76-719: Hermiston ( / ˈ h ɜːr m ə s t ə n / ) is a city in Umatilla County , Oregon , United States. Its population of 20,322 makes it the largest city in Eastern Oregon . Hermiston is the largest and fastest-growing city in the Hermiston-Pendleton Micropolitan Statistical Area , the eighth largest Core Based Statistical Area in Oregon with a combined population of 92,261 at the 2020 census . Hermiston sits near
152-672: A vegetable , stir-fried or stewed . Citrullis lanatus , variety caffer , grows wild in the Kalahari Desert , where it is known as tsamma . The fruits are used by the San people and wild animals for both water and nourishment, allowing survival on a diet of tsamma for six weeks. The watermelon is used variously as a symbol of Palestinian resistance , of the Kherson region in Ukraine, and of eco-socialism , as in 'green on
228-635: A branch in Hermiston. Eastern Oregon University also hosts undergraduate and graduate-level courses at the Eastern Oregon Higher Education Center in Hermiston. Hermiston benefits from being near the exact center of the Pacific Northwest, and at the crossroads of several major interstate highways. Drivers can easily access all four major Northwest metropolitan areas in just a half-day's drive. Portland
304-638: A common origin, possibly cultivated in the Nile Valley by 2340 BC. Watermelon fruit is 91% water , contains 6% sugars, and is low in fat (table). In a 100-gram ( 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -ounce) serving, watermelon fruit supplies 125 kilojoules (30 kilocalories) of food energy and low amounts of essential nutrients (see table). Only vitamin C is present in appreciable content at 10% of the Daily Value (table). Watermelon pulp contains carotenoids , including lycopene . The amino acid citrulline
380-524: A max temperature of 118 °F (48 °C) was recorded in Hermiston, which is just one degree below the new all-time record high temperature for the State of Oregon, which was set at the nearby Pelton Dam , which is also in Jefferson County, on the same day. Portland State University's Population Research Center (PRC) provides the official annual population estimates for cities and counties to
456-404: A mission near Pendleton in 1847. The territorial government organized Umatilla County in 1862 from the larger Wasco County . Hermiston's early development was plagued by rivalry between The Maxwell Land & Irrigation Company and developers Skinner & Newport, who both fought to establish their own town of Hermiston in the exact same spot, centrally located in the irrigation district along
532-839: A pH between 5.7 and 7.2. Major pests of the watermelon include aphids , fruit flies , and root-knot nematodes . In conditions of high humidity, the plants are prone to plant diseases such as powdery mildew and mosaic virus . Some varieties often grown in Japan and other parts of the Far East are susceptible to fusarium wilt . Grafting such varieties onto disease-resistant rootstocks offers protection. The US Department of Agriculture recommends using at least one beehive per acre (4,000 m per hive) for pollination of conventional, seeded varieties for commercial plantings. Seedless hybrids have sterile pollen. This requires planting pollinizer rows of varieties with viable pollen. Since
608-940: A prehistoric archaeological site located in southwestern Libya . This archaeobotanical discovery may support the possibility that the plant was more widely distributed in the past. In the 7th century , watermelons were being cultivated in India, and by the 10th century had reached China. The Moors introduced the fruit into the Iberian Peninsula , and there is evidence of it being cultivated in Córdoba in 961 and also in Seville in 1158. It spread northwards through southern Europe , perhaps limited in its advance by summer temperatures being insufficient for good yields. The fruit had begun appearing in European herbals by 1600, and
684-612: A prehistoric site in Libya that dates to approximately 3500 BC. In 2022, a study was released that traced 6,000-year-old watermelon seeds found in the Libyan desert to the Egusi seeds of Nigeria , West Africa. Watermelons were domesticated in north-east Africa and cultivated in Egypt by 2000 BC, although they were not the sweet modern variety. Sweet dessert watermelons spread across
760-517: A relatively robust local retail & services market, Hermiston experiences significant retail sales leakage to the Tri-Cities for items purchased on less than a weekly basis. The Tri-Cities, located approximately 30 minutes north of Hermiston in Washington, had a metro-area population of 275,740 as of April 1, 2014, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in Washington. Hermiston has
836-428: A variety with sweet yellow flesh that is cultivated around the world for fodder and the production of citron peel and pectin . (syn. C. lanatus var. caffer ) C. caffer Schrad. is a synonym of C. amarus Schrad. The variety known as tsamma is grown for its juicy white flesh. The variety was an important food source for travellers in the Kalahari Desert . Another variety known as karkoer or bitterboela
