Newport, Oregon
July 9, 2021
Big move today. I got a bit worried about finding a campsite for the weekend; went online and got a dry site in Newport five minutes from the Toyota dealership. Port of Newport RV Park and Marina -- South Beach. Looking forward to a weekend of logging some walks and maybe some bike rides. Try to minimize my driving.
Newport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It was incorporated in 1882, though the name dates back to the establishment of a post office in 1868. Newport was named for Newport, Rhode Island. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,989, an increase of nearly 5% over its 2000 population; as of 2019, it had an estimated population of 10,853.
The area was originally home to the Yacona tribe, whose history can be traced back at least 3000 years. White settlers began homesteading the area in 1864. The town was named by Sam Case, who also became the first postmaster.
Newport has been the county seat of Lincoln County since 1952, when voters approved a measure to move the center of government from nearby Toledo to Newport. It is also home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Nye Beach, Yaquina Head Light, Yaquina Bay Light, Pacific Maritime Heritage Center and Rogue Ales.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.59 square miles of which 9.05 square miles is land and 1.54 square miles is water.
Climate
Newport has mild, wet weather throughout the year with the heaviest precipitation falling during the winter months. The city averages 0.4 afternoons annually with maximum temperatures equalling or exceeding 90 °F and 29 mornings with minimum temperatures of 32 °F or lower. Historic extreme temperatures have varied between 1 °F in winter and 100 °F in summer.
The average annual precipitation between 1961 and 1990 was 70.99 inches with the wettest period being from July 1968 to June 1969 with 102.15 inches and the driest, like most of Oregon, from July 1976 to June 1977 with 38.94 inches. There are an average of 187 days a year with precipitation equalling or exceeding 0.01 inches. Average annual snowfall is 1.57 inches.
In October 1962, wind gusts at Newport reached 138 miles per hour before the wind gauge stopped working. This occurred during the Columbus Day Windstorm, which the National Weather Service has named one of Oregon's top 10 weather events of the 20th century.
Another top-10 event affecting Newport occurred in December 1964, when a rainstorm caused severe flooding in many parts of the state. The Weather Service rated the storm among the most severe in western Oregon since the 1870s. About 21 inches of rain fell on Newport. This was almost twice the normal amount expected in December and set a new record for the city.
Also in the Weather Bureau's top-10 list for Oregon are the snowstorms of January 1950. Newport saw a total of about 6 inches fall during the month, four times its normal annual snowfall.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 9,989 people, 4,354 households, and 2,479 families living in the city. The population density was about 1,104 inhabitants per square mile. There were 5,540 housing units at an average density of about 612 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 84.1% White, 0.6% African American, 2.1% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 7.5% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.3% of the population.
There were 4,354 households, of which about 25% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41% were married couples living together, 11% had a female householder with no husband present, 5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43% were non-families. About 35% of all households were made up of individuals, and about 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was about 2.2 and the average family size was about 2.8.
The median age in the city was about 43 years. About 20% of residents were under the age of 18, 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24, 24% were from 25 to 44, 29% were from 45 to 64, and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
Economy
In August 2011, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration moved its base for research ships from Seattle to Newport. The base boasts about 110 marine officers and a total of 175 employees. It bases four ships, including the NOAAS Bell M. Shimada and the NOAAS Rainier, and it provides support for up to two itinerant vessels. NOAA has personnel at the Hatfield Marine Science Center which support the fisheries science centers for Alaska and the Northwest. The ships join the R/V Oceanus and R/V Elakharesearch vessels based at the center.
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