Oregon Route 132 ( OR 132 ), also known as Delta Highway is a short limited-access freeway in Eugene, Oregon , United States, linking downtown Eugene with Beltline Highway .
84-547: OR 132 begins at an interchange with Interstate 105 (I-105) and OR 126 on the north bank of the Willamette River , opposite Downtown Eugene . It travels north and intersects Valley River Drive, which serves the Valley River Center and a nearby retail district that includes several car dealerships . The highway crosses under a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge and travels northeast through
168-606: A bend in the river to reach Mapleton , where it intersects OR 36 and leaves the river and railroad for Knowles Creek. OR 126 continues east along the creek to the Ralph A. Petersen Tunnel, a 1,450-foot (440 m) long tunnel that opened in 1957. From the tunnel, the highway descends from the mountains along Turner Creek to briefly rejoin the Siuslaw River and the Coos Bay Rail Line. OR 126 and
252-451: A female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87. In the city, the population was 20.3% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
336-495: A freeway, which is designated as Interstate 105 (I-105). In January 2016, the Oregon Legislature passed SB 5, designating OR 126 between Florence and Eugene as " William Tebeau Memorial Highway ," named after a pioneering ODOT engineer. At the junction with Washington and Jefferson streets in downtown Eugene lies the western terminus of Eugene-Springfield Highway No. 227 , an east-west freeway through
420-640: A jurisdictional transfer with Lane County for the Delta Highway that was finalized in 2019. On January 23, 2020, the commission approved the designation of OR 132 for the corridor. The transfer was planned ahead of state-funded improvements to the highway's northern interchange at OR 569. The entire route is in Eugene , Lane County . All exits are unnumbered. [REDACTED] Media related to Delta Highway at Wikimedia Commons Interstate 105 (Oregon) Oregon OR 126 ( OR 126 )
504-567: A large semiconductor plant in west Eugene. In late September 2009, Uni-Chem of South Korea announced its intention to purchase the Hynix site for solar cell manufacturing. However, this deal fell through and as of late 2012, is no longer planned. In 2015, semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom purchased the plant with plans to upgrade and reopen it. The company abandoned these plans and put it up for sale in November 2016. Luckey's Club Cigar Store
588-637: A local focus; the city is surrounded by wineries. The most notable fungi here is the truffle; Eugene hosts the annual Oregon Truffle Festival in January. In 2012, the Eugene metro region was dubbed the Silicon Shire for its growing tech industry. According to Eugene's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's top employers are: Eugene has a growing problem with homelessness. The problem has been referenced in popular culture, including in
672-648: A no-build alternative to the Federal Highway Administration . Transportation planners argued that the new route is necessary to fight traffic congestion in Eugene and its western suburbs and that the highway would facilitate traffic and growth in the year 2025. Opponents to the parkway have several reasons for their objection: On June 18 and 19, 2001, the City of Eugene, Lane County, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT),
756-437: A northern bypass of Eugene. The highway follows Amazon Creek on West 11th Avenue towards downtown Eugene, turning north onto Garfield Street for five blocks. It then becomes concurrent with OR 99 , which travels through downtown Eugene on a pair of one-way streets : West 7th Avenue for eastbound traffic and West 6th Avenue for westbound traffic. At a junction with Washington and Jefferson streets, OR 126 turns north onto
840-708: A proposed freeway and lobbied for the construction of the Washington Jefferson Park beneath the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. Community Councils soon began to form as a result of these efforts. A notable impact of the turn to community-organized politics came with Eugene Local Measure 51 , a ballot measure in 1978 that repealed a gay rights ordinance approved by the Eugene City Council in 1977 that prohibited discrimination by sexual orientation. Eugene
924-417: A scaled-down version. The mothballed West Eugene Parkway, a non-freeway route on a similar alignment, was seen by supporters and critics alike as an implementation of these plans. The West Eugene Parkway , or WEP, was a proposed re-alignment of OR 126 through the western parts of Eugene and its suburbs. OR 126 runs through west Eugene along several surface streets , including West 11th Avenue, which
