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Eugene Oregon)
The city of Eugene is the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about 60 miles (100 km) east of the Oregon Coast. According to the official 2007 population figures[4] Eugene is the second largest city in the state of Oregon, with an estimated population of 153,690, and the third largest metropolitan population. Eugene had long been the state's second largest city after Portland, but was overtaken by Salem in terms of population from around 2004 to 2006.[5][6]
Eugene is home to the University of Oregon. The city is also noted for its natural beauty, activist political leanings, alternative lifestyles, recreation opportunities (especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking), and arts focus. Eugene's motto is "The World's Greatest City of the Arts and Outdoors." It is also referred to as "The Emerald Empire," "The Emerald City," "The People's Republic of Eugene," and "Track Town, USA" or "The Track Capital of the World." The Nike corporation had its beginnings in Eugene.
History
Eugene is named after its founder, Eugene Franklin Skinner. In 1846, Skinner erected the first cabin in the area. It was used as a trading post and was registered as an official post office on January 8, 1850. At this time the location was known as Skinner's Mudhole.[7] Skinner founded Eugene in 1862 and later ran a ferry service across the Willamette River where the Ferry Street Bridge now stands.
The first major educational institution in the area was Columbia College. It was founded in the same general area as, and a few years earlier than, the University of Oregon. It fell victim to two different major fires over four years, and after the second fire it was decided not to rebuild again. The part of south Eugene known as as College Hill was the former location of Columbia College. There is no college there today.
The town raised the initial funding to start a public University, which later became the University of Oregon, with the hope of turning the small town into a cultural center of learning. In 1872, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill ratifying the University. The nearby town of Albany was Eugene's biggest competitor to provide a home for this institute. In 1873, community member J. H. D. Henderson donated the hilltop land for the campus, overlooking the city. The University first opened in 1876 with the regents electing the first faculty and naming John Wesley Johnson as president. The first students registered on 16 October 1876. It would not be until 1877 that the first building would be completed; it would be later known as Deady Hall (for the first Board of Regents President and community leader Judge Matthew P. Deady.) The University of Oregon has been a leader in diversity since its very beginning; its inaugural class included two Japanese students.
Willamette Street circa 1920
Eugene is the home of Oregon's largest publicly owned water and power utility, the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB). This institution got its start in the first decade of the 20th century after a typhoid epidemic was traced to the groundwater supply. Eugene condemned the private utility and began treating river water (first the Willamette, but now the McKenzie) for domestic use. EWEB got into the electric business when power was needed for the water pumps and excess electricity was used for street lighting.
Geography and climate
Geography
Eugene is located at 44°3′28″N, 123°6′37″W (44.057663, -123.110345) at an elevation of 426 feet.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.6 square miles (105.0 km²)[8]. 40.5 square miles (104.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 sq mi or 0.10%) of it is water.
To the north of downtown is Skinner Butte park. Hendricks Park, situated upon a knoll to the east of downtown, is known for its Rhododendron Garden and nearby memorial to Steve Prefontaine, known as Pre's Rock, where the legendary University of Oregon runner was killed in an auto accident. Alton Baker Park, along the Willamette river contains Pre's Trail and Owens Rose Garden. A climb up Spencer Butte, south of the city, offers a look at Eugene and the headwaters of Amazon Creek, a waterway running from the butte to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Mount Pisgah Arboretum, to the east, is another large and special park, and host to the annual mushroom festival.
Eugene contains urban forest. The University of Oregon campus is itself an arboretum, with over 500 species of trees. The city operates and maintains scenic hiking trails that pass through and across the ridges of a cluster of hills in the southern portion of the city, on the fringe of residential neighborhoods. Some trails allow biking and others are for hikers and runners only.
The Willamette and McKenzie rivers run through Eugene and neighboring city, Springfield.
