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The Siuslaw National Forest ( / s aɪ ˈ j uː s l ɔː / sy- YOO -slaw ) is a national forest in western Oregon in the United States. Established in 1908, the Siuslaw is made up of a wide variety of ecosystems , ranging from coastal forests to sand dunes.

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82-714: The Siuslaw National Forest encompasses more than 630,000 acres (2,500 km) along the central Oregon Coast between Coos Bay and Tillamook , and in some places extends east from the ocean, beyond the crest of the Oregon Coast Range , almost reaching the Willamette Valley . The forest lies primarily in Lane County (39% of the forest) and Lincoln County (27% of the forest); the rest in descending order of land area are Tillamook , Douglas , Yamhill , Benton , Coos , and Polk counties. It includes

164-517: A subtropical climate ( Cs ) since eight months are above 50 °F (10 °C). A weather phenomenon known as the "Chetco Effect" or the "Brookings Effect" can cause the temperature in Brookings near the Chetco River mouth to be much higher than the surrounding area. Adiabatic heating increases the temperature and reduces relative humidity as katabatic wind , driven by high pressure on

246-570: A century later. A few years later, in 1811, employees of John Jacob Astor 's Pacific Fur Company set up a trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River and set up the first permanent U.S. settlement – Astoria. However, the settlement was not as profitable as Astor had hoped it would be. It was sold to the British North West Company in 1812 and became part of its Columbia District . In 1838, Charles Wilkes , on

328-516: A fire in 1992. However, the concrete pilings that held the massive hangar doors erect still stand. Along the coast just south of Cape Arago are several parks that were formerly the location of early homesteaders, as well as the former Seven Devil's Trail. The homesteaders eventually abandoned their claims in favor of living closer to the nearby rural villages and towns. Today, nothing remains of these small farms and ranches, though several state parks mark their locations. However, south at Cape Blanco sits

410-458: A high temperature of 108 °F (42 °C) at the airport. This was not only the highest recorded temperature in the town's history, but also the highest recorded in Oregon on that day. The Crescent City airport, around 30 miles (48 km) south of Brookings, recorded a high temperature of 68 °F (20 °C) that day, 40 °F (22 °C) cooler. Temperatures in inland Oregon throughout

492-536: A historically viable trade for the region. In the North Coast region near Astoria, and in Lincoln County, large tracts of land are second and third generation woodland, having been logged and replanted in the past. Because of the salt carried inland by constant onshore winds, only the hardiest varieties of small plant can thrive close to shore. Coastal strawberry and Pacific silverweed are common along

574-590: A pedestrian easement and relief from construction, the bill eliminates property taxes on private beach land and allows its owners to retain certain beach land rights. Traditionally, the Oregon Coast is regarded as three distinct sub–regions: The largest city is Coos Bay , population 16,700 in Coos County on the South Coast. U.S. Route 101 is the primary highway from Brookings to Astoria and

656-632: A series of incendiary bombs in the forests at Mount Emily with the intention of starting several forest fires in the area. Though the fires did not become the major infernos that the Japanese intended, the bomb site is now on the National Register of Historic Places as the Wheeler Ridge Japanese Bombing Site . Fujita returned in 1962 and gave his family's 400-year-old sword to the city of Brookings. He

738-636: A voyage commissioned by U.S. Congress, landed on the Oregon Coast and raised the American flag. British claims were slowly lost with the increasing number of pioneers traveling to Oregon along the Oregon Trail , and 8 years later, the Oregon Treaty was signed with Britain, ending the half-century claims to Oregon and the Oregon Coast by the British. After Oregon attained statehood in 1859 and

820-408: Is Oregon's historic lighthouses, most of which date to before 1900. Because the Oregon and Washington coasts have been traditionally thought of as some of the most dangerous seas in the world , several lighthouses and a lightship were commissioned to aid sailors in navigating. Of the original 12 lights, nine are still in use. However, in recent years, two private lights, Pelican Bay Light and Cleft of

902-635: Is a city in Curry County , Oregon , United States. It was named after John E. Brookings, president of the Brookings Lumber and Box Company, who founded the city in 1908. As of the 2020 census , the population was 6,744. In 1906, the Brookings Timber Company hired William James Ward, a graduate in civil engineering and forestry, to come to the southern Oregon Coast and survey its lumbering potential. After timber cruising