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#17327982508241008-534: Is Amazon Creek , whose headwaters are near Spencer Butte. The creek discharges into the Long Tom River north Fern Ridge Reservoir , maintained for winter flood control by the Army Corps of Engineers . The Eugene Yacht Club hosts a sailing school and sailing regattas at Fern Ridge during summer months. Eugene has 21 neighborhood associations: The River Road and Santa Clara sections, which make up
1092-405: Is 40.83 inches (1,040 mm), with the wettest "rain year" being from July 1973 to June 1974 with 75.59 inches (1,920.0 mm) and the driest from July 2000 to June 2001 with 20.40 inches (518.2 mm). Measurements taken by NOAA over the past four decades have indicated a significant decline in average annual precipitation. From 1981 to 2010 inclusive, the reported annual average precipitation
1176-433: Is December, with a mean temperature of 40.6 °F (4.8 °C), and there are 52 mornings per year with a low at or below freezing, and 2 afternoons with highs not exceeding the freezing mark. The coldest daytime high of the year averages 32 °F (0 °C), reaching the freezing point. Eugene's average annual temperature is 53.1 °F (11.7 °C), and annual precipitation at 40.83 inches (1,040 mm). Eugene
1260-523: Is a 204.63-mile-long (329.32 km) state highway that connects coastal, western , and central parts of the U.S. state of Oregon . A short freeway section of OR 126 in Eugene and Springfield is concurrent with Interstate 105 ( I-105 ). The western terminus of OR 126 is in Florence at a junction with US 101 , the main north–south route along the Oregon Coast. The junction
1344-709: Is a prominent landmark south of the city. Mount Pisgah is southeast of Eugene and includes the Mount Pisgah Arboretum and the Howard Buford Recreation Area , a Lane County Park. Eugene is surrounded by foothills and forests to the south, east, and west, while to the north the land levels out into the Willamette Valley and consists of mostly farmland. The Willamette and McKenzie Rivers run through Eugene and its neighboring city, Springfield . Another important stream
1428-474: Is also home to Beyond Toxics , a nonprofit environmental justice organization founded in 2000. One hotspot for protest activity since the 1990s has been the Whiteaker district, located in the northwest of downtown Eugene. The Whiteaker is primarily a working-class neighborhood that has become a cultural hub, center of community and activism and home to alternative artists. It saw an increase of activity in
1512-541: Is an alternative route between Belknap Springs and Sisters that travels between Mount Washington and the Three Sisters. East of Sisters, OR 126 splits from US 20 (which turns southeast towards Bend ) and continues east onto the Sisters-Redmond Highway and resumes its designation as McKenzie Highway No. 15 . The highway crosses Deschutes River and travels through Redmond , where it
1596-502: Is briefly concurrent with US 97 's bypass of the city. OR 126 travels southeast on Ochoco Highway No. 41 from Redmond, passing its commercial airport , to reach its eastern terminus at U.S. Route 26 (US 26) in Prineville . In 1926, the route between Florence and Ontario was designated as US 28 . The Junction City-Florence section of the highway ran roughly along what are now OR 36 and OR 126. In 1937,
1680-781: Is located north of downtown Florence near the municipal airport and the mouth of the Siuslaw River , which empties into the nearby Pacific Ocean . OR 126 travels east on the Florence-Eugene Highway No. 62 (see Oregon highways and routes ), which follows the Siuslaw River and the Coos Bay Rail Line out of Florence and into the Suislaw National Forest and the foothills of the Coast Range . The highway turns north along
1764-488: Is named for the nearby McKenzie-Willamette delta. The lowest construction bid for the project, submitted by the R. A. Heintz Company, was withdrawn due to an accounting error, resulting in a dispute between the county government and the contractor, who was later awarded the bid in a second round. Under a 2017 bill passed by the state legislature, the Oregon Transportation Commission negotiated
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#17327982508241848-560: Is named, arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1846 with 1,200 other settlers that year. Advised by the Kalapuyans to build on high ground to avoid flooding, he erected the first pioneer cabin on south or west slope of what the Kalapuyans called Ya-po-ah. The "isolated hill" is now known as Skinner's Butte . The cabin was used as a trading post and was registered as an official post office on January 8, 1850. At this time