Climate
Like the rest of the Willamette Valley, Eugene lies in the Marine west coast climate zone, with some characteristics of the Mediterranean climate. Temperatures are mild year round, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Spring and fall are also moist seasons, with light rain falling for long periods of time. Winter snowfall does occur, but it is sporadic and rarely accumulates in large amounts. Eugene's mean annual temperature is 52.1 °F (11.2 °C);[9] its annual rainfall is 50.9 inches (1293 mm). Eugene is actually slightly colder on average than Portland, despite being located about 100 miles (approx. 160 km) south and having only a marginally higher elevation. Eugene's average July low temperature is 52.7 °F (11.5 °C),[10] while Portland's average July low is 56.5 °F (13.6 °C).[11] Average winter temperatures (and summer high temperatures) are similar for the two cities. This disparity may be largely caused by Portland's urban heat island, where the combination of black pavement and urban energy use can actually raise the temperature. A lesser heat island may also exist in the immediate downtown of Eugene.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rec High °F |
67 |
72 |
78 |
86 |
93 |
102 |
105 |
108 |
103 |
94 |
76 |
68 |
| Norm High °F |
46.5 |
50.7 |
55.9 |
60.6 |
66.8 |
73.3 |
81.5 |
81.9 |
76.6 |
64.6 |
52.1 |
45.7 |
| Norm Low °F |
33 |
34.9 |
36.7 |
38.9 |
42.7 |
47 |
50.8 |
50.8 |
46.7 |
40.5 |
37.2 |
33.3 |
| Rec Low °F |
-4 |
-3 |
20 |
27 |
28 |
32 |
39 |
38 |
31 |
17 |
12 |
-12 |
| Precip (in) |
7.65 |
6.35 |
5.8 |
3.66 |
2.66 |
1.53 |
0.64 |
0.99 |
1.54 |
3.35 |
8.44 |
8.29 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com [1] |
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 137,893 people, 58,110 households, and 31,321 families residing in the city. As of July 1, 2003, the US Census Bureau estimated the population of Eugene to be 142,185. The city's population is expected to further grow to 228,400 within the next 10 years. The population density was 3,403.2 people per square mile (1,313.9/km²). There were 61,444 housing units at an average density of 1,516.4/sq mi (585.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.15% White, 3.57% Asian, 1.25% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 3.72% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 58,110 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city, the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,850, and the median income for a family was $48,527. Males had a median income of $35,549 versus $26,721 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,315. About 8.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
In 1944, Eugene adopted a council-manager form of government, replacing the day-to-day management of city affairs by the part-time mayor and volunteer city council with a full-time professional city manager. The subsequent history of Eugene city government has largely been one of the dynamics—often contentious—between the city manager, the mayor and city council.
Ten people have held the city manager position. These include Deane Seeger (1945-49), Oren King (1949-53), Robert Finlayson (1953-59), Hugh McKinley (1959-75), Charles Henry (1975-80), Mike Gleason (1981-96), Vicki Elmer (1996-98), Jim Johnson (1998-2002), Dennis Taylor (2002-2007), Angel Jones (2007-2008), and Jon Ruiz (2008-present).
Recent mayors include Edwin Cone (1958-69), Les Anderson (1969-77) Gus Keller (1977-84), Brian Obie (1985-88), Jeff Miller (1989-92), Ruth Bascom (1993-96), Jim Torrey (1997-2004), and Kitty Piercy (2005-present).
Eugene City Council:
Mayor: Kitty Piercy
- Ward 1 - Bonny Bettman
- Ward 2 - Betty Taylor
- Ward 3 - Alan Zelenka
- Ward 4 - George Poling
- Ward 5 - Mike Clark
- Ward 6 - Jennifer Solomon
- Ward 7 - Andrea Ortiz
- Ward 8 - Chris Pryor
City Manager: Jon Ruiz (April 14, 2008)[12][13]
Economy
The largest employers are the University of Oregon, local government, and Sacred Heart Medical Center. Eugene's largest industries are wood products manufacturing and recreational vehicle manufacturing.
Corporate headquarters for the employee-owned Bi-Mart corporation and family-owned Market of Choice are located in Eugene. The Monaco Coach Corporation and Marathon Coach have their headquarters in nearby Coburg, Oregon. Hynix Semiconductor America has a large semiconductor plant in west Eugene. Emporium Department Stores, which was founded in North Bend, Oregon, had its headquarters in Eugene, but closed all stores in 2002. Organically Grown Company, the largest distributor of organic fruits and vegetables in the northwest, started in Eugene in 1978 as a non-profit co-op for organic farmers. Several local food processors, many of whom manufacture certified organic products, are nationally successful.[citation needed] These companies include Golden Temple (Yogi Tea), Surata Tofu, Toby's Tofu, Emerald Valley Kitchen, and Springfield Creamery (Nancy's Yogurt).
