Umatilla, Oregon

File:Umitilla - city hall - July 2013.JPG

{{See also|Petticoat Revolution}}

Before European settlement, the peninsula formed by the convergence of the Umatilla and Columbia rivers had been occupied by the indigenous Umatilla people for at least 10,000 years, being the site of temporary and seasonal villages, fishing and later horse breeding. On their return trip from the mouth of the Columbia River in 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition made note in their journals of a village on the site.{{cite news |last1=Colton |first1=Jennifer |title=Umatilla Old Town has long history |url=https://www.hermistonherald.com/news/umatilla-old-town-has-long-history/article_6e3c3cc6-520f-5e47-8829-08a1c1e067c0.html |access-date=20 July 2020 |work=Hermiston Herald |date=13 Dec 2018}}

The first Umatilla post office was established in September 1851 at the Umatilla Indian Agency about {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} east of Pendleton, but was discontinued in January 1852. The Umatilla Indian Reservation was created in 1855 after the Walla Walla Council treaty and many of the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes relocated there, with the vast majority of their lands being given over to the US government. Not long after, when gold was discovered in the Boise Basin of Idaho and in Montana in 1862, the Columbia River became an important passageway inland to the gold fields. That same year Timothy K. Davenport surveyed for a townsite at the mouth of the Umatilla River and filed a plat in 1863. The site was chosen for its location just below the Umatilla Rapids, which formed a navigational headwater on the Columbia and prevented boats from traveling further upstream without needing to be portaged or needing their cargo transferred to a new boat above the rapids. The site was first known as Umatilla Landing, then Umatilla City, then Columbia, reverting to Umatilla City once again over the next year or so. Its post office was established in 1863 with Z. F. Moody as postmaster.{{cite book | last = McArthur | first = Lewis A. | author-link = Lewis A. McArthur |author2=Lewis L. McArthur |author2-link=Lewis L. McArthur | title = Oregon Geographic Names | orig-year = 1928 | edition = 7th | year = 2003 | publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press | location = Portland, Oregon| isbn = 0-87595-277-1 | page = 980 }}

Umatilla quickly became an important trade and distribution center not just for gold rush travelers but for the growing population of farmers and ranchers in the surrounding region. A business district developed along Water Street at the river's edge and at the town's peak it had 3 hotels, 22 saloons, 6 mercantiles and 3 grocery stores, among others. It won the county seat of Umatilla County by a small margin on March 6, 1865, but would only remain so until 1868 when it was moved to the burgeoning village of Pendleton.{{cite news |title=[Brevities] |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072040/1865-03-10/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1789&sort=relevance&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=16&words=City+Umatilla&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=umatilla+city&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=Walla Walla Statesman |agency=Library of Congress |date=10 Mar 1865}} That same year the first newspaper (a tri-weekly) was established.{{cite news |title=[Brevities] |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072040/1865-03-31/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1789&sort=relevance&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=7&words=City+Umatilla&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=umatilla+city&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=Walla Walla Statesman |agency=Library of Congress |date=31 Mar 1865}} For a brief time during the gold rush in the 1860s, there was competition between Umatilla and Wallula, Washington, to become the "Sacramento of the Upper Columbia" but the gold rush wouldn't last long enough to support either town's growth beyond frontier villages.{{cite news |title=Wallula |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072040/1865-02-03/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1789&sort=relevance&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=17&words=City+Umatilla&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=umatilla+city&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=Walla Walla Statesman |agency=Library of Congress |date=3 Feb 1865}}

