Brookings, Oregon

City in Oregon, United States

Brookings, Oregon

City

An aerial view of Brookings, Oregon, and its coastline

Flag

Location in Oregon

Brookings, Oregon

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 42°3′27″N 124°17′11″W﻿ / ﻿42.05750°N 124.28639°W﻿ / 42.05750; -124.28639
Country| United States
State| Oregon
County| Curry
Incorporated| 1951
Government

• Type| Mayor-Council government
Area

[1]

• Total| 4.16 sq mi (10.76 km2)
• Land| 4.15 sq mi (10.74 km2)
• Water| 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation

[2]

| 220 ft (70 m)
Population

(2020)[3]

• Total| 6,744
• Density| 1,626.24/sq mi (627.84/km2)
| U.S. Census
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (Pacific)
ZIP code|

97415

Area code(s)| 458 and 541
FIPS code| 41-08650[4]
GNIS feature ID| 2409916[2]
Website| www.brookings.or.us

Brookings is a city in Curry County, Oregon, United States. It was named after John E. Brookings, president of the Brookings Lumber and Box Company, who founded the city in 1908. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,744.[5]

## History

[edit]

### Founding

[edit]

Crew looking out of camp building windows, Brookings Timber and Lumber Company, Brookings, c. 1919

In 1906, the Brookings Timber Company hired William James Ward, a graduate in civil engineering and forestry, to come to the southern Oregon Coast and survey its lumbering potential. After timber cruising the Chetco and Pistol River areas for several years, he recommended that the Brookings people begin extensive lumbering operations here and secure a townsite for a mill and shipping center.[6]

While John E. Brookings was responsible for the founding of Brookings as a company town, it was his cousin, Robert S. Brookings, who was responsible for its actual design. The latter Brookings hired Bernard Maybeck, an architect based in San Francisco who was later involved in the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, to lay out the plat of the townsite.[7]

### World War II

[edit]

Main article: Lookout Air Raids

On September 9, 1942, Mount Emily near Brookings became the only site in the mainland United States and the second in the continental territory after the bombing of Dutch Harbor to suffer aerial bombardment during World War II. A Japanese floatplane piloted by Nobuo Fujita was launched from submarine I-25. The plane was armed with two incendiary bombs on a mission intended to start massive fires in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest.[8][9]

Fujita was invited to Brookings in 1962 and, as a token of friendship, gifted the city his 400-year-old family katana. Fujita later sponsored a trip to Japan for Brookings high school students and returned to the city three more times in the early 1990s. In 1997, Fujita was made an honorary citizen of Brookings by the city council.[10]

### 21st century

[edit]

The current marketing "brand" for the community, through the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce,[11] is "The Pulse of America's Wild Rivers Coast". America's Wild Rivers Coast is a regional marketing brand for Curry County, Oregon, and Del Norte County, California.[12]

#### 2011 tsunami

[edit]

The Port of Brookings Harbor was damaged by tidal surges from a tsunami on March 11, 2011.[13] The largest surge was estimated to be nearly 8 feet (2.4 m).[14] Boats were damaged, sunk, set adrift, and swept out to sea after many docks were torn away and pilings broken.[14][15] The tsunami was caused by the 9.0 MW[16] Tōhoku earthquake offshore of the east coast of Honshu Island, Japan. The damage was estimated at $25 million to $30 million.[13]

## Geography

[edit]

Coastline of Brookings as seen from U.S. Highway 101

Brookings is located along the southern Oregon coast at the mouth of the Chetco River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.94 square miles (10.20 km2), of which 3.87 square miles (10.02 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[17]

## Climate

[edit]

The climate of Brookings is so mild that palm trees can grow there.[18]

Brookings has a mild Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csb).[19] According to the Trewartha climate classification, Brookings has a subtropical climate (Cs) since eight months are above 50 °F (10 °C).

A weather phenomenon known as the "Chetco Effect" or the "Brookings Effect" can cause the temperature in Brookings near the Chetco River mouth to be much higher than the surrounding area. Adiabatic heating increases the temperature and reduces relative humidity as katabatic wind, driven by high pressure on the Great Basin, descend across the west slopes of the Cascade Range and Oregon Coast Range.[20] The heart of Brookings, with its orientation, is protected from sea breezes coming from the northwest and the warm, dry, down-sloping winds that are funneled down the Coastal Range into the deep Chetco River gorge can reach the coast uninfluenced by the effects of the Pacific.[20][21]

On July 8, 2008, Brookings recorded a high temperature of 108 °F (42 °C) at the airport. This was not only the highest recorded temperature in the town's history, but also the highest recorded in Oregon on that day. The Crescent City airport, around 30 miles (48 km) south of Brookings, recorded a high temperature of 68 °F (20 °C) that day, 40 °F (22 °C) cooler. Temperatures in inland Oregon throughout the Willamette Valley reached temperatures into the mid-90s. The Brookings Effect remained very strong and localized until July 13, 2008, when high temperatures in Brookings dropped to 61 °F (16 °C), which is about 7 °F (3.9 °C) lower than average during the month.[20]