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984-519: Is a great variety of plants within the coast region. In some areas, large trees are uncommon. This is because severe winter storms and poor soil limit the growing height of many species. Shore pine (Pinus contorta subsp.contorta) are common in these areas. However several species of fir , pine , and cedar can be found, including a few endemic species, such as the Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) . Because of this, logging has been

1066-595: Is also a part of the Graveyard of the Pacific . The weather on the North Coast is moderate. The average low in the winter is just under 40 °F (4 °C), while the high temperature is just above 50 °F (10 °C). The average high reaches its peak in early September at 70 °F (21 °C). The most rain occurs in November and December averaging over 11 inches (280 mm) each month. July and August are

1148-471: Is divided into three different regions based on their geological formations: the North Coast, Central Coast, and South Coast. Three primary landforms appear along its shoreline: sea cliffs, beaches, and stacks . Minor land variation, city size, and socioeconomic differences between the North and Central regions cause division between them to be made along geological lines. The North Coast, which stretches from

1230-477: Is known about these early peoples, as very few archeological sites exist from before 3,500 years ago. Several tribes and language families would eventually form along the coast. Major groups included the Clatsop , Tillamook , Alsea , Siuslaw , Coos , and Coquille . The lifestyles of these tribes were very similar and sometimes interlinked, with the defining differences being the languages they spoke. Because of

1312-660: Is known for its scenic overlooks of the Pacific Ocean. Over 80 state parks and recreation areas dot the Oregon Coast. However, only a few highways cross the Coast Range to the interior: US 30 , US 26 , OR 6 , OR 22 , US 20 , OR 18 , OR 34 , OR 126 , OR 38 , and OR 42 . OR 18 and US 20 are considered among the dangerous roads in the state. The Oregon Coast includes Clatsop County , Tillamook County , Lincoln County , western Lane County , western Douglas County , Coos County, and Curry County . The Oregon Coast

1394-585: Is located along the southern Oregon coast at the mouth of the Chetco River . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 3.94 square miles (10.20 km ), of which 3.87 square miles (10.02 km ) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km ) is water. Brookings has a mild Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csb ). According to the Trewartha climate classification , Brookings has

1476-495: Is made up of sea cliffs and miles of beaches. Among the landscape of the region exists the Oregon Dunes . There are seven incorporated cities on the south coast: Reedsport, North Bend , Coos Bay, Bandon , Port Orford , Gold Beach , and Brookings . Cape Blanco , which is approximately 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north of Port Orford, is the westernmost point in Oregon. Cape Blanco extends further west than any point of land in

1558-491: Is particularly affected by these yearly floods, because of its location on a major floodplain . Sandstone cliffs occur rather sporadically in this region. This is due to relatively slow uplift rates as well as fairly constant sediment wash from the Columbia River. Future uplift from the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate will eventually create sandstone cliffs similar to those found further south and north. The North Oregon Coast

1640-607: The Corps of Discovery made many observations about the landscape and local life, as well as establishing relations with the local Clatsop Indians. The expedition began their return trip to Washington D.C. in March 1806. The Lewis and Clark Expedition would have long-lasting effects for the Pacific Northwest and began the settlement of the U.S. west coast, even though heavy settlement of the Oregon Coast would not come until half

1722-601: The Great Basin , descend across the west slopes of the Cascade Range and Oregon Coast Range . The heart of Brookings, with its orientation, is protected from sea breezes coming from the northwest and the warm, dry, down-sloping winds that are funneled down the Coastal Range into the deep Chetco River gorge can reach the coast uninfluenced by the effects of the Pacific. On July 8, 2008, Brookings recorded

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1804-521: The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park along with Fort Stevens . Further south outside Tillamook sits the Tillamook Air Museum , which is housed in one of the two former military blimp hangars of the former Naval Air Station Tillamook . The structure was originally known as "Hangar B" and was part of a pair of hangars built by the U.S. Navy in 1942. "Hangar A" was destroyed by

1886-636: The Patrick Hughes House . The Hughes House is now a part of Cape Blanco State Park . Located in Port Orford just south of Cape Blanco is the famous Battle Rock, which was the site of a major battle between local natives and members of an 1851 expedition led by Captain William Tichenor in order to begin railroad construction. Today, visitors can climb Battle Rock, though this is discouraged as frequent climbing has begun to erode

