McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby (1820-1884), an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 32,187.
McMinnville is at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Yamhill River in the Willamette Valley. The city is home to Oregon Mutual Insurance Company, Linfield College, Cascade Steel, a (Schnitzer Steel Industries company), Organic Valley creamery, Wings and Waves Waterpark, Joe Dancer Park, and Evergreen Aviation Museum home of Howard Hughes' famed Spruce Goose flying boat.
Video McMinnville, Oregon
History
Town founder William T. Newby joined the Great Migration of 1843, later claiming land in 1844 on the present site of McMinnville in what was known as the Oregon Country. He built a grist mill in 1853 at what would become the west end of Third Street. On May 5, 1856 Newby platted a town and named it after his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee. Newby would later make a substantial donation of land for the founding of an institution of higher learning in the town, originally called McMinnville College but known today as Linfield College.
McMinnville was incorporated as a town in 1876 and became a city in 1882. County residents voted to move the county seat of Yamhill County from Lafayette to McMinnville in 1886.
Maps McMinnville, Oregon
Geography
McMinnville is 54 miles (87 km) from Lincoln City on the Pacific Ocean, 37 miles (60 km) from Portland, and 26 miles (42 km) from Salem, the state capital.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 10.58 square miles (27.40 km2), all of it land.
Economy
Since the 1990s, the majority of the vineyards of the Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) are in the area surrounding McMinnville, giving this city a claim to the title of the capital of Oregon's wine industry. In January 2005, a McMinnville AVA was established after an application from Youngberg Hill Vineyards. The AVA includes 14 wineries and 523 acres (2.12 km2) within the Willamette Valley AVA. The city is at the northeastern border of its AVA namesake.
In 2016, Organic Valley purchased Farmers Cooperative Creamery in McMinnville, Oregon. Closed and under major reconstruction, when the creamery re-opens it will serve 72 co-op members in Oregon and Washington. Organic Valley is the nation's largest farmer-owned organic cooperative and one of the world's largest organic consumer brands.
Like many other Oregon communities, McMinnville has vaulted into the craft beer scene. The newest brewery, Grain Station Brew Works, sits in the heart of the Granary District. Also, since 1993 McMinnville has been home of Golden Valley Brewery and Pub. Golden Valley Brewery and Pub serves Angus beef raised on their family ranch. There are only a dozen such restaurants in the United States that serve beef produced exclusively for their own restaurant.
McMinnville has been home to Cascade Steel, a Schnitzer Steel Industries company, for over 40 years. Cascade Steel Rolling Mills manufactures steel products. The McMinnville location features Steel Manufacturing, Sales along with Corporate Offices. Along with the Cascade Steel, the city of McMinnville is home to major domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers automobile dealerships. Automobile dealerships include Jeep, Ford, Subaru, General Motors, Buick, Chevrolet, Lincoln Motor Company, Toyota, Cadilac, Volkswagen, and Ram. Along with sales, service is available at most major automobile dealerships in the city.
In the early 60's, Kelton Peery, Chuck Colvin and Willard Cushing felt it was time for the city to have a private golf course and began to search for property. They soon persuaded Captain Francis Michelbook this was a proper use for his land, a dairy farm that was later used for raising turkeys. Captain Michelbook did have some conditions to proceed, one that it would perpetually bear the family name "Michelbook" and with the swipe of a pen was the beginning of Michelbook Country Club.
Michelbook Country Club was developed on the land of Captain Francis Michelbook. Land development in the area of the country club has been a key factor McMinnville's growth. "The first home on the golf course was built by John and Helen McMillan at 1811 St. Andrews Drive along the ninth fairway. The fourth addition was opened to help pay for a 35-par second nine and remodeling of four holes on the first nine. The cost of these improvements was $700,000. The second nine was opened on July 27, 1984 with Dr. Ross hitting the first drive."
Real estate continues to be an economic factor in the growth of McMinnville and Yamhill county. The median per square foot cost for real estate is now over $200.