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#1732775689880912-647: A wide geographical area. It produced high yields and was resistant to the most serious watermelon diseases: anthracnose and fusarium wilt . Others were also working on disease-resistant cultivars; J. M. Crall at the University of Florida produced 'Jubilee' in 1963 and C. V. Hall of Kansas State University produced 'Crimson Sweet' the following year. These are no longer grown to any great extent, but their lineage has been further developed into hybrid varieties with higher yields, better flesh quality and attractive appearance. Another objective of plant breeders has been
988-533: Is botanically called a pepo . The sweet, juicy flesh is usually deep red to pink, with many black seeds, although seedless varieties exist. The fruit can be eaten raw or pickled , and the rind is edible after cooking. It may also be consumed as a juice or an ingredient in mixed beverages. Kordofan melons from Sudan are the closest relatives and may be progenitors of modern, cultivated watermelons. Wild watermelon seeds were found in Uan Muhuggiag ,
1064-469: Is monoecious . The male flowers predominate at the beginning of the season; the female flowers, which develop later, have inferior ovaries. The styles are united into a single column. The large fruit is a kind of modified berry called a pepo with a thick rind ( exocarp ) and fleshy center ( mesocarp and endocarp). Wild plants have fruits up to 20 cm (8 in) in diameter, while cultivated varieties may exceed 60 cm (24 in). The rind of
1140-476: Is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit . A scrambling and trailing vine -like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties . Watermelon is grown in favorable climates from tropical to temperate regions worldwide for its large edible fruit , which is a berry with a hard rind and no internal divisions, and
1216-462: Is approximately 30–35 minutes to the north of Hermiston. This proximity also allows dual-income households good access to employment opportunities for both wage earners. According to the City of Hermiston's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the area are: The City of Hermiston Parks Department maintains 15 parks, 15 landscape areas, and 100-plus acres for the enjoyment of
1292-447: Is densely woolly with yellowish-brown hairs which disappear as the plant ages. Like all but one species in the genus Citrullus , watermelon has branching tendrils . Plants have unisexual male or female flowers that are white or yellow and borne on 40-millimetre-long ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) hairy stalks. Each flower grows singly in the leaf axils, and the species' sexual system , with male and female flowers produced on each plant,
1368-576: Is due to its proximity to large cities in the Pacific Northwest and its location along two major freeways. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hermiston has a steppe climate ( Köppen BSk). This gives the area hot dry summers with high daytime temperatures which do cool considerably overnight, and relatively cold winters which typically yield several snow storms per year with relatively minimal accumulation. On June 29, 2021,
1444-751: Is less than 3 hours to the West, and drivers can also reach Spokane in less than 3 hours to the northeast, while Seattle and Boise are both approximately 4 hours away to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Highways serving Hermiston include Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 30 , both of which run east–west, U.S. Route 395 , which runs north–south, and Interstate 82 , which has its southern terminus near Hermiston and continues north to Ellensburg, Washington . Major transportation-related businesses in Hermiston include Wal-Mart 's Northwest Distribution Center, and both FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) have freight distribution facilities in Hermiston. Hermiston
1520-487: Is located approximately 40 minutes north of Hermiston, and offers commercial flights to Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Portland, San Francisco, and Phoenix. In 2014, due to strong growth in demand, the Port of Pasco approved a $ 42 million renovation and expansion, that will double the size of the current terminal. Umatilla County, Oregon Umatilla County ( / ˌ juː m ə ˈ t ɪ l ə / )
1596-823: Is on the La Grande Subdivision of the Union Pacific Railroad , constructed originally through the area in the 1870s as the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company . Railroad facilities include the Hinkle Locomotive Service and Repair Facility and "hump yard" located just outside the city. Hermiston Municipal Airport is a city-owned airport serving General Aviation pilots, corporate jet traffic, agricultural operations, and cargo operations. There are currently no commercial flights out of Hermiston. Tri-Cities Airport