1968-853: The Sand Lake Recreation Area and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area . The Forest Supervisor's office is located in Corvallis , and the Siuslaw is broken up into two ranger districts—the Hebo Ranger District, with approximately 151,000 acres (610 km), and the Central Coast Ranger District, with approximately 479,000 acres (1,940 km). The forest contains Marys Peak , the highest point in

2050-524: The Steller's sea lion and harbor seal , as well as the less common northern elephant seal and California sea lion . The Sea Lion Caves near Florence, and the bay front in Newport are the best places to see Steller's sea lions and harbor seals, though they can be observed in many other places. Seal pups can sometimes be seen on sandy beaches resting. Signs are often posted on beaches warning of this, as

2132-678: The Washington on a sand bar, and the ship was attacked by natives, in which one crew member was killed and the mate wounded. Gray returned in 1792 aboard the Columbia , where he met with British Captain Vancouver off the Strait of Juan de Fuca . Gray mentioned the river to Vancouver, which Gray had named the Columbia. Vancouver quietly dismissed this claim by Gray, thinking that the Columbia

2214-426: The Willamette Valley reached temperatures into the mid-90s. The Brookings Effect remained very strong and localized until July 13, 2008, when high temperatures in Brookings dropped to 61 °F (16 °C), which is about 7 °F (3.9 °C) lower than average during the month. As of the census of 2010, there were 6,336 people, 2,717 households, and 1,689 families residing in the city. The population density

2296-475: The contiguous United States (lower 48 states) except Cape Alava , in Washington . Though the landforms of the region are relatively consistent, the South Coast shows a change in ecology. It is in this region that the western redcedar and Sitka spruce forests give way to the more southerly coast redwood , Port Orford cedar , and Douglas-fir forests, which also include the northern extent of Oregon Myrtle trees (aka California Bay Laurel). The weather on

2378-646: The Azalea Parade and live music. It is held every year on Memorial Day Weekend. Another very popular event in Brookings is the Nature's Coastal Holiday light display which is open each evening from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas in Azalea Park. After a long history of feeding the homeless, the City Council moved against St. Timothy's Episcopal Church for operating a soup kitchen. This

2460-592: The Capella by the Sea. Several cultural events in the town are held at Azalea Park. Harris Beach State Park is located on Highway 101 at the north end of Brookings. It includes 173 acres (70 hectares) of coastal access as well as RV and tent camping facilities and a rest area. Each year, the town hosts the "Pirates of the Pacific" festival. One major event in the town is the Azalea Festival, which includes

2542-571: The Chetco and Pistol River areas for several years, he recommended that the Brookings people begin extensive lumbering operations here and secure a townsite for a mill and shipping center. While John E. Brookings was responsible for the founding of Brookings as a company town , it was his cousin, Robert S. Brookings , who was responsible for its actual design. The latter Brookings hired Bernard Maybeck , an architect based in San Francisco who

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2624-477: The Columbia River to Cascade Head, possesses longer stretches of unbroken beach (due to silt deposits washed southwards from the Columbia River), a higher concentration of logging zones, and larger, but less frequent sandbar -enclosed bays. Astoria serves as a staging ground for ships entering and leaving the Columbia River, because of the dangerous Columbia Bar . Ships wishing to make the passage require

2706-620: The Hood to Coast race or Lincoln City's glass float hunt. Because of many headlands along the Oregon Coast, beaches vary in length from dozens of miles to less than a quarter of a mile. Though less common, surf fishing also occurs along sections of the beach. However, not all Oregon beaches are sand beaches. Large surf-smoothed stones are common and several stone beaches exist. Some beaches are also shrinking, due partially to human interactions and partly to invasive species of plant such as European Beachgrass . Another popular destination for visitors

2788-654: The Oregon Coast Range at 4,097 feet (1,249 m). Numerous aquatic habitats are found in the forest: marine shore, rivers and streams—1,200 miles (1,900 km), including the Alsea , Nestucca , Siuslaw , and Umpqua rivers—and 30 lakes. The terrestrial environment can be regarded as two major vegetation zones, one near the coast dominated by Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ), and the other dominated by western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla ) and Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ). Western hemlock often grows in

