The Forest Grove Sound was an unexplained noise, described by The Oregonian as a "mechanical scream", heard in Forest Grove, Oregon in February 2016.
31-504: In February 2016, a high-pitched noise was heard intermittently at night in Forest Grove, Oregon . The Department of Forestry determined that their equipment was not the cause of the sound. The news about the noise was first shared with Dave Nemeyer by a Forest Grove resident, who posted a video of it on the city's Facebook page. The Washington Post described the noise as sounding like a "giant flute played off pitch", car brakes, or
62-545: A steam whistle . NBC News described it as "akin to a bad one-note violin solo broadcast over a microphone with nonstop feedback". It reportedly lasted from ten seconds to several minutes at a time. The fire department of Forest Grove did not consider the sound to be a safety risk. The noise occurred near Gales Creek Road. Neither the City of Forest Grove Public Works Department nor the Fire Department were able to explain
93-714: A sidewalk chalk art festival in September, which started in 1990 Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival and a holiday light parade, held on main street the first Saturday of December. Valley Arts Association is in downtown Forest Grove. Established in 1966, it is one of the oldest nonprofit, volunteer-run art associations in the Pacific Northwest. The organization has a gallery downtown with member art for sale, and has classes in pottery, painting, mixed media, drawing and bookmaking The historic Star Theatre in Forest Grove
124-627: Is a city in Washington County, Oregon , United States, 25 miles (40 km) west of Portland . Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a commuter town in the Portland metro area . Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850, then incorporated in 1872, making it the first city in Washington County . The population was 21,083 at the 2010 census, an increase of 19.1% over the 2000 figure (17,708). Located in
155-551: Is headquartered in Forest Grove. Forest Grove is located on the western edge of the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 5.88 square miles (15.23 km ), of which 5.74 square miles (14.87 km ) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km ) is water. One of the largest Giant Sequoia trees of
186-869: Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with nine other structures in the city. Prior to the 1840s when Euro-Americans settled the area, the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya Native American tribe lived on the Tualatin Plains in what is now Forest Grove. In 1841, Alvin T. and Abigail Smith were among the earliest to use the Oregon Trail and settled on what was first known as West Tualatin Plain. They overwintered with Henry Harmon Spalding , arriving in what
217-576: Is now Forest Grove in the fall. Intending to be missionaries, they found little potential as most of the natives had succumbed to European diseases. Smith served as the community's first postmaster beginning on February 1, 1850, and his log cabin served as the post office. According to Oregon Geographic Names , the name Forest Grove was selected on January 10, 1851, at a meeting of the trustees of Tualatin Academy (later known as Pacific University). Resident and school trustee J. Quinn Thornton suggested
248-820: The Forest Grove School District . Forest Grove is within the TriMet district , and public transit service is provided by TriMet's bus line 57-TV Highway/Forest Grove, which operates seven days a week. Line 57 connects the city with Hillsboro and Beaverton , via the Tualatin Valley Highway , and links Forest Grove with the Portland region 's light rail system (MAX) in Hillsboro. Yamhill County Transit Area (YCTA) bus line 33-Hillsboro/MAX also stops in Forest Grove weekdays, at
279-701: The Forest Grove Sound was heard by several residents of the town. There are 12 properties individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and two historic districts: the 18-block Clark Historic District with homes dating as far back as 1854 (and several dozen pre-1900) and the Painter's Woods Historic District . These include the Alvin T. Smith House , First Church of Christ, Scientist , and Old College Hall . The Oregon Army National Guard 's 2nd Battalion-218th Field Artillery Regiment
310-632: The Red Electric . A company called the Forest Grove Transportation Company operated local streetcar service that linked downtown to Carnation, Oregon , where the Oregon & California Railroad built its depot, but the service lasted only from 1906 to 1911. The Red Electric passenger service to Forest Grove ended in 1929 and Oregon Electric's ceased in 1932. In February 2016, a high-pitched, hissing noise called
341-570: The Tualatin Valley , Oregon routes 8 , and 47 pass through Forest Grove with 47 and 8 signed as the Tualatin Valley Highway south and east of the main part of the city, respectively, Oregon Route 8 signed as Gales Creek Road west of the city, and Oregon Route 47 signed as the Nehalem Highway north of the city. Pacific University has been the most distinctive aspect of the town throughout its history. Old College Hall on campus
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#1732801592532372-405: The average family size was 3.24. In the city the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males. The median income for a household in the city
403-531: The calls were suggesting explanations for the sound, ranging from frogs to aliens to Bigfoot . In late-February 2016, the Forest Grove Police Department announced via Facebook that the noise did not pose a safety hazard, and the police announced they were halting their investigation until further information appeared. However, after February 2016, the noise was not heard. The final point was plotted on Dawes' map on February 27, 2016, and
434-476: The city was 68.1% White , 0.1% African American , 1.2% Native American , 2.7% Asian , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 13.5% from other races , and 12.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.2% of the population. 14.3% of residents identified as someone with a disability. There were 9,356 housing units, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, and 36% were married couples living together. The average family size
