Forest Grove, Oregon

Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland, within the Tualatin Valley. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a commuter town in the Portland metro area. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850, then incorporated in 1872, making it the first city in Washington County.
The population was 26,225 at the 2020 census, an increase of 8% over 2010 figure.
Pacific University is located here. Old College Hall on campus, and nine other sites in the city, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Prior to the 1840s when Euro-Americans settled the area, the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya Native American tribe lived on the Tualatin Plains in what is now Forest Grove. In 1841, Alvin T. and Abigail Smith were among the earliest to use the Oregon Trail and settled on what was first known as West Tualatin Plain. They overwintered with Henry Harmon Spalding, arriving in what is now Forest Grove in the fall. Intending to be missionaries, they found little potential as most of the natives had succumbed to European diseases. Smith served as the community's first postmaster beginning on February 1, 1850, and his log cabin served as the post office.
According to Oregon Geographic Names, the name Forest Grove was selected on January 10, 1851, at a meeting of the trustees of Tualatin Academy. Resident and school trustee J. Quinn Thornton suggested the name, which he also had used for the name of his homestead. The name referred to a grove of oak trees that still stand on what is now the campus of the university. Previous post offices in the area were called Tuality Plains and Tualatin, with Forest Grove adopted on December 31, 1858. The city was platted in 1850.
In 1860, the population reached 430, but declined to 396 in 1870. Forest Grove was incorporated by the state in 1872, the first in the county. In 1880, the now Chemawa Indian School opened in the city to forcibly assimilate Native American children, but moved to Salem in 1884. The city started the Fire Department in 1894. The population reached nearly 1,300 in 1900.
In November 1908, the Oregon Electric Railway began serving the city, and in January 1914, competitor Southern Pacific followed suit, opening its own line, separate from OE's. Both railroads provided freight and passenger service, SP's passenger service being known as the Red Electric. A company called the Forest Grove Transportation Company operated local streetcar service that linked downtown to Carnation, Oregon, where the Oregon & California Railroad built its depot, but the service lasted only from 1906 to 1911. The Red Electric passenger service to Forest Grove ended in 1929 and Oregon Electric's ceased in 1932.
In February 2016, a high-pitched, hissing noise called the Forest Grove Sound was heard by several residents of the town.
The Oregon Army National Guard's 218th Field [Artillery Regiment (United States)|2nd Battalion-218th Field Artillery Regiment] is headquartered in Forest Grove.

Geography

Forest Grove is located on the western edge of the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
One of the largest Giant Sequoia trees of the state of Oregon can be found in Forest Grove.

Climate

This region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Forest Grove has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Forest Grove had a population of 26,225 and 9,103 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.3 years, with 23.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.1% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.
As of the 2020 census, 99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 9,010 households in Forest Grove, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.3% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 9,356 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.5% were owner-occupied and 40.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.
As of the 2020 census, 14.3% of residents identified as someone with a disability.

Race	Number	Percent
White	17,885	68.2%
Black or African American	266	1.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native	338	1.3%
Asian	709	2.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	82	0.3%
Some other race	3,559	13.6%
Two or more races	3,386	12.9%
Hispanic or Latino	7,153	27.3%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 21,083 people, 7,385 households, and 4,871 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 7,845 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 78.8% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 12.5% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.1% of the population.
There were 7,385 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.31.
The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,708 people, 6,336 households, and 4,131 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 6,702 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 81.46% White, 0.43% African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.24% Pacific Islander, 11.39% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.31% of the population.
There are 6,336 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the city the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,135, and the median income for a family was $47,733. Males had a median income of $36,139 versus $25,703 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,992. About 10.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

There are 12 properties individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and two historic districts: the 18-block Clark Historic District with homes dating as far back as 1854 and the Painter's Woods Historic District. These include the Alvin T. Smith House, First [Church of Christ, Scientist (Forest Grove, Oregon)|First Church of Christ, Scientist], and Old College Hall.
Annual events include a sidewalk chalk art festival, and a holiday light parade.
Valley Arts Association, established in 1966, is one of the oldest nonprofit, volunteer associations in the Pacific Northwest. Its gallery sells member art, and offers art classes.
The Star Theatre, built in 1912, featured films and live productions. A community theater company performs there.

Education

is a private university in Forest Grove. Notable buildings include Old College Hall and Marsh Hall.
Forest Grove, as well as Gales Creek, Dilley, and portions of Cornelius, are all part of the Forest Grove School District.

Media

Newspapers

Film location

In the 1990s, filming for the television show, Nowhere Man, took place in Forest Grove numerous times. In 2015, an episode of The Librarians was filmed at Pacific University and two other sites in Forest Grove. The city's Forest Theater hosted a free public screening of the episode at the same time it aired on TV. The 2019 series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists was filmed in Forest Grove, mostly at Pacific University.

Infrastructure

Highways

Highways include Oregon Route 8 and Oregon Route 47.

Public transportation

Bus service is provided by TriMet and Yamhill County Transit Area. Ride Connection provides free, non-profit bus service called "GroveLink" in suburban areas.