2870-520: The Oregon Coast is a popular travel destination. Hiking , sport fishing , cycling , kite flying , scuba diving , surfing , sandboarding , and boating are common activities for visitors to the region. Historic areas, such as Fort Clatsop, Battle Rock , and Oregon's lighthouses are all popular sites for visitors. The Oregon Coast is also known for its scenic areas, such as Cape Perpetua , Cape Blanco and Cape Arago . Likewise, each region has its own distinct draws in addition to those found throughout

2952-451: The Oregon Coast, and is a major industry in several of Oregon's port cities, especially Astoria, Newport, and Coos Bay. Because of this, Oregon has strict regulations concerning the harvest of fish for sport. Charter boats usually take groups out for half day and full day fishing trips for Chinook salmon , Coho salmon , and Pacific halibut . However, several other activities, many of which are more local than others, take place throughout

3034-453: The Oregon Coast. The economy is still dependent on natural resources, but the largest contributions to personal income are retirement based and "unidentified". The top three industries are timber, fishing, and tourism. The coast is poorer than the state average, with average income per capita $ 24,112 vs. $ 32,812. 44°00′N 124°06′W  /  44°N 124.1°W  / 44; -124.1 Brookings, Oregon Brookings

3116-477: The Oregon and Washington Coasts. Heceta Head was later named after Bruno de Heceta. At the same time as the Spanish expeditions, British mariners also began to explore the region, led by explorers Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and later by James Cook and George Vancouver in the 18th century. British expeditions made many discoveries in the region. Drake called the area New Albion , though

3198-411: The Oregon coast each year, mostly boats and surfing boards being tasted. Every few years—a total of 25 since 1900—a human is bitten. Every Oregon victim has survived. The last was Joseph Tanner, October 10, 2016. It is generally accepted that the first indigenous peoples arrived in the region around 11,000–13,000 years ago, likely drawn by the rich natural resources of the area. However, very little

3280-519: The Rock Light have been built, with permission from the Coast Guard . Both lights, along with Cape Arago Light, are private property. The Oregon Coast is also host to many recreational activities. Hiking, camping, sport fishing, and cycling are the most common activities and are ubiquitous to the Oregon Coast. Sport fishing has traditionally been the primary outdoor recreational activity along

3362-579: The Siuslaw National Forest include fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, exploring tide pools , and riding off highway vehicles . There are three officially designated wilderness areas within the Siuslaw National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System , all established in 1984: Oregon Coast The Oregon Coast is a coastal region of

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3444-491: The U.S. economy as well as changes in regulations governing the harvest of fish and timber. Oregon's public lands claim was challenged in 1966, when a motel owner fenced off beach area for the private use of his guests. Responding to citizen complaints, state legislators put forward the Oregon Beach Bill , proposing to reestablish the beaches' status as public land. Concerns about private property rights threatened

3526-721: The U.S. state of Oregon . It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Oregon Coast Range to the east, and stretches approximately 362 miles (583 km) from the California state border in the south to the Columbia River in the north. The region is not a specific geological, environmental, or political entity, and includes the Columbia River Estuary . The Oregon Beach Bill of 1967 allows free beach access to everyone. In return for

3608-401: The abundance of food in the region, most settlements were permanent. Many of the tribes subsisted primarily on seafoods such as clams, salmon , and seals , as well as berries. European exploration of the Oregon Coast began in the 18th century as Spanish mariners sailed northward from Mexico to explore and later stake claim to the region, led by explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa 's claim of

3690-470: The aid of specially trained bar pilots . Along the coast are the cities of Seaside , Cannon Beach and Tillamook . Seaside and Cannon Beach lie directly on the Pacific Ocean, whereas Tillamook lies inland along Tillamook Bay . Because of the low lands that exist on this region of coast, flooding is an annual problem, especially in the winter, when storms push in from the North Pacific. Tillamook

3772-635: The beaches and highway. Local sandstones of the Central Coast were uplifted during the Neogene Era . Higher layers of exposed sandstone are often varying shades of orange, and are often quite soft to the touch, often being very brittle, and relatively easily eroded. Lower exposed layers, though less frequent, reveal harder sandstone deposits. Unlike the higher layers, they are often gray-brown in color and hard in comparison. This lower sandstone often breaks off in large, squared chunks. The weather on

