Klamath Falls

Klamath Falls is a city in and the county seat of Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The city was originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867. It was named after the Link River, on whose falls the city was sited. The population was 21,813 at the 2020 census. The name may be a variation of the descriptive native for "people" [in Chinookan] used by the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau to refer to the region. In reality it is best described as rapids rather than falls. The rapids are visible a short distance below the link River Dam, where the water flow is generally insufficient to provide water flow over the river rocks. During World War II, a Japanese-American internment camp, the Tule Lake War Relocation Center, was located in nearby Newell, California, and a satellite of the Camp White POW camp near the town of Tulelake, California. In May 1945 a Japanese Fu-Go balloon bomb killed a woman and five children on a church outing. This is said to be the only Japanese-inflicted casualty on the US mainland during the war.Timber harvesting through the use of railroad was extensive in the first few decades of the 20th century. With the arrival of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1909, a few hundred to a few thousand lumber mills cut fir and pine. Dozens of northern spotted owl and other endangered species were spotted in the late 1980s.

Etymology

Klamath Falls is the primary city name, but also Oretech are acceptable city names or spellings, Kfalls, Kingsley Field, Worden on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. The name Klamath may be a variation of the descriptive native for "people" [in Chinookan] used by the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau to refer to the region. No evidence suggests that the name is ofKlamath origin. The Klamaths themselves called the region Yulalona or Iwauna, which referred to the phenomenon of the Link River flowing upstream when the south wind blew hard. In reality it is best described as rapids rather than falls. The rapids are visible a short distance below the Link river Dam, where the water flow is generally insufficient to provide water flow over the river rocks. The name was changed from Linkville in 1867 to Klamat Falls in 189293. It is now known as the most popular tourist attraction in the U.S. and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been the site of the World Cup 2014, the Winter Olympics, the Summer Olympics, and the Winter Paralympic Games. It also hosts the World Series of Ice Hockey, which began in 2010. The 2014 Winter Olympics are the first to be held in the United States since 1998. The games will be held on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in South Africa. The opening ceremony will take place on July 4, 2014, at 8:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.M. ET) and will be followed by the Closing Ceremony on July 5, 2014. The event will be broadcast live on the following day on the ABC television channel.

History

The Klamath Reclamation Project began in 1906 to drain marshland and move water to allow for agriculture. 90% of Trinity River water is diverted for California agriculture. In May 1945 a Japanese Fu-Go balloon bomb killed a woman and five children on a church outing. The city made national headlines in 2001 when a court decision was made to shut off irrigation water on April 6 because of Endangered Species Act requirements. The Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker were listed on the Federal Endangered species List in 1988, and when drought struck in 2001, a panel of scientists stated that further diversion of water for agriculture would be detrimental to these species, as well as to the protected Coho salmon. Geothermal energy is located in a known geothermal resource district in the downtown area. In 2021, tensions between locals and the Federal Government led to local farmers to purchase land at the headgates in Klamaths Falls, OR. These farmers have ties to the Ammon Bundy People's Rights organization and are preparing for a potential standoff with the government. The area has been used directly for geothermal heating since the early 1900s. The town is located on the Oregon-California border. The Applegate Trail was blazed in 1846 from west to east in an attempt to provide a safer route for emigrants to the Oregon Trail. The first non-Indigenous colonizer is considered to have been Wallace Baldwin, a 19-year-old civilian who drove fifty head of horses in the valley in 1852. In 1867, George Nurse, named the small settlement "Linkville", because of Link River north of Lake Ewauna.