Climate
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, McMinnville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 32,187 people, 11,674 households, and 7,779 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,042.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,174.6/km2). There were 12,389 housing units at an average density of 1,171.0 per square mile (452.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.2% White, 0.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 10.7% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.6% of the population.
There were 11,674 households of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.
The median age in the city was 34 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,499 people residing in the city, among 9,367 households and 6,463 families. The population density is 2,675.8 people per square mile (1,033.5/km²). There are 9,834 housing units at an average density of 993.0 per square mile (383.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 86.39% White, 1.39% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.68% Black or African American, and 0.18% Pacific Islander. 14.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 7.26% identify themselves as from other races, and 2.86% from two or more races.
There are 9,367 households out of which 35.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% are married couples living together, 10.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% are non-families. 23.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.13.
In the city, the population is spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 14.7% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $38,953, and the median income for a family is $44,013. Males have a median income of $33,517 versus $24,405 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,085. 12.9% of the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Turkey Rama is a three-day festival held in downtown McMinnville celebrating the ongoing tradition of the turkey barbecue. The barbecue was started in 1938 by turkey farmers in Yamhill County, when the county's main source of wealth was the booming turkey-farming industry. Today, commercial exhibitions have replaced the "turkey exhibitions", and the turkey-judging competitions and turkey races have been eliminated in favor of more "turkey-friendly" rides, booths, and outdoor entertainment.
The International Pinot Noir Celebration has been held every July since 1987 on the Linfield College campus. The IPNC is a three-day event, famous around the globe as a mecca for lovers of Pinot noir and northwest cuisine. World-renowned winemakers, northwest chefs, media, epicures and wine lovers gather at Linfield for three days of exploring Pinot noir, savoring inspired cuirsine and learning and celebrating with luminaries of the food and wine world.
The Dragging the Gut Festival is a two-day event held annually in downtown McMinnville on the fourth weekend in August (August 24-25, 2018). The festival gives participants the chance to relive the classic 1950s car cruising on the main street that took place for decades in small towns. The Dragging the Gut Festival's Car Show is a traditional sitting car show held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Saturday (August 25, 2018) of the Dragging the Gut Festival. The car show section of the annual festival is held in McMinnville at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. The car show is a side event of the festival before the Saturday main cruising event.
Established in 1993, the Sip! McMinnville Wine & Food Classic is a three-day event held at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum benefiting the St. James School of McMinnville. It features local winemakers and vintners alongside chefs from the Pacific Northwest, and attendees can taste and purchase wine along with a variety of culinary offerings.
Museums and other points of interest
The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville is best known as the home of the Spruce Goose, the world's largest propeller-driven seaplane, built by the famed aviator Howard Hughes. The museum, home to another 80 historic aircraft and exhibits, is a pair of large symmetrical buildings with glass facades, a local landmark which can be seen for miles. Additional major exhibits include a SR-71 "Blackbird", a Titan II SLV Missile (with its launch control center), and a Grumman F6F3 "Hellcat." There is also an "IMAX class" digital 3D theater, the Wings & Waves indoor waterpark (containing wave pool, 4 slides emerging from 747 on building's roof, and educational displays), and the newly built Boy Scout Jamboree park. The space museum houses classrooms for the Engineering and Aerospace Academy of McMinnville High School.
McMinnville UFO photographs
McMinnville is known among UFO researchers for photographs published on the front page of the June 9, 1950, edition of the city's newspaper, the News-Register (then known as the Telephone-Register), reportedly of an unidentified flying object seen almost a month earlier, May 11. The Oregonian published the photographs the next day, and within a month they were published in LIFE magazine.
Although these images have come to be known as the "McMinnville UFO photographs", the Trent farm was just outside Sheridan, Oregon, nine miles (15 km) southwest of McMinnville. The heated debate which followed between UFO researchers and skeptics made the town's name famous and has spurred an annual "UFO Festival" in McMinnville, the second largest such gathering in the United States to that of Roswell, New Mexico.