465-443: The city. Forest Grove's sister city is: In the 1990s, filming for the television show, Nowhere Man , took place in Forest Grove numerous times. In 2015, an episode of The Librarians was filmed at Pacific University and two other sites in Forest Grove. The city's historic Forest Theater hosted a free public screening of the episode at the same time it aired on TV . The 2019 series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists
496-417: The city. The population density was 3,850.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,486.7/km ). There were 6,702 housing units at an average density of 1,457.3 per square mile (562.7/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 81.46% White, 0.43% African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 11.39% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.31% of
527-405: The intersection of Pacific Avenue & Highway 47 (Quince Street), and runs from Hillsboro to Gaston , Cove Orchard, Yamhill , Carlton & McMinnville via Highway 47, where riders can transfer to other YCTA buses running throughout Yamhill County . Forest Grove also has a free, non-profit bus service provided by Ride Connection called "GroveLink," which goes through the suburban areas of
558-405: The name, which he also had used for the name of his homestead. The name referred to a grove of oak trees that still stand on what is now the campus of the university. Previous post offices in the area were called Tuality Plains and Tualatin, with Forest Grove adopted on December 31, 1858. The city was platted in 1850. In 1860, the population reached 430, but declined to 396 in 1870. Forest Grove
589-529: The noise. According to NW Natural , there were no problems with gas lines in Forest Grove at the time. In February 2016, Andrew Dawes, a professor of physics at Pacific University , mapped the locations where the noise had been heard, although the results were inconclusive and did not suggest any single location. Throughout February 2016, approximately 200 calls were made to the Forest Grove Police Department, according to Captain Mike Herb, who said that most of
620-624: The police and fire departments closed the case. Dave Nemeyer, the Forest Grove Fire Marshal, suspected the noise to be "a faulty attic fan or heat pump ." In October 2016 Theatre in the Grove, a performing arts theatre in Forest Grove, created a haunted house based on the Forest Grove noise called "Aliens in the Grove". 45°31′11″N 123°6′38″W / 45.51972°N 123.11056°W / 45.51972; -123.11056 Forest Grove, Oregon Forest Grove
651-407: The population. There are 6,336 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and
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#1732801592532682-443: The population. There were 7,385 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
713-560: The state of Oregon can be found in Forest Grove. This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Forest Grove has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. As of the census of 2020, there were 26,225 people, 9,356 housing units, and 9,103 families residing in Forest Grove. The racial makeup of
744-468: The text. Entries are listed in alphabetical order, beginning with A B Crossing , a railroad station in Coos County , and ending with Zwagg Island , an island near Brookings, Oregon . The first three editions were edited by Lewis A. McArthur and published by Binford & Mort ; Lewis L. McArthur took over from his father as of the fourth (1974) edition, which was the first to be published by
775-408: Was $ 40,135, and the median income for a family was $ 47,733. Males had a median income of $ 36,139 versus $ 25,703 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 16,992. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over. Each year Forest Grove hosts a variety of events and festivals, including
806-439: Was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.31. The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,708 people, 6,336 households, and 4,131 families residing in
837-525: Was 3.41. As of the census of 2010, there were 21,083 people, 7,385 households, and 4,871 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,673.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,418.2/km ). There were 7,845 housing units at an average density of 1,366.7 per square mile (527.7/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 78.8% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 12.5% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.1% of
868-466: Was built in 1912 and featured both films and live productions. In 1969, the community theatre company Theatre in the Grove was founded and its volunteers present live productions there. The principal landmark of Forest Grove is Pacific University , a private school of higher education. Its significant buildings include Old College Hall and Marsh Hall . Forest Grove, as well as Gales Creek , Dilley , and portions of Cornelius , are all part of
899-413: Was compiled and edited by Lewis A. McArthur . As of 2011 , the book is in its seventh edition, which was compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur (who died in 2018). In its introduction, it identifies six periods in the history of the state which have contributed to the establishment of local names: The seventh edition contains 6,252 entries, with references to another 2,679 names scattered throughout
930-547: Was filmed in Forest Grove, mostly at Pacific University. The series, a spinoff of the popular Pretty Little Liars , ended its one and only 10-episode season in May 2019. Oregon Geographic Names Oregon Geographic Names is a compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon , published by the Oregon Historical Society . The book was originally published in 1928. It
961-781: Was incorporated by the state in 1872, the first in the county. In 1880, the now Chemawa Indian School opened in the city to forcibly assimilate Native American children, but moved to Salem in 1884. The city started the Fire Department in 1894. The population reached nearly 1,300 in 1900. In November 1908, the Oregon Electric Railway (OE) began serving the city, and in January 1914, competitor Southern Pacific (SP) followed suit, opening its own line, separate from OE's. Both railroads provided freight and passenger service, SP's passenger service being known as