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#17327756898801672-540: Is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon . The population of 81,826 ranks it as the 14th largest in Oregon, and largest in Eastern Oregon . Hermiston is the largest city in Umatilla County, but Pendleton remains the county seat. Umatilla County is part of the Hermiston-Pendleton, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area , which has a combined population of 94,833. It is included in
1748-500: Is produced in watermelon rind . A number of cultivar groups have been identified: (syn. C. lanatus subsp. lanatus var. citroides ; C. lanatus var. citroides ; C. vulgaris var. citroides ) DNA data reveal that C. lanatus var. citroides Bailey is the same as Thunberg's bitter wooly melon, C. lanatus and also the same as C. amarus Schrad. It is not a form of the sweet watermelon C. vulgaris nor closely related to that species. The citron melon or makataan –
1824-697: Is unpalatable to humans, but the seeds may be eaten. A small-fruited form with a bumpy skin has caused poisoning in sheep. This is Linnaeus's sweet watermelon; it has been grown for human consumption for thousands of years. This West African species is the closest wild relative of the watermelon. It is cultivated for cattle feed. Additionally, other wild species have bitter fruit containing cucurbitacin . C. colocynthis (L.) Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh., C. rehmii De Winter, and C. naudinianus (Sond.) Hook.f. The more than 1,200 cultivars of watermelon range in weight from less than 1 kilogram ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 pounds) to more than 90 kg (200 lb);
1900-606: The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company 's main line. While Maxwell was able to secure the train depot on the West side of the tracks, Skinner & Newport filed their own Hermiston plat directly across the tracks in November 1904, beating the Maxwell Company's filing by two days. With neither side willing to cede to the other, two separate business districts formed on either side of the tracks, Hermiston Avenue on
1976-516: The Oregon State Senate , represented by Bill Hansell . Smith, Levy, and Hansell are registered Republicans . Umatilla County is represented and governed by three county commissioners . The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners is currently made up of Dan Dorran, John Shafer, and Cindy Timmons. Like all counties in eastern Oregon, the majority of registered voters who are part of a political party in Umatilla County are members of
2052-719: The Republican Party . Registrations of Non-affiliated voters have increased significantly since Oregon began Automatic Voter Registration through the DMV in 2016. Despite the increase in Non-affiliated voters, the Republican Party in Umatilla County has continued to see a 2:1 vote margin in Presidential elections between the years 2000 and 2024. The gold rush of 1862 brought miners and stock raisers to
2128-508: The 2020–21 school year. The district has one high school, Hermiston High School , which hosts 1,703 students. Due to the school's size, it is able to offer comprehensive programming and courses for all students. The district also is composed of two middle schools and six elementary schools. There are also two private schools in Hermiston. Voters in the Hermiston School District have shown strong support for education as
2204-534: The 21st century, rising to nearly 85% of total watermelon sales in the United States in 2014. A melon from the Kordofan region of Sudan – the kordofan melon – may be the progenitor of the modern, domesticated watermelon. The kordofan melon shares with the domestic watermelon loss of the bitterness gene while maintaining a sweet taste, unlike other wild African varieties from other regions, indicating
2280-976: The 3A level in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association . This cross-state membership was approved by the WIAA in 2017 in recognition of the lack of comparable sized large high schools elsewhere in Eastern Oregon . The second largest High School in Eastern Oregon was Pendleton , with only 815 students, compared to Hermiston's 1,703. The WIAA membership allows HHS to compete in the Mid-Columbia Conference against high schools from Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and Walla Walla, Washington and significantly reduce travel times for conference games. Blue Mountain Community College has
2356-589: The Hermiston area, with amazon.com developing large data-center operations there, and major distribution facilities for Walmart , FedEx , and UPS are all located in Hermiston. Umatilla County is generally divided into three distinct economic and cultural areas, which are the West End, the Pendleton area, and the Milton-Freewater area. Although each of these communities shares some economic ties,