1932-497: Is now OR 36 ; the original route of US 28 west of Brickerville is no longer on the state highway system. In 1972, US 126 was eliminated and OR 126 through the Eugene-Springfield area was routed onto a newly constructed freeway through north and east Springfield, and then the older I-105 at Eugene. The portions of the former US 126 rolling through downtown Springfield and Eugene were designated as
2016-546: Is one of the oldest bars in Oregon. Tad Luckey Sr. purchased it in 1911, making it one of the oldest businesses in Eugene. The "Club Cigar", as it was called in the late 19th century, was for many years a men-only salon. It survived both the Great Depression and Prohibition , partly because Eugene was a " dry town " before the end of Prohibition. The city has over 25 breweries, offers a variety of dining options with
2100-667: Is slightly cooler on average than Portland . Despite being located about 100 miles (160 km) south and at an only slightly higher elevation, Eugene has a more continental climate than Portland, less subject to the maritime air that blows inland from the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River. Eugene's normal annual mean minimum is 41.9 °F (5.5 °C), compared to 46.2 °F (7.9 °C) in Portland; in August,
2184-535: Is sporadic and rarely accumulates in large amounts: the normal seasonal amount is 4.9 inches (12 cm), but the median is zero. The record snowfall was 41.7 inches (106 cm) of accumulation due to a pineapple express on January 25–29, 1969. Ice storms, like snowfall, are rare, but occur sporadically. The hottest months are July and August, with a normal monthly mean temperature of 67.8 to 67.9 °F (19.9 to 19.9 °C), with an average of 16 days per year reaching 90 °F (32 °C). The coolest month
2268-493: Is well known for its traffic problems. The proposed route, a limited-access expressway with some at-grade intersections and one interchange, would have run north of the current West 11th alignment, terminating at the western terminus of the Sixth-Seventh Avenue couplet carrying OR 99 through west Eugene. The project proved to be highly controversial. In July 2006, ODOT suspended work on it, and recommended
2352-542: Is well known in the Eugene area for traffic problems. Several projects have been proposed to deal with this; however, none has met with community approval. A new proposed alignment of OR 126, the West Eugene Parkway is being planned by transportation authorities (but is facing fierce opposition from activists opposed to the parkway). The proposed parkway, a limited-access expressway with some at-grade intersections and some interchanges, would run north of
2436-771: The American Association of State Highway Officials dropped US 126 from its highway system. The state of Oregon promptly redesignated the Prineville-Eugene section of the former U.S. Route, and the Mapleton-Florence section of OR 36, as OR 126. The routes of OR 126 and its predecessors have changed numerous times over the years. The original route of US 28 from Florence to Eugene ran through Junction City , and overlapped US 99 (now OR 99 ) from there south to Eugene. The route between Junction City and Brickerville
2520-757: The McKenzie River Scenic Byway , flanking the McKenzie River for most of its length from Springfield into the Cascade Range. It turns north at Belknap Springs and follows the Clear Lake–Belknap Springs Highway No. 215 , passing the eponymous Clear Lake . The highway merges with US 20 near Crescent Mountain and begins a concurrency that continues through Santiam Junction (the terminus of OR 22 ) and Sisters as Santiam Highway No. 16 . OR 242
2604-460: The Oregon Coast . The second-most populous city in Oregon, Eugene had a population of 176,654 as of the 2020 United States census and it covers city area of 44.21 sq mi (114.5 km ). The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan statistical area is the second largest in Oregon after Portland . In 2022, Eugene's population was estimated to have reached 179,887. Eugene is home to
Oregon Route 132 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-729: The Santiam Highway ( US 20 ) to the north. US 126 was re-routed over the cutoff and ran concurrently with US 20 east over the Cascades to Sisters, where it resumes its original course. The stretch of the McKenzie Highway between Belknap Springs and Sisters is now designated as OR 242 . OR 242 is primarily a scenic route and is not plowed in wintertime. Currently, the route of Oregon OR 126 through western Eugene runs along several surface streets , most notably including West 11th Avenue. This route