Climate data for Brookings, Oregon, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1913−present[a]

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 80
(27)  | 85
(29)  | 88
(31)  | 92
(33)  | 99
(37)  | 100
(38)  | 108
(42)  | 101
(38)  | 103
(39)  | 100
(38)  | 88
(31)  | 79
(26)  | 108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 53.7
(12.1)  | 54.7
(12.6)  | 55.4
(13.0)  | 57.9
(14.4)  | 61.7
(16.5)  | 64.6
(18.1)  | 66.6
(19.2)  | 66.4
(19.1)  | 66.9
(19.4)  | 62.7
(17.1)  | 57.3
(14.1)  | 53.0
(11.7)  | 60.1
(15.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 48.6
(9.2)  | 48.9
(9.4)  | 49.4
(9.7)  | 51.4
(10.8)  | 54.9
(12.7)  | 58.1
(14.5)  | 60.0
(15.6)  | 60.1
(15.6)  | 59.6
(15.3)  | 56.0
(13.3)  | 51.6
(10.9)  | 47.9
(8.8)  | 53.9
(12.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 43.6
(6.4)  | 43.2
(6.2)  | 43.4
(6.3)  | 45.0
(7.2)  | 48.0
(8.9)  | 51.4
(10.8)  | 53.4
(11.9)  | 53.8
(12.1)  | 52.3
(11.3)  | 49.2
(9.6)  | 45.8
(7.7)  | 42.7
(5.9)  | 47.7
(8.7)
Record low °F (°C)  | 21
(−6)  | 24
(−4)  | 29
(−2)  | 28
(−2)  | 32
(0)  | 34
(1)  | 39
(4)  | 37
(3)  | 34
(1)  | 30
(−1)  | 28
(−2)  | 17
(−8)  | 17
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 12.57
(319)  | 9.91
(252)  | 9.89
(251)  | 7.09
(180)  | 3.37
(86)  | 2.06
(52)  | 0.39
(9.9)  | 0.67
(17)  | 1.46
(37)  | 4.98
(126)  | 11.12
(282)  | 14.10
(358)  | 77.61
(1,971)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 0.2
(0.51)  | 0.3
(0.76)  | 0.1
(0.25)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0.1
(0.25)  | 0.7
(1.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.05 in) | 17.7  | 16.1  | 17.9  | 14.4  | 9.8  | 6.0  | 3.4  | 3.9  | 4.9  | 10.3  | 17.9  | 18.5  | 140.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0  | 0.1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0.1  | 0.2
Source: NOAA[23]

Notes

1. ^ Records maintained at the Brookings COOP (42°02′47″N 124°17′16″W﻿ / ﻿42.0463°N 124.2877°W﻿ / 42.0463; -124.2877) since May 2002, and at the Brookings 2 SE COOP (42°01′48″N 124°14′43″W﻿ / ﻿42.03°N 124.2453°W﻿ / 42.03; -124.2453) before then.[22]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1920| 515| | —
1930| 250| | −51.5%
1940| 500| | 100.0%
1950| 1,000| | 100.0%
1960| 2,637| | 163.7%
1970| 2,720| | 3.1%
1980| 3,384| | 24.4%
1990| 4,400| | 30.0%
2000| 5,447| | 23.8%
2010| 6,336| | 16.3%
2020| 6,744| | 6.4%
source:[4][24][3]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,336 people, 2,717 households, and 1,689 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,637.2 inhabitants per square mile (632.1/km2). There were 3,183 housing units at an average density of 822.5 units per square mile (317.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.2% White, 0.3% African American, 1.8% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population.[4]

There were 2,717 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81.[4]

The median age in the city was 46.9 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.[4]

## Parks and recreation

[edit]

The Brookings harbor

### Azalea Park

[edit]

Azalea Park is located at 640 Old County Road. It has picnic areas, bandshell, snackshack, gazebo, Kidtown playground, disc golf course, softball and soccer fields, and the Capella by the Sea. Several cultural events in the town are held at Azalea Park.[25]

### Harris Beach State Park

[edit]

The overlook at Harris Beach State Park

Harris Beach State Park is located on Highway 101 at the north end of Brookings. It includes 173 acres (70 hectares) of coastal access as well as RV and tent camping facilities and a rest area.[26]

## Arts and culture

[edit]

### Annual cultural events

[edit]

Each year, the town hosts the "Pirates of the Pacific" festival.[27]

One major event in the town is the Azalea Festival, which includes the Azalea Parade and live music. It is held every year on Memorial Day Weekend.[28]

Another very popular event in Brookings is the Nature's Coastal Holiday light display which is open each evening from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas in Azalea Park.[29]

## Soup Kitchen

[edit]