3854-478: The beaches of the Oregon Coast. Both occur nearly year-round, regardless of weather or water temperature. The coast is home to several excellent golf courses. Among them is the Bandon Dunes ranked by Golf Digest as the 6th best public golf course in the U.S in 2015/2016, up from 7th in 2009 Many historical sites dot the Oregon Coast. The most prominent is that of Fort Clatsop outside of Astoria, which

3936-408: The bill's passage. In response, Governor Tom McCall staged a dramatic media event on May 13, 1967, flying two helicopters to the beach with a team of surveyors and scientists. The ensuing media coverage resulted in overwhelming public demand for the bill, which passed and was signed by McCall on July 6, 1967. The Beach Bill declares that all "wet sand" within 16 feet (4.9 m) vertical feet of

4018-483: The central coast is similar to that of the north coast except the frequency of sunny or partly cloudy days is higher in the summer, approaching 75%. The South Coast region, which extends from Reedsport to the California border, is distinct from the North and Central Coast regions because of its mountainous nature, due to tectonic uplift and terrane accretion in ancient times. Much of the coastline in this region

4100-439: The cities of Lincoln City , Depoe Bay , Newport , Waldport , and Yachats . Because the usable lands of the region are squeezed between the mountains and the ocean, most urban areas are relatively small but are still larger than those of the South Coast region. The southernmost area of Central coast is the intermediary zone for this region and the more mountainous South Coast region. Exposed sandstone cliffs are also common along

4182-469: The coast due to their reproductive advantages and salt tolerance. Like many forested regions of the western United States and Canada, many large species of animal can be found in the woods of the region. Most common are the Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer , as well as bobcats and North American cougar . All four species, though common now, were uncommon in the past, having moved more heavily into

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4264-433: The coast region of the state, several of which occur in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area . Most common are All-terrain vehicles and sandboarding. Many equipment rental and specialty shops exist to cater to these activities. Horse riding is also a common pastime along many beaches and dunes along the coast, and several horse trails exist in the nearby forests. Surfing and bodyboarding are also common sports along

4346-530: The coast, such as the sea otter . Strict regulations as well as modern human aid has seen a return of some species in recent years. The Oregon Coast is the location of the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex , which consists of six wildlife refuges, covering 371 acres (1.50 km ), spread over a distance of 320 miles (515 km). Due to several factors, including climate, weather, and terrain, there

4428-619: The completion of railroads throughout the Coast Range, development of land quickly began along many of the Coasts bays and rivers. Logging and commercial fishing soon became the primary industries in the area, and several ports were built to facilitate both industries. In 1870, the first lighthouse at Cape Blanco was built and was soon followed by both the Yaquina Bay Light and Yaquina Head Light in 1871 and 1873, respectively. The last Coast Guard operated light, Cape Arago Light ,

4510-417: The construction of U.S. Route 101 along the coast. The Parks and Recreation Department , a branch of the highway commission, bought land for 36 state parks along the coastal highway, an average of one every 10 miles (16 km). With the completion of the highway-and-parks system, coastal tourism skyrocketed. Recent years have seen a drop in both the logging and fishing industries , due mainly to changes in

4592-468: The driest averaging under 2 inches (51 mm) of rain each month. Most days are cloudy or partly cloudy throughout the year. The summer has the most sun with approximately half the days sunny or partly cloudy. The Central Coast, which extends from Cascade Head to Reedsport, while similar to the North Coast, possesses fewer sandy beaches, more sea cliffs and terraces, and a greater number of bays. Several small urban areas exist in this region. Among these are

4674-477: The early 1990s. In 1997, Fujita was made an honorary citizen of Brookings by the city council. The current marketing " brand " for the community, through the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce, is "The Pulse of America's Wild Rivers Coast". America's Wild Rivers Coast is a regional marketing brand for Curry County, Oregon, and Del Norte County, California . The Port of Brookings Harbor

4756-613: The entire Pacific and shores in the name of the Spanish Crown. The earliest expedition recorded along the Pacific Northwest coast, however, was led by Spaniard Juan José Pérez Hernández aboard the sloop Santiago in 1774. Pérez's findings were kept a secret and much of the credit for his findings went to later explorers. Pérez's expedition was followed soon after by the 1775 expedition led by Bruno de Heceta and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra , in which Pérez served as pilot. These further explorations led to many discoveries along