Geography

Klamath Falls is known as "Oregon's City of Sunshine" because the area enjoys 300 days of sun per year. The area is a high desert and features a climate with cold, snowy winters along with hot summer afternoons and cool summer nights. Under the Köppen climate classification the city's climate type is Csb, often described as warm summer Mediterranean. The older part of the city is located above natural geothermal springs. These have been used for the heating of homes and streets, primarily in the downtown area. The city has a total area of 20.66 square miles (53.51 km²) and the elevation is 4,094 feet (1,248 m) It has a dry season in summertime, with the greatest precipitation occurring in wintertime, a substantial proportion falling as snow. The wettest "rain year" has been from July 1955 to June 1956 with 21.78 inches (553.2 mm), and the driest from July 1954 to June 1955 with 6.09 inches (154.7 mm). Annual snowfall averages around 36.5 inches (93 cm), with the most on record being 100.6 inches (256 cm) between July 1955 and June 1956. On average 21 days per year reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher, and two nights a year reach temperatures of 0 °F or lower. The freeze-free season averages around 120 days. The first freeze in a typical year is on September 21, and the last freeze is on June 1. The all-time record high is 105°F (40.6 °C), set on July 27, 1911.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,840 people, 8,542 households and 4,876 families residing in the city. The immediate neighboring Census Designated Place of Altamont, Oregon had a population of 19,257. The racial makeup of the city was 83.4% White, 1.0% African American, 4.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.5% from other races, and 5.0%. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.8% of the population. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was2.98. The median income for a household in theCity was $28,498, and the median income. for a family was $37,021. The per capita income for the city is $16,710. About 21.9% of residents and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line, including 26% of those 18 and 9.5%. The city's median age was 33.6 years, and its gender makeup was 49% male and 50.7% female. The city has a population density of 1,052.0 inhabitants per square mile (406.2/km²) and a population age distribution of 23.6 to 44 years of age (8.5 to 24). The city is located in the Pacific Northwest and is part of the Oregon Coast Ranges.

Government and politics

Klamath Falls is a home rule municipality under the Oregon Constitution. It has been governed by a councilmanager form of government since 1972. The city council, which is nonpartisan, has five members, each elected from one of the five wards. The mayor, who is nonpartisan and serves a term of four years, presides over all city council meetings. For the purpose of representation in the state legislature, the city is located in the 28th Senate district, represented by Republican Dennis Linthicum, and in the 56th House district, representing Republican E. Werner Reschke. The municipal judge and the city attorney are appointed on the same basis. The current city manager is Jonathan Teichert, who was appointed by the council and serves an indefinite term at the council's pleasure. The town is in Oregon's 2nd congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+10 and is represented by GOP Cliff Bentz. It is also in the 7th state district, where it is in the 8th state Senate district and the 9th state House district. It was the site of the World War II-era Battle of the Bulge, in which the U.S. Army used the town as a staging ground for the Battle of Gettysburg. Klamath falls is located on the Oregon-California border, and is on the border of Washington state. It's in the eastern part of Oregon's Willamette Valley, and the town is near the town of Grants Pass.

Economy

Sky Lakes Medical Center is the largest employer in the area. Other major employers are JELD-WEN, Collins Products, Columbia Forest Products, iQor, Klamath Falls City School District and the Oregon Institute of Technology. The area is home to more than 2,000 people. The town has a population of about 3,000. The economy is based on manufacturing, construction and agriculture. The city's population is about 2,200 people, according to the town's 2010 population estimate. It is the second-largest town in the state, after Portland, Oregon, with 2,400 people. It was the largest city in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s, with 3,200 residents. It has been the largest town in Oregon since 1988. The population has grown from 1,200 to 3,100 in the past 20 years. The growth has been fueled by the growth of the town and the state's economy. It also has been driven by the development of the region's natural resources. The region's population has been growing at a faster rate than the rest of the state in the last few years, with more than 1,300 people living in the town. The county's economy has grown at a rate of about 1.5 percent per year. The state's unemployment rate is about 3.7 percent, the lowest in the United States. The unemployment rate for the region is about 0.7 per cent. It's the lowest for the state since 2000.