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2432-739: The Mediterranean world during Roman times . Considerable breeding effort has developed disease-resistant varieties. Many cultivars are available that produce mature fruit within 100 days of planting. In 2017, China produced about two-thirds of the world's total of watermelons. The watermelon is an annual that has a prostrate or climbing habit. Stems are up to 3 metres (10 feet) long and new growth has yellow or brown hairs. Leaves are 60 to 200 millimetres ( 2 + 1 ⁄ 4 to 7 + 3 ⁄ 4 inches) long and 40 to 150 mm ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 6 in) wide. These usually have three lobes that are lobed or doubly lobed. Young growth
2508-576: The Oxbow Trail, was added in 2015 to connect Riverfront Park with the north side of town near Good Shepherd Medical Center. The Trail winds through protected wetland area for nearly the entirety of its length and also connects to Harrison Park. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.81 square miles (20.23 km), all land. Distance to major cities: Hermiston's recent population growth
2584-540: The State of Oregon for the purposes of state shared funding allocations. PSU's 2023 Certified Population Estimate for Hermiston was 20,322. Due to the PRC's more detailed analysis, these estimates have proven more accurate than the U.S. Census Bureau's annual estimates. As of the U.S. 2020 census , there were 19,354 people residing in the city, a growth of 2,609 residents since the 2010 Census. Due to its consistent growth registering as an outlier among rural communities across
2660-525: The U.S., the 2020 Census figure far out-paced the Census Bureau's 2019 estimate for the community of 17,782. This same phenomenon occurred with the community's 2010 Census count far exceeded government estimates from 2009. The racial makeup of the city was 56% White, 0.6% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 22.6% from other races, and 17% identified as more than one race. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.2% of
2736-599: The Union Pacific Hinkle Rail Yard, and beginning of the Umatilla Army Depot 's Chemical Weapon Incineration process. The 2000s have seen continued growth and diversification of the regional economy as Hermiston has grown to a population of 19,354 at the 2020 Census and has become a regional center for commercial and professional services. The city is also known for its Watermelons , which are part of its branding. Hermiston serves as
2812-476: The West side and East Main street on the East side, defiantly placed one block off so they didn't align. Each district featured its own bank, hotel and mercantile but East Main street would eventually win out. On July 10, 1907, the town of Hermiston was incorporated. The original railroad station was named Maxwell, likely after a contemporary official at the railroad company. Colonel J. F. McNaught, an early settler in
2888-616: The abolition of slavery. After the Civil War, black people were maligned for their association with watermelon. The sentiment evolved into a racist stereotype where black people shared a supposed voracious appetite for watermelon, a fruit long associated with laziness and uncleanliness. Seedless watermelons were initially developed in 1939 by Japanese scientists who were able to create seedless triploid hybrids which remained rare initially because they did not have sufficient disease resistance . Seedless watermelons became more popular in
2964-680: The areas has created a long-standing rivalry, particularly between the West-End and the Pendleton-area, with regard to economic opportunity and public resources. The West End, led by Hermiston as its largest city, is now nearly twice the size of the Pendleton area, and is projected to be nearly three times the size of the Pendleton area by 2035. School districts include: 45°22′30″N 118°45′05″W / 45.375131°N 118.7513661°W / 45.375131; -118.7513661 Watermelon Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus )
3040-657: The bitter wooly melon Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai are not closely related to each other. A proposal to conserve the name, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, was accepted by the nomenclature committee and confirmed at the International Botanical Congress in 2017. Prior to 2015, the wild species closest to Citrullus lanatus was assumed to be the tendril-less melon Citrullus ecirrhosus Cogn. from South African arid regions based on an erroneously identified 18th-century specimen. However, after phylogenetic analysis,
3116-413: The closest relative to Citrullus lanatus is now thought to be Citrullus mucosospermus (Fursa) from West Africa (from Senegal to Nigeria), which is also sometimes considered a subspecies within C. lanatus . Watermelon populations from Sudan are also close to domesticated watermelons. The bitter wooly melon was formally described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1794 and given the name Momordica lanata . It