4838-528: The exact location of New Albion remains a mystery. Vancouver would make the most extensive explorations of the region during his expeditions. Meanwhile, American Captain Robert Gray , aboard the sloop Washington , visited the Oregon Coast in his 1788 voyage to the west coast of the Americas. In August, 1788, Gray attempted to gain entrance to the mouth of the Columbia. However, Gray accidentally grounded

4920-408: The largest collections of tidepools and are popular places for exploring them. Also common along the coast are kelp forests and rock reefs. Both areas harbor much of Oregon's marine life, including many species of fish, such as the numerous species of rockfish , flatfish , and greenlings . Because these areas provide a shelter from oceanic currents, these zones share many invertebrate species with

5002-573: The law prohibits disturbing them. Formerly, populations of sea otter could be found on the coast. However, fur hunters have wiped out the Oregon populations. Prior to the sighting in February 2009 in Depoe Bay, no sea otters had been sighted in over 103 years. Occasionally, large Humboldt Squid wash up onto the beaches after following warm currents which dissipate leaving the squid to die of hypothermia. Several species of whale can be observed in

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5084-571: The low tide line belongs to the state of Oregon. In addition, it recognizes public easements of all beach areas up to the line of vegetation, regardless of underlying property rights. The public has "free and uninterrupted use of the beaches," and property owners are required to seek state permits for building and other uses of the ocean shore. While some parts of the beach remain privately owned, state and federal courts have upheld Oregon's right to regulate development of those lands and preserve public access. Due to its scenery, wildlife, and history,

5166-577: The night of June 21, 1942, occurred at Fort Stevens when a Japanese submarine I-25 surfaced offshore, and fired 17 rounds at the fort. However, Fort Stevens took no damage in the attack. The second attack took place two and a half months later when the I-25 surfaced off Cape Blanco, the night of September 9, 1942. Launching a small "Glen" seaplane , and using the Cape Blanco Light as a guide, pilot Nobuo Fujita and copilot Okuda Shoji dropped

5248-492: The onshore tidal zone. Because of the rich diversity of life, most animal species along the Oregon coast depend on these keystone zones for survival. Many varieties of birds make their home on the Oregon Coast. Because of the variety of birds found in the area, bird watching is a common pastime. Birds along the Oregon Coast can be divided into four categories: The Oregon coastal waters are known to have 16 species of shark present: There are one or two shark bites reported along

5330-443: The population. There were 2,717 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

5412-484: The region with the beginning of timber harvest. Likewise, smaller species, including nutrias and Virginia opossum can also be found, as well as the Townsend's mole , which inhabits many lowland and floodplain areas. The marine ecology of the Oregon Coast is some of the most diverse in the world. More than 29 species of marine mammals make their home on the Oregon Coast, including several species of seal , including

5494-502: The sandstone seastack. Also in Port Orford is the Port Orford Heads State Park , which is the location of the original Coast Guard lifeboat station. The station is now a museum for the historic station and maritime history, including the 1942 Lookout Air Raid . Finally, Oregon has the distinction of being the only U.S. state (Hawaii and Alaska did not attain statehood until 1959) to receive hostile action during World War II, being both shelled and bombed. The first attack, which took place

5576-427: The shade under Douglas fir. Other major tree species in the forest are western red cedar ( Thuja plicata ), red alder ( Alnus rubra ), and bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum ). A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the forest was 33,800 acres (13,700 ha). The Cummins Creek Wilderness and the Rock Creek Wilderness preserve some of this old growth. Recreational activities in

5658-411: The south coast is similar to that of the north and central coasts except the frequency of sunny or partly cloudy days is higher in the summer, approaching 90%. Because of the Oregon Coast's physical complexity, many different species of plant and animal can be found in the region, both terrestrial and marine in nature. However, past human interaction has caused a decline in several species of animal along

5740-516: The state, such as the Astoria Column in Astoria, the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, and Mount Emily outside Brookings. The South Coast's commercial airport is the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend and the Central Coast is served by the Newport Municipal Airport . Oregon's beaches are popular destinations for visitors. Horse riding , clam digging , and surfing are popular activities. Certain beaches are host to events such as Seaside's Beach Volleyball Tournament and finish for