Parks and recreation
McMinnville Community Center is headquarters for the McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department, which administers 18 parks throughout the city. The largest city park is the 100-acre sports field complex and community park named after a longtime city manager Joe Dancer. Joe Dancer Park has a dozen baseball and softball fields. The park also features soccer fields, playground equipment, and the Drew Ottley Memorial Skate Park.
Additionally since 1956 the McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department has overseen the Aqautic Center which includes two indoor swimming pools, a hot tub and the Fitness Center. The Aquatic Center is home of the McMinnville High School Grizzly Swim Team and the McMinnville Swim Club. McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department partners with Chemeketa Community College as students may earn college credits through the use of the Aquatic Center.
On the outskirts of McMinnville is the Bayou Golf Course. Bayou Golf Course is a 9 Hole Regulation Par 3 Course with a Driving Range along with Putting & Chipping Practice Area. Bayou Golf Course offers a Junior Golfer program include age 5+ on the Par 3, age 8+ on the Regulation Course. The Bayou Golf course was established in 1964 by Dr. White and Family and is situated along the South Yamhill River. Winter rainfall makes the course ideal for play from Spring until late fall along tree lined fairways, bunkers, and water features.
Michelbook is a private golf club offering a beautiful, 18-hole 6,550 yard, par 72 championship golf course. The golf course has 5 sets of tees to suit any playing ability, a driving range, practice facility, golf shop and a Class A PGA Professional.
City Park is within walking distance from the downtown business district. It opened 1910, when the city sold $3,000 in park bonds to finance construction of a bandstand and a small zoo featuring bears, deer and other local animals. Near the site of Lower City Park, along Cozine Creek, there was a large flour mill, called the Star Mill that closed in 1921 and was damaged by fire in 1927. The City of McMinnville sold $8,500 in bonds to finance the purchase of the property. The tract ran from Star Mill Way to Cozine Creek and West Second Street, to the Mill pond site. The pond site is now occupied by tennis courts. Wortman Park is a large forested park with a small stream running through it. A disc golf course was installed 1991 and is home to the annual Squirrel Open, an Oregon Disc Sports Association's Oregon Series tournament.
Education
McMinnville is served by the McMinnville School District. McMinnville High School (MHS) is a comprehensive high school with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students. At one point McMinnville was home to two campus locations, McMinnville High School and Media Arts & Communications Academy (MACA). MACA campus location closed in 2011. Along with MHS, the school district offers two middle schools and five elementary schools in the city. MSD is also charged with the oversight, administration, and maintenance of Wascher Elementary in neighboring town of Lafayette, Oregon.
The McMinnville school district is nearing a student population of nearly 7,000 children. It serves an area of 140 square miles and over 40,000 residents. The McMinnville School District's superintendent is Maryalice Russel. The state of Oregon abolished the office of state Superintendent in 2011 thereby ending a 138-year oversight of schools in the state.
Linfield College and the McMinnville campus of Chemeketa Community College are institutions of higher education that provide adult-education degree programs. Linfield College also has campus facilities in Portland while the main campus of Chemeketa Community College is in Salem, Oregon. Linfield College sits at the center of the city on nearly 200 acres. The college boasts in 48 majors to over 2,000 students. The athletic program is part of the Northwest Conference, NCAA Division III and rosters 19 varsity sports along with intercollegiate sports and activities for the student population.
Private schools in McMinnville include the McMinnville Montessori School, McMinnville Christian Academy and St. James Catholic Elementary School.
Media
- News Register - local paper
- The Linfield Review - Linfield College student paper
- The Bruin - McMinnville High School student paper
- McMinnville Community Media - community television
- KKJC-LP 93.5 FM - Christian talk radio operated by Calvary Chapel of McMinnville
- KLYC 1260 AM
- KSLC 90.3 FM - Linfield College student radio
Infrastructure
Transportation
McMinnville is on Oregon Route 99W approximately 38 miles (61 km) south of downtown Portland and approximately 46 miles (74 km) north of Corvallis. Oregon Route 18 forms a bypass around the city along its southern border and connects McMinnville with the Oregon Coast just north of Lincoln City approximately 55 miles (89 km) west. Oregon Highway 18 is also known as Three Mile Lane from its McMinnville city center interchange east to the McMinnville Municipal Airport. The southern end of Oregon Route 47 is just northeast of city limits and connects McMinnville with Washington County.