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3192-651: The community. In addition to the developed parks, the department also has 50 additional acres planned for future development. Recent major enhancements include the additions of Riverfront Park, the Oxbow Trail, and continual additions to the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center. Riverfront Park features 16 acres of open grassy areas alongside the Umatilla River, as well as nearly a mile of paved walking paths, with picnic shelters, restrooms, and fishing access. A 1.8-mile paved walking path, named
3268-538: The county seat. With the development of wheat farming, population shifted to the north and east parts of the county, and a subsequent election in 1868 moved the county seat again to Pendleton . The Umatilla Indian Reservation was established by the Treaty of Walla Walla in 1855. The Umatillas , Walla Wallas , and Cayuse tribes were resettled there, and is located immediately southeast of Pendleton. EZ Wireless of Hermiston officially opened on February 4, 2004, one of
3344-413: The county. The population density was 23.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.1/km ). The 29,693 housing units had an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.6/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 79.1% White, 3.5% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 12.5% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 23.9% of
3420-420: The development of large potato processing plants by Lamb-Weston and Simplot , focusing on frozen potato products. The associated economic development drove Hermiston's population to nearly double from 4,893 in 1970 to 9,408 by 1980. The 1990s brought additional large employment developments to the Hermiston region in the form of Two Rivers Correctional Institution , a Wal-Mart Distribution Center , expansion of
3496-570: The distance between each creates three very distinct communities. The West End includes the communities of Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield, and Echo. The Pendleton area includes Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Adams, and Athena. The Milton-Freewater area is largely tied to the Walla Walla, Washington area, and is considered a part of the Walla Walla Metropolitan Planning Organization. The similarities between
3572-530: The district has experienced sustained robust enrollment growth. Voters approved a $ 69.9 million capital construction bond in November, 2008, and another $ 82.7 million capital construction bond in November, 2019. The 2019 bond added a new elementary school near the intersection of NE 10th and Theater Lane, and replaced the 57-year old Rocky Heights Elementary School on-site with a larger facility. The 2019 bond will also add capacity for an additional 200 students at Hermiston High School. Hermiston High School competes at
3648-402: The edible var. vulgaris may be the most important. This taxonomy originated with the erroneous synonymization of the wooly melon Citrullus lanatus with the sweet watermelon Citrullus vulgaris by L.H. Bailey in 1930. Molecular data, including sequences from the original collection of Thunberg and other relevant type material, show that the sweet watermelon ( Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.) and
3724-530: The eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon . The county is named for the Umatilla River . Umatilla County was created on September 27, 1862, out of a portion of Wasco County . Adjustments were made to the county's boundaries following the creation of Grant , Morrow , Union , and Wallowa Counties. This legislative act also designated Marshall Station as the temporary county seat. An 1865 election selected Umatilla City, now known as Umatilla , as
3800-411: The elimination of the seeds which occur scattered throughout the flesh. This has been achieved through the use of triploid varieties, but these are sterile, and the cost of producing the seed by crossing a tetraploid parent with a normal diploid parent is high. As of 2017, farmers in approximately 44 states in the United States grew watermelon commercially, producing more than $ 500 million worth of
3876-561: The flesh can be red, pink, orange, yellow or white. Charles Fredrick Andrus, a horticulturist at the USDA Vegetable Breeding Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina , set out to produce a disease-resistant and wilt-resistant watermelon. The result, in 1954, was "that gray melon from Charleston". Its oblong shape and hard rind made it easy to stack and ship. Its adaptability meant it could be grown over
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#17327756898803952-531: The flesh of the watermelon to develop a large hole, sometimes in an intricate, symmetric shape. Watermelons suffering from hollow heart are safe to consume. Farmers of the Zentsuji region of Japan found a way to grow cubic watermelons by growing the fruits in metal and glass boxes and making them assume the shape of the receptacle. The cubic shape was originally designed to make the melons easier to stack and store, but these " square watermelons " may be triple