Several locally-developed small businesses have formed a coalition called Unique Eugene, which coordinates advertising and promotion, and shares its pool of customers.[14]
Many multinational businesses were launched in Eugene. Some of the most famous include Nike, Taco Time, Aldus Software (now part of Adobe Systems), and Broderbund Software.
Education
Johnson Hall, University of Oregon
Eugene is the home of the University of Oregon. Other institutions of higher learning include Northwest Christian College, Lane Community College, Eugene Bible College, Gutenberg College, and Pacific University's Eugene Campus. Magnet schools and alternative education are key elements of the Eugene School District. The city also has many private and alternative schools, including The Little French School, a Pre-K through kindergarten program that provides immersion in a second language and the Eugene Waldorf School, an anthroposophical K-8 school. The curriculum of the Network Charter School, in downtown Eugene, is drawn from an alliance of local businesses and non-profits, such as the Center for Appropriate Transport. There are also a few elementary schools that immerse the students in a foreign language for half of the day: Buena Vista Spanish immersion, Yujin Gakuen Japanese immersion, and Charlemagne French immersion. Bethel School District serves children in the Bethel neighborhood of Eugene.
Culture
Eugene has a significant population of people in pursuit of alternative ideas, and a large, though aging, hippie population.[15] There is also a significant population of outdoor enthusiasts and young retirees from California, the Northeast and elsewhere.[citation needed]
Beginning in the 1960s, the countercultural ideas and viewpoints espoused by Ken Kesey became established as the seminal elements of the vibrant social tapestry that continue to define Eugene.[16] The Merry Prankster, as Kesey was known, has arguably left the most indelible imprint of any cultural icon in his hometown. He is best known as the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as the male protagonist in Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.[16]
Performing arts
Eugene is home to numerous cultural organizations, including the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Ballet, the Eugene Opera, the Eugene Concert Choir, the Oregon Mozart Players, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Oregon Children's Choir and Oregon Festival of American Music. Principal performing arts venues include the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts ("The Shedd"), Beall Concert Hall and the Erb Memorial Union ballroom on the University of Oregon campus, the McDonald Theatre, and W.O.W. Hall.
A large number of live theater groups thrive in Eugene: Willamette Repertory Theatre performs primarily at the Hult Center, while Lord Leebrick Theatre, The Very Little Theatre, Actors Cabaret, LCC Theatre, and University Theatre each has its own performance venue.
In addition, Eugene is home to the Bijou Art Cinemas, an independent movie theater.
Museums and libraries
Conger Street Clock museum
Eugene museums include the University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History; the Oregon Air and Space Museum at the airport, Conger Street Clock Museum in West Eugene, the Lane County Historical Museum, Maude Kerns Art Museum, Shelton McMurphy House, the Cascades Raptor Center, and the Science Factory Children's Museum & Planetarium.
The new Eugene Public Library
The largest library in Oregon is the Knight Library, at the University of Oregon with collections totaling more than 2 million volumes and approximately 17,000 journals.[17] The Eugene Public Library[18] moved into a new, larger building downtown in 2002. The new four-story library is an increase from 38,000 square feet (3,500 m²) to 130,000 square feet.[19]
Visual arts
Eugene's visual arts community is supported by over 20 private art galleries and several organizations, including Maude Kerns Art Center, Lane Arts Council, DIVA (the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts), the Hult Center's Jacobs Gallery, and the Eugene Glass School.
Annual visual arts events include the Mayor's Art Show and Art and the Vineyard.
Other cultural events and fairs
- The annual non-profit Oregon Country Fair, which takes place in nearby Veneta, is one of the largest volunteer events in the U.S.
- The annual Eugene Celebration is a three day block party that takes place in the downtown area. The SLUG (Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod) Queen coronation happens the month prior to the celebration at the coronation contest and ceremony. The SLUG Queen is the reigning monarch of the celebration festivities and the unofficial ambassador of Eugene. The annual coronation process takes place in August and is a little like a formal pageant but with a campy spin. The new SLUG Queen presides over the parade at the Eugene Celebration in September.[20]
- First Night is Eugene's New Year's Eve celebration. It is considered to be an alcohol-free event[24]
Eugene music
Because of its status as a college town, Eugene has been home to many musicians and bands, ranging from mainstream garage rock, to hip hop, folk and heavy metal. Eugene also has a growing reggae and street-performing bluegrass and jug band scene. The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, best known for their swing revival music, are a Eugene band who rose to national prominence in the 1990s. In addition, the group Floater met and formed while attending the University of Oregon.