2772-527: The University of Oregon , Bushnell University , and Lane Community College . The city is noted for its natural environment, recreational opportunities (especially bicycling , running / jogging , rafting , and kayaking ), and focus on the arts, along with its history of civil unrest, riots, and green activism. Eugene's official slogan is "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors". It is also referred to as
2856-589: The wapato and camas plants, and berries. They stored these foods in their permanent winter village. When crop activities waned, they returned to their winter villages and took up hunting, fishing, and trading. They were known as the Chifin Kalapuyans and called the Eugene area where they lived "Chifin", sometimes recorded as "Chafin" or "Chiffin". Other Kalapuyan tribes occupied villages that are also now within Eugene city limits. Pee-you or Mohawk Calapooians, Winefelly or Pleasant Hill Calapooians, and
2940-466: The "Emerald City" and as " Track Town, USA ". The Nike corporation had its beginnings in Eugene. In July 2022, the city hosted the 18th World Athletics Championship . The first people to settle in the Eugene area were the Kalapuyans , also written Calapooia or Calapooya. They made "seasonal rounds," moving around the countryside to collect and preserve local foods, including acorns, the bulbs of
3024-640: The "French Prairie" community in Northern Marion County but may have extended south to the Eugene area. Having already developed relationships with Native communities through intermarriage and trade, they negotiated for land from the Kalapuyans. By 1828 to 1830 they and their Native wives began year-round occupation of the land, raising crops and tending animals. In this process, the mixed race families began to impact Native access to land, food supply, and traditional materials for trade and religious practices. In July 1830, "intermittent fever" struck
3108-893: The 1990s after many young people drawn to Eugene's political climate relocated there. Animal rights groups have had a heavy presence in the Whiteaker, and several vegan restaurants are located there. According to David Samuels , the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front have had an underground presence in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is home to a number of communal apartment buildings, which are often organized by anarchist or environmentalist groups. Local activists have also produced independent films and started art galleries, community gardens, and independent media outlets. Copwatch , Food Not Bombs , and Critical Mass are also active in
3192-619: The Delta Ponds, a wetland area and city park surrounded by housing. OR 132 intersects Goodpasture Island Road and continues north to an interchange with the Randy Papé Beltline Highway ( OR 569 ), which encircles the north and west of Eugene and provides connections to I-5 . The freeway ends at the Randy Papé Beltline Highway, but the road continues as a two-lane surface street named North Delta Road. OR 132 opened on October 27, 1964 as Delta Highway and
3276-589: The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area. OR 126 is routed along this freeway for its entire length, and I-105 is routed along the first 3.5 miles (5.6 km) until the interchange with I-5 . The bridge and viaduct carrying the first 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of I-105 are sometimes known as the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. After crossing the Williamette River , passing two exits, and entering Springfield, I-105 ends at an interchange with I-5 , and OR 126 continues east then turning south, with
3360-539: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), among others, held a two-day "West Eugene Charrette " to discuss the future of the project. Most participants were supporters of the highway, but at the end of the conference agreed to select the "no-build" option. This consensus was not implemented, although ODOT and FHWA continued to spend millions, for a time, on
3444-417: The Kalapuyans may have been in Eugene for as long as 10,000 years. In the 1800s their traditional way of life faced significant changes due to devastating epidemics and settlement, first by French fur traders and later by an overwhelming number of American settlers. French fur traders had settled seasonally in the Willamette Valley by the beginning of the 19th century. Their settlements were concentrated in
