLIC FINANCE
Table 91. Selected Items of Local Government Finances, Hood River County, 1966-67
Hood River County State Item Total Per Capita Per Capita Amount Amount Amount
$1,000 ---- dol lars----- General revenue, exc. interlocal. $4,985 $346.21 $308 Intergovernmental revenue 2,123 147.41 97 From state government 1,809 125.64 83 From local sources 2,863 198.80 210 Taxes 1,803 125.17 156 Property 1,784 123.90 151 Other 18 1.28 S Charges and miscellaneous 1,060 73.63 54 Direct general expenditure 5,314 369.02 316 Capital outlay 1,488 103.34 62 Other 3,826 265.68 254 Education 2,548 176.92 180 Other than capital outlay 2,280 158.31 152 Highways 495 34.36 30 Other than capital outlay 319 22.12 20 Public welfare 11 0.76 2 Hospitals 6 Other than capital outlay Health 44 3.04 4 Police protection 119 8.27 12 Fire protection 123 8.51 9 Sewerage 44 3.03 8 Other than capital outlay 31 2.18 3 Sanitation other than sewerage. 25 1.72 2 Parks and recreation 36 2.53 10 Natural resources 345 23.94 4 Housing and urban renewal 4 Correction 42 2.88 2 Libraries 35 2.42 3 Financial administration 78 5.44 5 General control 68 7.47 8 General public buildings 28 1.93 3 Interest on general debt 146 10.14 6 Other and unallocable 1,129 78.36 21
Water supply revenue 152 10.55 12 Water supply expenditure 148 10.30 13 General debt outstanding 3,072 213.33 214 Long-term 3,072 213.33 203 Local schools 235 16.32 101 Other 2,837 197.01 101 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census Census of Governments, 1967, Vol. 4, No. Compendit. Government Finances, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969
- 64 - Table 92. City Valuation, Tax Rates and Taxes Extended in Hood River County for 1971-72 Fiscal Year
Item Hood River Cascade Locks
Population 4,025 580 True Cash Value (TCV) $ 39,131,175 $2,548,000 Per capita TCV 9,722 4,393 City tax 198,786 19,034 Consolidated tax 1,174,718 88,416 Per capita tax City 49 33 Consolidated 292 152 Percentage of total levy County 9.7 8.4 City.., 16.9 21.5 School 73.1 69.7 Other .2 .4 Average rate/$TCV basis County 2.92 2.92 City 5.08 7.47 School 21.95 24.18 Other .07 .13 Total 30.02 34.70 SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
Table 93. Amount and Percent of Unpaid 1970-71 Property Tax As of June 30, 1971, Hood River County
Total Amount I tern Amount Unpaid Percent -
Property taxable Real $2,807,922 $ 555,640 19.8 Personal 541,549 18,888 3.5 Public utilities 416,441 37,091 8.9 Western Oregon additional timber tax 7,492 7,942 100.00 Yield tax Other 6,672 NA Total for Collection 3,780,076 NA - not available SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972. Table 94. Summary of 1971-72 Property Tax Levies and Assessments, Hood River County
Item Amount in Dollars
Levies County 381,364 Cities 217,820 Community colleges 22,309 Elementary and secondary school distrcits Intermediate County Education joint Elementary and Unified 2,866,763 Union high County unit Total school districts 2,866,763 Special districts Cemetery Fire protection 83,599 Hospital Park and recreation Port 9,743 Road Sanitary 28,088 Water supply Other Total special districts 121,430 Total gross ad valorem levies 3,609,686 Special assessments Fire patrol 11,218 Forest fee Diking and drainage Irrigation 236,731 Lighting Other Total special assessments 247,949 Total gross levies and assessments 3,857,635 Less property relief money Senior citizens 21,299 Game commission Total net ad valorem levies 3,588,387 Net ad valorem taxes by class Real property 2,633,836 Personal property 514,729 Utility property 439,821 SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue, 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972. Table 95. Summary of Assessment Rolls for 1971-72 Fiscal Year Real Property, Personal Property and Utilities, Hood River County
Assessed Percent of Item Value Total
-$1,000 - Class Real property Lands inside corporate limits 7,157 5.51 Lands outside corporate lintites 21,702 16.70 Improvements inside corporate limits 22,677 17.45 Timber (excludes land) 1,835 1.42 Less veterans exemptions 1,239 .95 Less senior citizens residence exemptions 725 .55 ixable real property 95,441 73.47 Personal property Merchandise and stock in trade 8,623 6.63 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 2,329 1.79 Farm machinery and equipment 4,719 3.63 Other machinery and equipment 1,748 1.34 Livestock 269 .20 Miscellaneous 769 .59 Less veterans exemptions 18 .01 Less senior citizens residence exemptions 12 1/ Taxable personal property 18,426 14.18 Total taxable real and personal property 113,867 87.66 Utilities Airlines companies Electric companies 5,286 4.06 Express companies Gas companies 1,010 .77 Heating companies Pipeline companies Railroad companies 4,311 3.31 Tank and private car companies 429 .33 Telegraph companies 7 1/ Telephone companies 4,815 3.70 Water companies 32 .02 Water transportation companies 132 12 Taxable utility property 16,021 12.33 Total taxable real, personal,and utility property 129,888 100.00
1/ Less than .01%. SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessments and Tax Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
- 67 - Selected List of Agencies
The following list gives names and addresses of agencies that have served as data sources for this publication and may provide furtheror more
current data on subjects of interest.