Military airbase

Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, also known as Crater LakeKlamath Regional Airport, was established in 1928. It is home to the 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron - 173rd Fighter Wing. The squadron currently flies F-15 C/D Variants. It has the second largest runway in Oregon (10,301 by 150 feet (3,140 by 46 meters) wide) and was listed as a backup landing strip for the Space Shuttle. It's normal to hear the aircraft throughout Klamath Falls during daylight hours. The base is located in the Cascade Range of Oregon, near the town of Lathrop, and is about 60 miles north of the city of Portland. The airbase has a population of about 2,000 people, mostly from Oregon and Washington. It was established as a military airbase in 1928, but is now home to a National Guard squadron. It also serves as a base for the Oregon Air National Guards, which are stationed at Kingsley Field airbase, near Lathrope, Oregon, and at Klamaths Falls, Oregon. In the summer, the airbase is used as a training ground for the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the Oregon National Guard, which is based at the base in Lathrosa, Oregon and at the nearby town of Klamatha, Oregon in the winter, the base is used by the Oregon Army National Guard and Oregon State Air National guards, who use the base as a staging base.

Education

Klamath Falls and the surrounding area are served by Klamath County School District and the Klamaths Falls City School District. The town is also served by the Oregon Institute of Technology and the College of Cosmetology. It is located in the Cascade Range of the Cascade Mountains. The city has a population of about 2,000. It was founded in 1872 and is located on the base of Mount Lassen, which was once the tallest peak in the U.S. at the time of its founding. It has been the site of several major events, including the World Series and the Winter Olympics. It also has been known as the birthplace of President Theodore Roosevelt and President Abraham Lincoln, and is known as one of the most scenic towns in the United States. The community is served by two school districts: Klamatha County and Klamathlon City. The area also has a number of colleges and universities, including Oregon State University, Oregon State Community College, and the University of California, San Francisco. The City of Lathrop is the location of the town's only high school, which opened its doors in 1876. The school district has two high schools, one for boys and one for girls. The high school has a junior high and a senior high school. In the town, there are three high schools and one middle school. The district has a high school and one junior high. The highest school is the high school which opened in 1878. The local high school is in the town.

Recreation

The OC&E Woods Line State Trail is a rail trail in the city and is the longest state park in Oregon. Crater Lake National Park is 50 miles (80 km) north of Klamath Falls and 33-mile (53 km) Rim Drive, which circles the lake, is a favorite of cyclists. Winter cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the park is also popular. The more-than-mile-high CraterLake Marathon is an annual event. Lava Beds National Monument is about 30 miles (48 km) to the southeast of Klimath Falls near the town of Tulelake, California. Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area, one of the first designated wilderness areas in the U.S., lies just to the west of Krimath Falls, providing opportunities for backpacking and fishing in its mountain lakes. The nearby Running Y Ranch Resort & hotel features a golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and an ice skating arena. There is also a canoe trail through the wildlife refuge at Rocky Point. A large number of bald eagles winter in Bear Valley, located 10 miles (16 km) west of the Falls, near Keno. The American white pelican shows in great numbers in summer, and the Pacific Flyway is a popular destination for waterfowl and raptors in the fall and winter. The city is home to a Veterans Memorial Park located downtown along the shore of Lake Ewauna. It is also home to the Oregon State Museum, which is open from May 1 to October 1.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon = 8.5. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 56. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Klamath Falls = 3.2 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 4,574 individuals with a median age of 35.4 age the population grows by 1.08% in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,086.30 residents per square mile of area (419.43/km²). There are average 2.36 people per household in the 7,908 households with an average household income of $36,468 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 12.40% of the available work force and has dropped -3.53% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 20.54%. The number of physicians in Klamath Falls per 100,000 population = 164.2.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Klamath Falls = 13.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 37.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 86. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 218. 85 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 21.1 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 71, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon which are owned by the occupant = 45.13%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 51 years with median home cost = $119,300 and home appreciation of -11.16%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $9.41 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,939 per student. There are 19 students for each teacher in the school, 514 students for each Librarian and 472 students for each Counselor. 5.97% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 12.97% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 7.64% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).