Umatilla remained a vital commercial center until the late 1870s, when the removal of the rapids in 1877 allowed boats traveling from The Dalles to continue directly to Wallula and beyond.{{cite news |title=The removal of obstructions to the upper Columbia and Snake rivers... |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045610/1877-11-23/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1789&index=11&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=Landing+Umatilla&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=umatilla+landing&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=The Daily Intelligencer |agency=Library of Congress |date=23 Nov 1877}} The following year the Oregon Steam Navigation Company began construction of a narrow gauge railroad that would connect Umatilla to the agricultural inland, passing from Pendleton to Weston.{{cite news |title=A New Railroad |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022793/1878-04-13/ed-1/seq-5/#date1=1789&index=12&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=landing+Umatilla&proxdistance=5&state=Washington&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=umatilla+landing&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=Puget Sound Dispatch |agency=Library of Congress |date=13 Apr 1878}} The great flood of 1894 destroyed what was left of the original business district and many surviving buildings were moved away from the river. The Umatilla Masonic Lodge Hall, one of the only surviving buildings from the original townsite, was relocated to Echo, Oregon, {{Convert|14|mi}} to the southeast, in 1901. By the early 1910s, Umatilla was making a resurgence as an agricultural center and distribution point and a new business district was established along 3rd and 4th streets, facing away from the river and towards the railroad tracks. Once again the town would gain several hotels and even a bank. In 1916 several women launched secret bids for local office, resulting in what has been called the Petticoat Revolution.

The Umatilla Chemical Depot opened in 1941, to prepare for World War II. The depot's mission was to store and maintain a variety of military items, from blankets to ammunition. The depot took on its chemical weapons storage mission in 1962. From 1990 to 1994 the facility reorganized in preparation for eventual closure, shipping all conventional ammunition and supplies to other installations. On October 25, 2011, the last barrel of HD mustard agent was destroyed and there is no longer a risk of chemical accident in Oregon and Washington.

The original townsite of Umatilla was abandoned completely when the United States Corps of Engineers determined that it would likely be inundated by the construction of the John Day Dam. Between 1965 and 1968 the town was completely rebuilt south of the railroad tracks and all of the buildings on the original townsite were bought and demolished. The relocation would turn out to be for naught as the water level at this point in the river was not affected by the dam's reservoir. Umatilla's original street grid can still be seen north of the railroad tracks and is now a nature preserve and protected archaeological site. It is still owned by the Corps of Engineers and is not accessible to the public.

Umatilla is {{convert|30|mi|km}} northwest of Pendleton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|4.63|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.42|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.21|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Umatilla has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated BSk on climate maps.{{cite web|title=Umatilla, Oregon|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=132554&cityname=Umatilla%2C+Oregon%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|work=Weatherbase|publisher=CantyMedia|access-date=June 6, 2015}}

{{Weather box

| location = Umatilla

| single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 67

| Feb record high F = 78

| Mar record high F = 86

| Apr record high F = 97

| May record high F = 104

| Jun record high F = 110

| Jul record high F = 117

| Aug record high F = 114

| Sep record high F = 103

| Oct record high F = 89

| Nov record high F = 80

| Dec record high F = 71

| year record high F = 117

| Jan high F = 40

| Feb high F = 47.5

| Mar high F = 58.7

| Apr high F = 68.6

| May high F = 76.7

| Jun high F = 83.9

| Jul high F = 92.6

| Aug high F = 90.5

| Sep high F = 80.7

| Oct high F = 67

| Nov high F = 50.9

| Dec high F = 42.1

| year high F = 66.6

| Jan low F = 25.2

| Feb low F = 28.9

| Mar low F = 33.8

| Apr low F = 40.2

| May low F = 47

| Jun low F = 54

| Jul low F = 59.4

| Aug low F = 57.3

| Sep low F = 48.9

| Oct low F = 40.1

| Nov low F = 32.7

| Dec low F = 28.4

| year low F = 41.3

| Jan record low F = -23

| Feb record low F = -23

| Mar record low F = 10

| Apr record low F = 20

| May record low F = 26

| Jun record low F = 32

| Jul record low F = 36

| Aug record low F = 37

| Sep record low F = 25

| Oct record low F = 12

| Nov record low F = -6

| Dec record low F = -27

| year record low F = -27

| precipitation colour=green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.05