After a long history of feeding the homeless, the City Council moved against St. Timothy's Episcopal Church for operating a soup kitchen. This was fueled by a feeling within the town that the soup kitchen was drawing "the wrong kind of people" to the area. After a long, drawn-out legal battle, starting in 2021 and culminating in 2024, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church was granted by a Federal court permission to continue to operate the soup kitchen. As of this writing (August 2024) the city is alleged to be planning an appeal to this ruling.[30]

## Media

[edit]

### Radio

[edit]

* KURY-FM
* KSEP-FM (Brookings Seventh-day Adventist Church)[31]
* KCIW 100.7 FM Curry Coast Community Radio[32][33]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Ethan Allen (1904–1993) – professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB)
* Dom Callicrate (1885–1979) – college football player
* Ray "Crash" Corrigan (1902–1976) – actor
* Paul Harrell (1966–2024) – Marine Corps veteran, firearms instructor, and YouTuber
* Max Steineke (1898–1952) – petroleum geologist
* Elmo Williams (1913–2015) – film and television director and producer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Brookings, Oregon
3. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. ^ a b c d e "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
5. ^ American FactFinder - Results[dead link]
6. ^ "Brookings, a Live Community, Marks Once Bleak Spot of Dreary Desolation". Oregon Sunday Journal. Portland, Oregon. April 14, 2001 [May 3, 1914]. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2013. Republished by the Curry Coastal Pilot (Brookings).
7. ^ McCoy, Esther (1960). Five California Architects. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation. p. 46.
8. ^ "State of Oregon: World War II - Bombs Fall on Oregon: Japanese Attacks on the State". sos.oregon.gov.
9. ^ Goyer, Norm. "The Day a Japanese Plane Bombed Oregon". eugeneleeslover.com.
10. ^ Rosman, John (December 7, 2016). "The unlikely bond between an Oregon town and the man who bombed it". OPB.
11. ^ "brookingsor.com". ww12.brookingsor.com.
12. ^ "AWRC Home". June 2, 2002. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
13. ^ a b Manning, Jeff; Brettman, Allan (March 12, 2011). "Brookings port destruction by tsunami is a blow Curry County cannot afford". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
14. ^ a b Rice, Arwyn; Graves, Scott (March 12, 2011). "Tidal surges pummel port, sink boats". Curry Coastal Pilot. Retrieved June 19, 2013.[dead link]
15. ^ Rasmussen, Randy L. (March 11, 2011). "Southern Oregon tsunami damage". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
16. ^ "USGS analysis as of 2011-03-12". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 13, 2011. Archived March 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
17. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
18. ^ Husk, Lee Lewis (March 1, 2016). "Trip Planner: Brookings". 1859 Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
19. ^ "Harbor Oregon Climate Summary". Weatherbase. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
20. ^ a b c Schreiber, Daniel (April 22, 2012). "A Study of the Chetco Effect in the City of Brookings, Oregon and Surrounding Areas". Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
21. ^ Mass, Clifford F. (March 30, 1987). "The "Banana Belt" of the Coastal Regions of Southern Oregon and Northern California". Weather and Forecasting. 2 (3): 253–258. Bibcode:1987WtFor...2..253M. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1987)002<0253:tbotcr>2.0.co;2.2.0.co;2&rft_id=info:bibcode/1987WtFor...2..253M&rft.aulast=Mass&rft.aufirst=Clifford+F.&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1175%2F1520-0434%281987%29002%3C0253%3Atbotcr%3E2.0.co%3B2&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Brookings,+Oregon" class="Z3988">
22. ^ "Threaded Extremes". threadex.rcc-acis.org.
23. ^ "NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
24. ^ Moffatt, Riley Moore (1996). Population History of Western U.S. Cities and Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 207\. ISBN 978-0-8108-3033-2.
25. ^ "Azalea Park". Brookings, OR. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
26. ^ "Harris Beach State Park - Oregon State Parks". stateparks.oregon.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
27. ^ "PIRATES OF THE PACIFIC FESTIVAL IN BROOKINGS 2019". What to do in Southern Oregon. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
28. ^ "Time-honored tradition on the Southern Oregon Coast". 82nd Annual Azalea Festival. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
29. ^ ""The BEST Holiday Light Show on the Oregon Coast"". Nature's Coastal Holiday. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
30. ^ "Episcopal Church Wins Legal Battle". www.oregonlive.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
31. ^ "Brookings - home". www.brookingssda.org.
32. ^ "About KCIW". kciw.org. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
33. ^ Cejnar Andrews, Jessica (July 28, 2023). "KCIW Gets Go-Ahead For Full-Power Radio Station, Needs To Raise $125,000 Before FCC Window Closes". Wild Rivers Outpost. Retrieved June 12, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Brookings-Harbor.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brookings, Oregon.

* Entry for Brookings in the Oregon Blue Book
* "Brookings". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
* Brookings Chamber of Commerce
* The Unlikely Bond Between An Oregon Town And The Man Who Bombed It Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting

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