Major thoroughfares in McMinnville are Highway 99W and Adams and Baker Streets which form a north-south couplet through the center of the town; Lafayette Avenue (which was at one time the route of U.S. Highway 99W), East Third Street (the main street through the downtown core), and West Second Street (the main street connecting downtown with the western residential areas). Baker Creek Road, Evans Street, Riverside Drive, South Davis Street, Fellows Street, Cypress Street and Booth Bend Road are also important collector streets connecting industrial or residential areas with the downtown core or the primary arterial streets.
McMinnville Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the City of McMinnville. McMinnville Airport is home to Evergreen International Aviation and a fixed-base operator. While it primarily is used by private pilots and the occasional private jet, it can handle larger aircraft. For example, Evergreen Airlines flew in an empty 747-100 cargo aircraft into the airport so it could be used as part of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum's water park feature.
The Portland & Western Railroad serves McMinnville on its Westside Branch. Major railroad shippers include Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Land O'Lakes Purina LLC, RB Rubber Products and McMinnville Gas. P&W maintains a depot in downtown McMinnville, itself a remnant from the Red Electric interurban passenger service which served McMinnville from 1914-1929. McMinnville is a hub for P&W, with trains operating between McMinnville and Newberg, Willamina, Dallas and Albany.
Historically, McMinnville had a landing for riverboats traveling up the Yamhill River. The Yamhill Lock near Lafayette helped facilitate river navigation up to McMinnville. However, the use of the Yamhill River for commercial purposes was short-lived; the city's only recreational boat dock has been unusable for years. River levels are unpredictable and difficult for boaters (water levels can be very high in winter and very low in summer).
Public Transit is provided by the Yamhill County Transit Area. Three city routes provide Monday-Friday service starting at 6:30 AM and continuing through 7:50 PM. A Saturday "Loop" runs from 10:00 AM through 6:00 PM. YCTA also provides intercity service to all communities in Yamhill County on four different routes; hourly weekday and infrequent Saturday service to Newberg and Tigard, and weekday commuter trips to Hillsboro and Salem.
Intercity bus service is also provided by Caravan Airport Transportation and Valley Retriever between Portland and Newport, each with one daily trip in each direction stopping in McMinnville. Greyhound Bus formerly served McMinnville until 2004 with a stop on its Portland-San Francisco route, ending nearly 80 years of service on the route dating back to the Southern Pacific Railroad's rail and bus passenger service.
Water and electricity
Since 1888, the city has been served by McMinnville Water and Light, a municipal utility.
Health care
Willamette Valley Medical Center, along the outskirts of McMinnville, is an 88-bed acute-care, full-service facility, accredited by The Joint Commission.
Notable people
- Scott Brosius - World Series MVP Award-winning baseball player
- Jim Bunn - Oregon politician
- Troy Calhoun - football head coach, Air Force
- Catt family - 21st Century bank-robbing family
- Beverly Cleary - children's author, National Book Award and Newbery Medal recipient
- Verne Duncan - Oregon and Idaho politician
- Matthew Haughey - noted blogger
- Bill Krueger - Major League Baseball and senior baseball analyst for FSN Northwest
- Ehren McGhehey - Jackass cast member
- Joe Paterson - Major League Baseball pitcher for Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ad Rutschman - College Football Hall of Fame coach
- Ross Shafer - comedian, television host, and motivational speaker
- Raemer Schreiber - physics pioneer that worked at Los Alamos during WWII
- Charlie Sitton - former professional basketball player
- Will Vinton - Oscar-winning director and producer of animated films
References
External links
- Media related to McMinnville, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons
- Entry for McMinnville from the Oregon Blue Book
- "McMinnville". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
- William T. Newby at Find a Grave
- Visit McMinnville
Source of article : Wikipedia