In addition, a number of local and county offices are available to offer local information and assistance, including:
Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Assess or City Library Corrections and Parole City Engineer County Extension County Surveyor Employment Division Game Commission Health Department Public Welfare Soil Conservation Service
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
Center for Population Research and Census, Portland State University, 724 S.W. Harrison, Portland, Oregon 97201
Children Services Division, Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Public Services Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Department of Environmental Quality, 1234 S.W. Morrison, Portland, Oregon 97204
Economic Research Service, U.S.D.A. Extension Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Extension Service, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Fish Commission of Oregon, 1400 S.W. 5th St., Portland, Oregon 97201
4-H Youth Office, Extension Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Forest Service, U.S.D.A., 319 S.W. Pine St., Portland, Oregon 97204
Governor's Office, Economic Development Special Projects, State Capitol Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
- 68 - Local Government Relations Division, Oregon Executive Department, 240 Cottage S.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Allen Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 l3. Oregon Board of Higher Education, School Finance and Statistical Services, 942 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, 1400 S.W. 5th St., Portland, Oregon 97201
Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, 4263 Commercial S.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Department of Revenue, State Office Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Employment Division, Community Manpower, Research and Statistics, or Rural Manpower Sections, Labor and Industries Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Game Commission, 1634 Alder, Portland, Oregon 97214
Oregon State Health Division, Department of Human Resources, 1400 S.W. 5th, Portland, Oregon 97201
Oregon State Highway Division, State Parks and Recreation Section, 8009 E. Burnside, Portland, Oregon 97215
Oregon State Lands Division, 502 Winter N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Library, State Library Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Public Welfare Division, Department of Human Resources, Public Services Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service, 809 N.E. 6th Sr., Portland, Oregon 97232
Secretary of Stat&s Office, State Capitol Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Soil Conservation Service, U.S.D.A., 1218 S.W. Washington, Portland, Oregon 97205
State Water Resources Board, 1158Chemeketa N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
U.S. Department of Commerce, 921 S.W. Washington, Portland, Oregon 97204 (for copies of U.S. Census publications)
- 69 - Selected Bibliography
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics 1972, University of Oregon, 1972.
Carolan, W. B. Jr., Federal Land Oregon, Oregon State University, 1963.
Coppedge, Robert 0., Agriculture in Oregon Counties - Farm Sales and General Characteristics, Special Report 330, Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis, Oregon, 1971.
Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University, July 1972.
Legislative Fiscal Committee, Inventory of State-Owned Real Property, By County, Sec. 7, 115 State Capital, Salem, Oregon, 1970.
Manock, Eugene R., Grover A. Choate, Donald R. Gedney, Oregon Timber Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption and Mill Characteristics, Oregon State Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service, Salem, Oregon, 1968.
Nielsen, Alice M., Editor, Directory of Oregon Libraries, annual statistics for the year ending June 30, 1970, Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon.
Office of the Governor, Planning Division, Health Facts, 1969.
Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Directory of Radio and Television Stations for the State of Oregon, 1972.
Oregon Board of Higher Education, 1969 School Directory and 1971-72 Oregon School-Community College Directory, School Finance and Statistical Services.
Oregon Conservation Needs Committee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory, U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service and Oregon State University Extension Service, 1971.