Oregon Route 132 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-699: The Lungtum or Long Tom. They were close-neighbors to the Chifin, intermarried, and were political allies. Some authorities suggest the Brownsville Kalapuyans (Calapooia Kalapuyans) were related to the Pee-you. It is likely that since the Santiam had an alliance with the Brownsville Kalapuyans that the Santiam influence also went as far at Eugene. According to archeological evidence, the ancestors of
3612-584: The OR ;126 business route. The place where OR 126 and its predecessors cross the Cascades has changed over the years. Originally, the highway was routed over McKenzie Pass , a high mountainous route that frequently was closed in winter due to poor road conditions. In 1962, the Clear Lake Cutoff was constructed between Clear Lake and Belknap Springs , connecting the McKenzie Highway to
3696-562: The Olympic trials in 1972, " Jim Ryun won the 1,500 after being flown in by helicopter because he was allergic to Eugene's grass seed pollen." Further, six-time Olympian Maria Mutola abandoned Eugene as a training area "in part to avoid allergies". According to the 2010 census , Eugene's population was 156,185. The population density was 3,572.2 people per square mile. There were 69,951 housing units at an average density of 1,600 per square mile. Those age 18 and over accounted for 81.8% of
3780-603: The Q Street Freeway, was planned in the late 1950s and incorporated into the Interstate Highway System as I-105. Initial plans called for its route to follow Q Street from Coburg Road in Eugene (near the Delta Highway) to Mill Street in northern Springfield, with further extensions at both ends. The freeway would reach Downtown Eugene by following the Washington and Jefferson Street Bridge over
3864-469: The University of Oregon. It fell victim to two major fires in four years, and after the second fire, the college decided not to rebuild again. The part of south Eugene known as College Hill was the former location of Columbia College. There is no college there today. The town raised the initial funding to start a public university, which later became the University of Oregon , with the hope of turning
3948-459: The WEP was $ 88 million in 2001, but a 2004 estimate by local and state governments predicts the cost is really $ 169 million. Few WEP proponents support tax increases to pay for the highway. On October 26, 2005, the Eugene City Council voted 5-4 to withdraw the city's support for the project, although the City of Eugene has continued its agreement with ODOT to assume responsibility for maintaining part of
4032-547: The Willamette River, which had already been planned by the city government. An eastern extension to Highway 126 near Springfield was also planned by the state government, but Lane County officials requested a longer route to avoid more of Springfield. The completed Eugene section of I-105 was dedicated by Governor Tom McCall on October 25, 1967, along with improvements to US 126 in Springfield. In 1972,
4116-415: The city was 88.15% White, down from 99.5% in 1950, 3.57% Asian, 1.25% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 58,110 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had
4200-440: The current West 11th alignment. Transportation planners have argued that the new route is necessary to fight congestion in Eugene and its western suburbs and that the highway would facilitate traffic and growth in the year 2025. Highway opponents note that world petroleum supplies will likely be in decline long before the road would be completed, and therefore modest fixes to existing roads would be sufficient. The Roosevelt Freeway
4284-408: The drawing board). The freeway was designed to solve a longstanding traffic issue in Eugene, the inadequacy of West 11th Avenue (a neighborhood arterial) to handle long-haul and commuter traffic. Many commuters, as well as state transportation officials, strongly desired to build the freeway. Plans for the freeway were completed in the mid-1970s, and the state of Oregon had begun buying up property for
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#17327982508244368-399: The environmental impact statement. Supporters, and the government agencies involved in the planning of the project, pointed to the fact that the parkway proposal has been approved by city voters in two referendum elections, most recently in 2001. Opponents note that the election was 51 to 49, and that proponents claimed "The Money Is There" when selling the project. The official price tag for
4452-579: The episode The 30% Iron Chef in Futurama . During the COVID-19 pandemic , the city experienced a controversy over its continuing policy of homeless removal, despite CDC guidelines to not engage in homeless removal. Eugene has a significant population of people in pursuit of alternative ideas and a large original hippie population. Beginning in the 1960s, the countercultural ideas and viewpoints espoused by area native Ken Kesey became established as
