West Linn is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon. It was named after Senator Dr. Lewis Fields Linn of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, who had advocated the American occupation of Oregon as a counterclaim to the British. As of the 2000 census, the city has grown to a total population of 22,261.
West Linn is located at 45°21'55" North, 122°38'28" West (45.365201, -122.641024).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.5 km2 (7.9 mi2). 19.1 km2 (7.4 mi2) of it is land and 1.3 km2 (0.5 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 6.57% water. West Linn is nestled between the Wiillamette and Tualatin rivers with hills rising, sometimes rapidly, from the river banks. The area near the two rivers was, generally speaking, settled first, with later development climbing the more inland hills. Barrington Heights, is an inland area of expansive mansions, whereas the Willamette District, near the spot where the Tualatin river flows into the Willamette river, features older homes and commercial buildings, some of which are historic.
The Camassia Natural Area, in central West Linn, displays a dramatic landscape sculpted by prehistoric floods and hosting an extraordinary floral diversity including rare plants and uncommon wetland and grassland communities.
As of the census of 2000, there are 22,261 people, 8,161 households, and 6,275 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,163.1/km2 (3,013.7/mi2). There are 8,697 housing units at an average density of 454.4/km2 (1,177.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 93.32% White, 0.54% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 2.87% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,161 households out of which 41.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% are non-families. 18.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.72 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $72,010, and the median income for a family is $83,252. Males have a median income of $61,458 versus $38,733 for females. The per capita income for the city is $34,671. 3.9% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.6% of those under the age of 18 and 4.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Major Robert Moore arrived in 1839 having been the senior member of the first attempt to create an American colony in Oregon, the Peoria Party. His title stems from his military service in the War of 1812, where he served in the Pennsylvania militia, possibly as a battlefield surgeon. Sometime after journeying around the Willamette Valley and Columbia Basin, Moore bought title to approx. 1,000 acres (4 km2) on the west side of the Willamette Falls, across the Willamette River from Oregon City, from a local Native American chief named Wanax-ha, on which he platted a town known as the Robbin's Nest in early 1843. He also filed a provisional claim with the then government of the Oregon Country, not knowing if his unique transaction would be honored by the eventual governing laws. The later Territorial Legislature of Oregon voted to rename it Linn City on December 22, 1845 as a memorial to Dr./Sr. Lewis Fields Linn for whom Linn County is also named. Dr. Linn was a neighbor and family friend of the Moores from their time as settlers in the early Missouri Territory. For many years Linn City was an intense political and commercial rival to the adjacent town of Oregon City but it suffered a series of natural and manmade setbacks, including Moore's death in September of 1857. A great flood put an end to the pioneer settlement in November, 1861 disbursing many of the surviving family members throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, the seminal village site was later redeveloped as a locked canal and industrial complex decades later and the descendant companies still function to this day.
The current West Linn, incorporated in 1913 and merged with the adjacent town of Willamette in 1916, includes the former townsites/developments of Bolton, Multnomah City, Sunset City, and West Oregon City.
Early 2000's West Linn politics were marked by conflict between no-growth advocates and their adversaries. From the November 2000 to the November 2004 elections a no-growth advocate, David Dodds, held office as mayor and was supported by a city council having similar thinking. In the 2004 elections, however, this group was swept out of office as Norm King and a like minded city council took control on a platform of easing anti-growth controls. The Dodds-led city government also hired John Ellison as police chief. Chief Ellison was quickly embroiled in controversy as several police officers left the force and accepted employment elsewhere. In 2005, after two and one-half years on the job, Mr. Ellison resigned.
On September 20, 2005, voters agreed to annex three parcels of land to the city, totalling 13 acres.
Source:
WestLinnOregon.com
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