Oregon Department of Planning and Development, Resources for Development, 1964.
Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, Post Secondary Enrollment in Oregon, An Analysis of the Statewide Student Enrollment Data Survey, 1972.
Oregon State Board of Census, Components of Population Growth, Population Bulletin P-3, 1961.
Oregon State Board of Health, Oregon Plan for Construction and Moderni- zation of Hospitals, Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annual Revision, Health Facility Planning and Construction Section, 1971.
- 70 - Oregon State Department of Employment, 1965 Oregon Farm LaborReport, 1966.
Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Control In Oregon, Oregon Sanitary Authority, 1970.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Children Services Division, Adolescent Population and Commitment Data by County, by Calendar Year 1967-1970.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor Force and Employment in Oregon by County 1968 through 1971 publications, Research and Statistics Section, 1969, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, 1971 Annual Rural Manpower Report, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Oregon Covered Employment and Payrolls, 1970 and 1971, Summary Data, Research and Statistics Section, 1971, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon Public Welfare Division, Public Welfare in Oregon, various editions.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon State Health Division, Implementation and Enforcement Plan for the Public Waters of the State of Oregon, Oregon Sanitary Authority, Portland, Oregon, 1967.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon State Health Division, Vital Statistics Annual Report, Vital Statistics Section, 1971.
Oregon State Department of Revenue, First Biennial Report 1968-70.
Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, Visitor Attendance", State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "Over- night Camping by the Public", State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "The State Park Visitor in Oregon", State Parks and Recreation Division.
Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Meyers, Secretary of State, Oregon Blue Book, 1973-74, January 1973.
31. Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers- 1970. Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District Facts, 1970
Oregon State Fisheries Commission, 1968 and 1971 Annual Report.
34 Oregon State Game Commission, 1968 and 1971 Annual Report, Oregon State Game Commission.
Oregon State Game Commission, "Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin", May 1972.
Oregon State Water Resources Board, River Basin Reports.
Simenson, G. H., E. G. Knox, H. W. Hill, and R. W. Mayko, General Soil Map Reports with Irrigable Areas, Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station with U S D A Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Oregon State Water Resources Board
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1969, Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U SGovernment Printing Office, Washington, D C, 1972
U.S. Bureau of theCensus, Census of Business, 1967 Retail Trade: Oregon,
BC 67 - BA 39, U.S Government Printing Office, Washington, D C , 1969
U.S. Bureau of theCensus, Census of Business, 1967 Wholesale Trade: Oregon, BC 67-. WA39, U S Government Printing Office, Washington, D C 1969.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol. 4, No. 5: Compendium of Government Finances, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol. 3, No. 2: Compendium of Public Employment, U S Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report HC(l) - B39, Oregon, U S Government
Printing Office, Washington, D C , 1972
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Manufacturers, 1967, Area Services; Oregon, MC 67(3) - 38, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1970.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, General Demographic Trends for Metropolitan Areas, 1960 to 1970, Final Report PHC(2) - 39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Population Characteristics, Final Report PX1) - B39, Oregon, U SGovernment Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social and Economic Characteristics, FinalReport PC(l) - C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,1972.
U.S.D.Aand Oregon State University Extensionservice cooperating, "Oregon Commodity Data Sheets", OregonState University, 1971-72.
U.s. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic andAtmospheric Adminis- tration, Environmental Data Service, ClimatologicalData, Annual Summary 1971, Vol. 77, No. 13, 1971.
U.s. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau,Decennial Census of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951 through 1960,Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
U.S. Forest Service, Forest statistics publicationsfor various Oregon regions, Resource Bulletins, Pacific Northwest ExperimentStation.
U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey Reports.
Valde, Gary R. and Robert 0. Coppedge, Income andPoverty Data for Racial Groups: A Compilation for Oregon Census County Divisions, Special Report 367, Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis,Oregon, 1972.
Wall, Brian R., "1970 Timber Harvest", U.S.D.A. Forest ServiceResource Bulletin PNW-38, U.S. Forest Service, PacificNorthwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon, 1971.
- 73 - I I
W Iw
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION M SERVICE
Extension Service, Oregon SiMS Lküverelty Corvallis, Joseph S. Cox,dkector This pidiScation was p.oiced and distributed hi furtherance ci the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension wait Is a cooperative program of Oregon Silite Uciversity the U S Depaitnent of Agriculiwe, and OragOnCoanfles.