4536-412: The first faculty and naming John Wesley Johnson as president. The first students registered on October 16, 1876. The first building was completed in 1877; it was named Deady Hall in honor of the first Board of Regents President and community leader Judge Matthew P. Deady . Other universities in Eugene include Bushnell University and New Hope Christian College . Eugene grew rapidly throughout most of
4620-639: The freeway terminating at Main Street ( OR 126 Business ) in the Thurston neighborhood of the city's east end. In December 2011 the section of highway from the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge to Springfield was renamed Officer Chris Kilcullen Memorial Highway to commemorate the fallen Eugene Police Department officer who was fatally wounded while conducting a traffic stop on the highway in April 2011. OR 126 continues east as McKenzie Highway No. 15 and
4704-434: The gap in the normal mean minimum widens to 51.1 and 58.0 °F (10.6 and 14.4 °C) for Eugene and Portland, respectively. Eugene's warmest night annually averages a modest 62 °F (17 °C). Average winter temperatures (and summer high temperatures) are similar for the two cities. Extreme temperatures range from −12 °F (−24 °C), recorded on December 8, 1972, to 111 °F (44 °C) on June 27, 2021;
4788-525: The lower Columbia region and a year later, the Willamette Valley. Natives traced the arrival of the disease, then new to the Pacific Northwest , to the USS Owyhee , captained by John Dominis. "Intermittent fever" is thought by researchers now to be malaria . According to Robert T. Boyd, an anthropologist at Portland State University, the first three years of the epidemic, "probably constitute
4872-585: The main stem of OR 126 in the Thurston neighborhood of the city's east end. Note: mileposts do not reflect actual mileage due to realignments. Eugene, Oregon Eugene ( / j uː ˈ dʒ iː n / yoo- JEEN ) is a city in and the county seat of Lane County, Oregon , United States. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley , near the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) east of
4956-399: The most famous include Nike , Taco Time , and Broderbund Software. The footwear repair product Shoe Goo is manufactured by Eclectic Products, based in Eugene. Run Gum, an energy gum created for runners, also began its life in Eugene. Run Gum was created by track athlete Nick Symmonds and track and field coach Sam Lapray in 2014. Burley Design LLC produces bicycle trailers and
5040-538: The neighborhood. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 43.74 square miles (113.29 km ), of which 43.72 square miles (113.23 km ) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. Eugene is at an elevation of 426 feet (130 m). To the north of downtown is Skinner Butte . Northeast of the city are the Coburg Hills . Spencer Butte
5124-717: The northwestern part of the city, are within the urban growth boundary and generally perceived as part of Eugene, but are largely outside of the city limits. Like the rest of the Willamette Valley , Eugene lies in the Marine West Coast climate zone, with Mediterranean characteristics. Under the Köppen climate classification scheme, Eugene has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csb ). Temperatures can vary from cool to warm, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Spring and fall are also moist seasons, with light rain falling for long periods. The average rainfall
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#17327982508245208-518: The poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Eugene's largest employers are PeaceHealth Medical Group , the University of Oregon, and the Eugene School District . Eugene's largest industries are wood products manufacturing and recreational vehicle manufacturing. Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned supermarket Market of Choice remain in Eugene. Many multinational businesses were launched in Eugene. Some of
5292-473: The railroad split from the river to follow Wildcat Creek northeast to Cougar Pass, which marks the boundary between the Siuslaw and Willamette river basins. The highway descends into the Willamette Valley and passes through the town of Veneta and along the south shore of the Fern Ridge Reservoir . It also joins a section of the Coos Bay Rail Line as it approaches Eugene . In the western outskirts of Eugene, OR 126 intersects OR 569 , which forms