4028-421: The fruit annually. Georgia, Florida, Texas, California and Arizona are the United States' largest watermelon producers, with Florida producing more watermelon than any other state. This now-common fruit is often large enough that groceries often sell half or quarter melons. Some smaller, spherical varieties of watermelon—both red- and yellow-fleshed—are sometimes called "icebox melons". The largest recorded fruit
4104-438: The fruit is mid- to dark green and usually mottled or striped, and the flesh, containing numerous pips spread throughout the inside, can be red or pink (most commonly), orange, yellow, green or white. A bitter watermelon, C. amarus , has become naturalized in semiarid regions of several continents, and is designated as a "pest plant" in parts of Western Australia where they are called "pig melon". The sweet watermelon
4180-805: The junction of I-82 and I-84 , and is 7 miles south of the Columbia River , the Washington state line, Lake Wallula , and the McNary Dam . The Hermiston area has become a hub for logistics and data center activity due to the proximity of the I-82 and I-84 interchange, Pacific Northwest fiber optic backbone, and low power costs. The historic inhabitants of the area were the indigenous Umatilla , Cayuse , Walla Walla , and Columbia Indians, descendants of peoples who lived in this area for thousands of years. The earliest European settlers established
4256-519: The largest 30-mile-radius workforce in Eastern Oregon. According to 2018 U.S. Census estimates, there were 135,503 people actively employed within a 30-mile radius of Hermiston; in comparison, there are 75,075 in the next-largest regional Labor Shed in Bend. Hermiston-area employers benefit greatly from the proximity of the Tri-Cities in Washington which, based on light traffic, and easy freeway access,
4332-484: The largest known Wi-Fi wide area networks in the United States, covering parts of Umatilla County, Morrow County and Benton County, Washington . Although created to facilitate communications among local police, firemen and EMT workers who immediately respond to possible accidents or terrorist attacks on the Umatilla Chemical Depot , where the U.S. Army maintained a national arsenal of nerve gas ,
4408-472: The mountains and grasslands of Umatilla County. Another stimulus was the arrival of the railroad in 1881, opening the region to the development of dry-land wheat farming. Water for irrigation has been key to economic diversification and growth, most recently in the Hermiston area, where potatoes, onions, corn, and more than 200 other crops are grown commercially. Low-cost power through Umatilla Electric Cooperative and good freeway access are also driving growth in
4484-453: The network can be accessed in some places by the public for free. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 3,231 square miles (8,370 km ), of which 3,216 square miles (8,330 km ) are land and 16 square miles (41 km ) (0.5%) are covered by water. It borders the Columbia River across from Washington . As of the 2010 census , 75,889 people, 26,904 households, and 18,647 families resided in
4560-429: The outside, red on the inside'. In the United States, it has also been used as a racist stereotype associated with African Americans . Watermelons are plants grown from tropical to temperate climates, needing temperatures higher than about 25 °C (77 °F) to thrive. On a garden scale, seeds are usually sown in pots under cover and transplanted into the ground. Ideal conditions are a well-drained sandy loam with
4636-559: The population. As of the census of 2010, there were 16,745 people, 6,050 households, and 4,184 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,144.0 inhabitants per square mile (827.8/km). There were 6,373 housing units at an average density of 816.0 units per square mile (315.1 units/km). The racial makeup of the city was 74.2% White , 0.8% African American , 1.3% Native American , 1.5% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 19.0% from other races , and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.9% of
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#17327756898804712-441: The population. There were 6,050 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
4788-422: The population. In terms of ancestry, 21.4% were German , 12.8% were Irish , 11.6% were English , and 5.6% were American . Of the 26,904 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.7% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
4864-611: The price of normal ones, so appeal mainly to wealthy urban consumers. Pyramid-shaped watermelons have also been developed, and any polyhedral shape may potentially be used. Watermelons, which are called tsamma in Khoisan language and makataan in Tswana language , are important water sources in South Africa , the Kalahari Desert , and East Africa for both humans and animals. In 2020, global production of watermelons
4940-456: The region, later named it Hermiston from Robert Louis Stevenson 's unfinished novel Weir of Hermiston . The greater Hermiston region began to see irrigated agriculture in 1908, with the completion of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 's Umatilla Basin Project in the form of Cold Springs Reservoir. The region saw modest growth until the outbreak of World War II , when the Umatilla Army Depot