5822-507: The waters near shore, especially during migration in late December and late March, such as gray whale , orca , and humpback whale . Harbor porpoises are also relatively common. Because of this, whale watching is a common tourist attraction along the coast. Tour boats often take passengers on whale watching tours, though it is possible to do so from shore. It is sometimes the case that whale carcasses are beached on Oregon shores. One such beaching, which occurred near Florence in November, 1970,

5904-403: Was 1,637.2 inhabitants per square mile (632.1/km ). There were 3,183 housing units at an average density of 822.5 units per square mile (317.6 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White , 0.3% African American , 1.8% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.9% from other races , and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of

5986-502: Was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female. Azalea Park is located at 640 Old County Road. It has picnic areas, bandshell, snackshack, gazebo, Kidtown playground, disc golf course, softball and soccer fields, and

6068-702: Was a part of the Juan de Fuca Strait. Vancouver was loath to later admit Gray's correct discovery of the Columbia River. In 1803, with the successful purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France, President Thomas Jefferson ordered an expedition to the west coast, which was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark . The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the Oregon Coast in early winter of 1805, where they built Fort Clatsop near present-day Astoria. During their stay at Fort Clatsop,

6150-402: Was built in 1934. However, in 1874, Oregon State Land Board began to sell public tidelands to private landowners. Soon, resorts were built alongside the beaches in towns such as Seaside, Newport, and Rockaway Beach . The completion of railroads from the primary population centers in the Willamette Valley , the beginnings of tourism started along the coast. In 1911, governor Oswald West

6232-443: Was damaged by tidal surges from a tsunami on March 11, 2011. The largest surge was estimated to be nearly 8 feet (2.4 m). Boats were damaged, sunk, set adrift, and swept out to sea after many docks were torn away and pilings broken. The tsunami was caused by the 9.0 M W Tōhoku earthquake offshore of the east coast of Honshu Island , Japan. The damage was estimated at $ 25 million to $ 30 million. Brookings

6314-563: Was elected on the promise to reclaim Oregon's beaches as public land. Though the legislature favored the privatization of these lands, West was able to make an argument for public ownership based on the need for transportation, and in 1913, the Oregon legislature declared the entire length of the ocean shore from the Columbia to California as a state highway. Legislators also created the State Highway Commission , which began

6396-613: Was handled by blowing it up using dynamite. This has become the well-known exploding whale incident. Tidepools , which occur frequently along Oregon's rocky shores, are unique, contained ecosystems housing up to many hundreds of species of animal. Red , green , and brown algae are common sights. Many species of invertebrates can also be found in these coastal tidepools, and include sponges , sea anemones , mussels , sea stars , limpets , crabs , shrimp , barnacles , sea urchins , and sea cucumbers . Sunset Bay State Park , near Coos Bay, and Strawberry Hill, near Yachats, are among

6478-481: Was later involved in the Panama–Pacific International Exposition , to lay out the plat of the townsite. On September 9, 1942, Mount Emily near Brookings became the only site in the mainland United States and the second in the continental territory after the bombing of Dutch Harbor to suffer aerial bombardment during World War II . A Japanese floatplane piloted by Nobuo Fujita

6560-419: Was launched from submarine I-25 . The plane was armed with two incendiary bombs on a mission intended to start massive fires in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest. Fujita was invited to Brookings in 1962 and, as a token of friendship, gifted the city his 400-year-old family katana . Fujita later sponsored a trip to Japan for Brookings high school students and returned to the city three more times in

6642-588: Was made an honorary citizen of Brookings days before his death in September 1997. His sword is now on display at the Brookings Public Library. The coast is Oregon's top tourist destination. In the mid-1980s, the coast's economy was dependent on natural resources . Limits placed on logging and fishing caused further decline. As of the late 2000s, tourism and retirement have provided economic growth. As of 2006, roughly 210,000 people live on

6724-465: Was the site of the Lewis and Clark Expeditions winter stay on the Oregon Coast in 1805–1806, as well as the nearby Peter Iredale which was grounded on the Clatsop Spit 100 years later in September 1906. However, over one hundred and eighteen–one hundred and nineteen years of deterioration have destroyed much of the original ship. Now only a small portion remains above the sand. Both are part of

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