5376-537: The record cold daily maximum is 19 °F (−7 °C), recorded on December 13, 1919, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 71 °F (22 °C) on July 22, 2006. Eugene is downwind of Willamette Valley grass seed farms. The combination of summer grass pollen and the confining shape of the hills around Eugene make it "the area of the highest grass pollen counts in the USA (>1,500 pollen grains/m of air)." These high pollen counts have led to difficulties for some track athletes who compete in Eugene. In
5460-411: The reservation, most were moved to the Grand Ronde reservation in 1856. Strict racial segregation was enforced and mixed race people, known as Métis in French, had to make a choice between the reservation and Anglo-American society. Native Americans could not leave the reservation without traveling papers and white people could not enter the reservation. Eugene Franklin Skinner , after whom Eugene
5544-509: The right-of-way. A ramp stub currently exists on I-105, where the interchange with the Roosevelt Freeway would have been. However, the freeway proved to be unpopular with Eugene residents, due to its impact on existing neighborhoods and riverfront access. In 1978, the so-called "T-2000" transportation plan was adopted, which effectively killed the Roosevelt Freeway by removing it from the plan's list of transportation projects. The plan did call for an east–west corridor through west Eugene, but for
5628-436: The road. The city also owns the property for the parkway that has not yet been transferred to the BLM nature preserve for conservation and restoration. In July 2006, ODOT withdrew its support of the project, effectively stopping further progress. OR 126 Business is a state business route of OR 126 that travels for 6.64 miles (10.69 km) through the central districts of Eugene and Springfield . It also forms
5712-508: The same year a new US 99 alignment between Eugene and Junction City opened, US 28 was truncated and its western terminus moved to Glenwood (between Eugene and Springfield). On February 1, 1952, US 28 was eliminated from the United States Numbered Highway System . The highway was redesignated US 26 between the Oregon-Idaho border and Prineville (and then continuing north and west through Portland to Astoria ). The former US 28 section between Prineville and Eugene
5796-405: The settlement was known by settlers as Skinner's Mudhole. It was relocated in 1853 and named Eugene City in 1853. Formally incorporated as a city in 1862, it was renamed to Eugene in 1889. Skinner ran a ferry service across the Willamette River where the Ferry Street Bridge now stands. The first major educational institution in the area was Columbia College , founded a few years earlier than
5880-400: The single most important epidemiological event in the recorded history of what would eventually become the state of Oregon". In his book The Coming of the Spirit Pestilence Boyd reports there was a 92% population loss for the Kalapuyans between 1830 and 1841. This catastrophic event shattered the social fabric of Kalapuyan society and altered the demographic balance in the Valley. This balance
5964-407: The small town into a center of learning. In 1872, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill creating the University of Oregon as a state institution. Eugene bested the nearby town of Albany in the competition for the state university. In 1873, community member J.H.D. Henderson donated the hilltop land for the campus, overlooking the city. The university first opened in 1876 with the regents electing
6048-473: The south shore of the Willamette River from the northern edge of the University of Oregon campus. Past the university campus and surrounding business district, Business OR 126 and OR 99 split. OR 99 joins southbound I-5, while OR 126 continues eastbound through the community of Glenwood. It then crosses the Willamette River and enters the city of Springfield. Business OR 126 continues east through downtown Springfield, eventually rejoining
6132-420: The total population, and males represented 48.9%. The median age in the city was 33.8 years. The census of 2000 showed there were 137,893 people, 58,110 households, and 31,321 families residing in the city of Eugene. The population density was 3,404.8 people per square mile (1,314.6 people/km ). There were 61,444 housing units at an average density of 1,516.4 per square mile (585.5/km ). The racial makeup of
6216-508: The total population. The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% White , 4.0% Asian , 1.4% Black or African American , 1.0% Native American , 0.2% Pacific Islander , and 4.7% from other races . Hispanics and Latinos of any race accounted for 7.8% of the total population. Of the non-Hispanics, 82% were White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race alone, and 3.4% were of two or more races. Females represented 51.1% of