Eugene's jazz scene is exceptionally noteworthy considering the relatively small population[citation needed]. The University of Oregon offers a jazz studies program and is one of the few universities in the west to provide undergraduate and advanced degrees in jazz[citation needed]. Dick Hyman, noted jazz pianist and musical director for many of Woody Allen's films, designs and hosts the annual Now Hear This! jazz festival at the Oregon Festival of American Music (OFAM). OFAM and the Hult Center routinely draw major jazz talent for concerts.[25][26] Finally, Eugene is home to a unique[citation needed] jazz musicians cooperative, conceived and operated by local jazz artists, called The Jazz Station ([2]). This nonprofit is a one-of-a-kind organization[citation needed] whose mission is to provide a learning and performance space for up-and-coming musicians, and sponsor performance of jazz for the community[citation needed].
Eugene is also home to a large Zimbabwean music community. Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center, which is "dedicated to the music and people of Zimbabwe," is based in Eugene.
Social dance
Downtown Eugene has three major dedicated partner-dance venues. The largest is The Tango Center, a collectively-run non-profit dedicated to Argentine Tango, which also hosts the ELLA Swing Dance Club. Studio B is the oldest of the group, hosting Ballroom, Salsa, and Argentine Tango events and classes. Staver Dancesport, the newest facility, hosts Ballroom and Salsa, in a street-level dancehall like the Tango Center's. The University of Oregon teaches a full range of partner dancing classes as well as hosting the Oregon Ballroom Dance Club and student-run Swing and Argentine Tango events. Approximately 10 other venues in town host partner-dances. The oldest social dance group in town is the Eugene Folkore Society, which currently hosts Contra and Zydeco dances at various venues.
Media
The largest newspaper serving the area is The Register-Guard, a daily newspaper with a circulation of about 70,000, published independently by the Baker family of Eugene.[27] Other newspapers serving the area include the Eugene Weekly, the Oregon Daily Emerald, the student-run independent newspaper at the University of Oregon and The Torch, the student-run newspaper at Lane Community College. Eugene Magazine also serves the area. Local television stations include KMTR (NBC), KVAL (CBS), KLSR-TV (FOX), KEVU, and KEZI (ABC).
The local NPR affiliate is KLCC. The Pacifica Radio affiliate (airing Democracy Now! and FreeSpeech Radio News) is the University of Oregon student-run radio station, KWVA. Additionally, the community supports two other radio stations: KWAX (classical) and KRVM (alternative). Eugene has the distinction of having the most radio stations per capita of any other metropolitan area in the country,[citation needed] with 28 FM and AM stations serving approximately 300,000 people.
Community
Eugene is perhaps most noted for its "community inventiveness." Many U.S. trends in community development originated here. The University of Oregon's participatory planning process, known as The Oregon Experiment, was the result of student protests in the early 1970s. The book of the same name is a major document in modern enlightenment thinking in planning and architectural circles, even though the process is no longer used at the University. The process was created by Christopher Alexander, whose works also directly inspired the creation of the Wiki. Much of the research for the book A Pattern Language, which inspired the Design Patterns movement and Extreme Programming, was done by Alexander in Eugene. Not coincidentally, those engineering movements also had origins here. A Pattern Language is the best-selling book on architecture and planning of all time, and contains many references to Eugene.
Eugene was the birthplace of the earliest incarnation of a psychoeducational model now known as Health Realization which has received accolades for its contributions to community mental health in low income communities around the United States. Started by Roger C. Mills and George Pransky working under a National Institute of Mental Health grant through the University of Oregon, Health Realization arose from these psychologists' attempts—beginning circa 1976—to turn the teachings of Sydney Banks, into a new psychology focusing on what makes mentally healthy people healthy.
In the 1970s, Eugene was packed with co-operative and community projects. It still has small natural food stores in almost every neighborhood, some of the oldest student cooperatives in the country, and alternative schools have been part of the school district for years. The old Grower's Market, downtown near the train depot, is the only food co-operative in the U.S. with no employees. It is possible to see Eugene's trend-setting non-profit tendencies in much newer projects, such as the Tango Center and the Center for Appropriate Transport. In 2006, an initiative began to create a tenant-run development process for Downtown Eugene.