5016-586: The retail and services center for much of western Umatilla County, as well as Morrow County and parts of Gilliam county . Hermiston's Local Trade Area, which describes the area where people will travel to purchase items on a weekly basis, stretches from Pendleton on the East, the Columbia River to the North, Heppner to the South, and Gilliam County to the West. There were 46,000 people living within Hermiston's Local Trade Area based on 2010 U.S. Census data. Despite
5092-440: The supply of viable pollen is reduced, and pollination is much more critical in producing the seedless variety, the recommended number of hives per acre increases to three hives per acre ( 1,300 m per hive). Watermelons have a longer growing period than other melons and can often take 85 days or more from the time of transplanting for the fruit to mature. Lack of pollen is thought to contribute to "hollow heart" which causes
5168-403: The west end of the county has propelled Hermiston well past Pendleton with the highest median household incomes in Umatilla County. Umatilla County contains two Oregon State House Districts : State House District 57, which is currently represented by Greg Smith , and State House District 58, which is currently represented by Bobby Levy . Umatilla County is also located in the 29th District of
5244-469: Was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.17. The median age was 35.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 45,861 and for a family was $ 53,585. Males had a median income of $ 39,288 versus $ 30,489 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 20,035. About 11.0% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over. Strong economic growth in
5320-429: Was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age in the city was 30.9 years. 31.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 20.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. Hermiston School District is the largest district in Eastern Oregon , with 5,508 students in
5396-825: Was being grown in Massachusetts by 1629, and by 1650 was being cultivated in Peru , Brazil and Panama . Around the same time, Native Americans were cultivating the crop in the Mississippi valley and Florida . Watermelons were rapidly accepted in Hawaii and other Pacific islands when they were introduced there by explorers such as Captain James Cook . In the Civil War era United States, watermelons were commonly grown by free black people and became one symbol for
5472-417: Was constructed, causing Hermiston's population to jump from 803 at the 1940 US Census to 3,804 in 1950. The region continued to experience modest growth for the next several decades until the 1970s, when low power costs coupled with the development of center-pivot irrigation resulted in a significant expansion in agricultural acreage put in to potato production. The expansion of potato production coincided with
5548-653: Was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and given the name Cucurbita citrullus . It was reassigned to the genus Citrullus in 1836, under the replacement name Citrullus vulgaris , by the German botanist Heinrich Adolf Schrader . (The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants does not allow names like " Citrullus citrullus ".) The species is further divided into several varieties, of which bitter wooly melon ( Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus ), citron melons ( Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L. H. Bailey) Mansf.), and
5624-534: Was grown in Tennessee in 2013 and weighed 159 kilograms (351 pounds). Watermelon is a sweet, commonly consumed fruit of summer, usually as fresh slices, diced in mixed fruit salads , or as juice. Watermelon juice can be blended with other fruit juices or made into wine . The seeds have a nutty flavor and can be dried and roasted, or ground into flour. Watermelon rinds may be eaten, but their unappealing flavor may be overcome by pickling , sometimes eaten as
5700-580: Was reassigned to the genus Citrullus in 1916 by Japanese botanists Jinzō Matsumura and Takenoshin Nakai . Watermelons were originally cultivated for their high water content and stored to be eaten during dry seasons, as a source of both food and water. Watermelon seeds were found in the Dead Sea region at the ancient settlements of Bab edh-Dhra and Tel Arad . Many 5000-year-old wild watermelon seeds ( C. lanatus ) were discovered at Uan Muhuggiag ,
5776-594: Was widely planted in Europe in the 17th century as a minor garden crop. Early watermelons were not sweet, but bitter, with yellowish-white flesh. They were also difficult to open. The modern watermelon, which tastes sweeter and is easier to open, was developed over time through selective breeding . European colonists introduced the watermelon to the New World . Spanish settlers were growing it in Florida in 1576. It
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