6300-615: The twentieth century, with the exception being the early 1980s when a downturn in the timber industry caused high unemployment. By 1985, the industry had recovered and Eugene began to attract more high-tech industries, earning it the moniker the "Emerald Shire". In 2012, Eugene and the surrounding metro area was dubbed the Silicon shire . The first Nike shoe was used in 1972 during the US Olympic trials held in Eugene. The 1970s saw an increase in community activism. Local activists stopped
6384-715: The westernmost part of McKenzie Highway No. 15 under Oregon's named highways system. At the western terminus of I-105, OR 126 heads west on Sixth Avenue (cosigned with OR 99). From that same terminus, Business OR 126 heads east, also cosigned with OR 99, along Seventh Avenue. This route then proceeds through Eugene's downtown core and turns south at an interchange near the Ferry Street Bridge . After two blocks, Business OR 126/OR 99 turns east again on East Broadway, which becomes Franklin Boulevard at Alder Street. Franklin Boulevard separates
6468-403: Was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 35,850, and the median income for a family was $ 48,527. Males had a median income of $ 35,549 versus $ 26,721 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,315. About 8.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below
6552-410: Was 46.1 inches (1,170 mm), but for the thirty-year period ending in 2020, the annual average had declined 5.27 inches (134 mm), to 40.83 inches (1,040 mm). The figures from the second half of that period, or 2006 - 2020 inclusive, pointed to a further decline of more than 4 inches (102 mm), down to an annual average of 36.58 inches (929 mm). Winter snowfall does occur, but it
6636-492: Was a freeway proposed in the 1960s and planned in the 1970s, which would serve as a new alignment of OR 126 through west Eugene. It was cancelled in 1978 due to community opposition . Construction on the parkway was set to begin in 2006 though land-use appeals and lack of funding delayed and ultimately prevented groundbreaking on the project. The Roosevelt Freeway was a proposed freeway alignment of OR 126 through Eugene, Oregon and its western suburbs. The project
6720-553: Was canceled in 1972, largely due to the Oregon freeway revolts . The freeway was proposed to go north of the current OR 126 alignment along West 11th Avenue, Roosevelt Boulevard and the Willamette River near the Whitaker neighborhood, and connect to the current I-105 just south of the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. (A proposed eastward extension of the project, the Skinner Butte Freeway , never made it off
6804-679: Was founded in Eugene by Alan Scholz out of a Saturday Market business in 1978. Eugene is also the birthplace and home of Bike Friday bicycle manufacturer Green Gear Cycling. Organically Grown Company , the largest distributor of organic fruits and vegetables in the northwest, started in Eugene in 1978 as a non-profit co-op for organic farmers. Notable local food processors , many of whom manufacture certified organic products, include Golden Temple ( Yogi Tea ), Merry Hempsters, Springfield Creamery (Nancy's Yogurt), and Mountain Rose Herbs . Until July 2008, Hynix Semiconductor America had operated
6888-417: Was further altered over the next few years by the arrival of Anglo-American settlers, beginning in 1840 with 13 people and growing steadily each year until within 20 years more than 11,000 American settlers, including Eugene Skinner, had arrived. As the demographic pressure from the settlers grew, the remaining Kalapuyans were forcibly removed to Indian reservations . Though some Natives avoided transfer into
6972-666: Was later renamed for Ralph A. Petersen, a Lane County commissioner who had lobbied for the highway's construction. The state of Oregon formally named the new route the Eugene-Mapleton Highway , but did not assign it a route number until 1964, when it became OR 126. Highway authorities agreed to the duplication as a temporary one, as US 126 would soon disappear under the ongoing elimination of three-digit U.S. Routes lying entirely within one state. A freeway bypass of OR 126 in Downtown Eugene, named
7056-473: Was then designated U.S. Route 126 . In 1957 the long-awaited direct route between Eugene and the coast, known as "Route F", was completed. It was primarily funded by the Lane County government with assistance from the federal government, with the goal of bypassing the longer Stagecoach Road. It was proposed as early as the 1930s. The Knowles Creek tunnel was opened to traffic on June 4, 1957, and
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