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.85

| Mar precipitation inch = 0.68

| Apr precipitation inch = 0.55

| May precipitation inch = 0.62

| Jun precipitation inch = 0.56

| Jul precipitation inch = 0.16

| Aug precipitation inch = 0.25

| Sep precipitation inch = 0.45

| Oct precipitation inch = 0.69

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.07

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.09

| year precipitation inch = 8.01

| Jan precipitation days = 8

| Feb precipitation days = 7

| Mar precipitation days = 6

| Apr precipitation days = 5

| May precipitation days = 4

| Jun precipitation days = 4

| Jul precipitation days = 1

| Aug precipitation days = 2

| Sep precipitation days = 3

| Oct precipitation days = 5

| Nov precipitation days = 7

| Dec precipitation days = 8

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch

| Jan snow inch = 3.9

| Feb snow inch = 2.1

| Mar snow inch = 0.2

| Apr snow inch = 0

| May snow inch = 0

| Jun snow inch = 0

| Jul snow inch = 0

| Aug snow inch = 0

| Sep snow inch = 0

| Oct snow inch = 0

| Nov snow inch = 0.8

| Dec snow inch = 1.1

| year snow inch = 8.2

| source 1 = {{cite web

|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?or8734 |title=UMATILLA, OREGON (358734) |access-date=November 15, 2015 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}

| date=November 2015

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 150

|1880= 149

|1890= 118

|1900= 127

|1910= 198

|1920= 390

|1930= 345

|1940= 370

|1950= 883

|1960= 617

|1970= 679

|1980= 3199

|1990= 3046

|2000= 4978

|2010= 6906

|2020= 7363

|footnote=source:Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 216.{{cite web|url = https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-41.csv|title = Subcounty population estimates: Oregon 2000-2007|format = CSV|publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division|date = 2009-03-18|access-date = 2009-04-29|url-status = dead|archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090709154837/http%3A//www%2Ecensus%2Egov/popest/cities/files/SUB%2DEST2007%2D41%2Ecsv|archive-date = 2009-07-09}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}

}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,906 people, 1,634 households, and 1,215 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1562.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,766 housing units at an average density of {{convert|399.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 70.1% White, 2.3% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 23.1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.1% of the population.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-21}}

There were 1,634 households, of which 50.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.59.

The median age in the city was 30.7 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.6% were from 25 to 44; 20.2% were from 45 to 64; and 6.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 63.7% male and 36.3% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,978 people, 1,364 households, and 1,062 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,415.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,511 housing units at an average density of {{convert|429.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.10% White, 2.69% African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 21.49% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.58% of the population.

There were 1,364 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 137.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,844, and the median income for a family was $32,969. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $20,337 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,469. About 15.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

The city has seen some industrial investment in recent years through Amazon Web Service's data centers; however, wages have stagnated.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20180810/big-data-amazons-footprint-expands-in-eastern-oregon|title=Big data: Amazon's footprint expands in Eastern Oregon|website=East Oregonian}} The 2017 median household income in Umatilla of $38,796{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|website=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2018-08-31}} represented a decline of 7.3% from 2010, and has fallen well behind nearby Hermiston at $50,694. The local economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and supporting services.{{cite web|title=Minimum parcel size for viable adaptive farms in Umatilla County: an economic analysis|url=http://ruralstudies.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/pub/pdf/Adaptive_Farms_in_Umatilla_County_An_Economic_Analysis.pdf|publisher=Oregon State University Extension Service and Agricultural & Resource Economics Department - Rural Studies Program|access-date=August 17, 2011|date=November 2009|author=Sorte, Bruce|display-authors=etal}} As of 2001, the five largest employers in Umatilla were the Two Rivers Correctional Institution, JM Manufacturing (polyvinyl chloride pipes), Gilroy Food (dehydrated onions), Boise Cascade (wood chips), and Oregon Rustic (pine furniture).{{cite web|author=Infrastructure Finance Authority|title=Umatilla Community Profile|publisher=Business Oregon|year=2009|url=http://www.orinfrastructure.org/profiles/Umatilla/|access-date=2013-08-17}}

• Ordnance, Oregon
• Umatilla, Florida

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/s-y/umatilla.aspx Entry for Umatilla] in the Oregon Blue Book
• {{Cite web

| title = Umatilla, Oregon Community Exhibit

| work = Center for Columbia River History

| access-date = 2013-08-16

| url = http://www.ccrh.org/comm/umatilla/index.php

}}, Photos, bibliography, oral histories

{{Commons category|Umatilla, Oregon}}

{{Umatilla County, Oregon}}

{{oregon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Oregon

Category:Cities in Umatilla County, Oregon

Category:Populated places established in 1851

Category:Oregon populated places on the Columbia River

Category:Port cities in Oregon

Category:Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area

Category:1851 establishments in Oregon Territory

Category:Former county seats in Oregon