St. Helens, Oregon

City in and county seat of Columbia County, Oregon

"Columbia Heights, Oregon" redirects here. For the mountain in Umatilla County, see Columbia Heights (Oregon).

City in Oregon, United States

St. Helens, Oregon

City

The Columbia County Courthouse with Mount St. Helens in the background

Seal

Location in Oregon

Coordinates: 45°51′34″N 122°48′50″W﻿ / ﻿45.85944°N 122.81389°W﻿ / 45.85944; -122.81389
Country| United States
State| Oregon
County| Columbia
Incorporated| 1889
Government

• Type| Mayor-council government
• Mayor| Rick Scholl[citation needed]
Area

[1]

• Total

| 5.95 sq mi (15.41 km2)
• Land| 4.83 sq mi (12.51 km2)
• Water| 1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
Elevation

[2]

| 89 ft (27 m)
Population

(2020)[3]

• Total

| 13,817
• Density| 2,860.07/sq mi (1,104.33/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (Pacific)
Zip Code|

97051

FIPS code| 41-64600[4]
GNIS feature ID| 2411759[2]
Website| https://www.sthelensoregon.gov

St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain Henry Montgomery Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845, as "Plymouth". The name was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens, roughly 39 miles (63 km) away in Washington. The city is about 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Portland. Its population was 12,883 at the 2010 census.[5]

## History

[edit]

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through and camped in the area that is now St. Helens on the night of November 5, 1805, while on their way to the Pacific Ocean. While there, the party encountered Native Americans and Clark observed "low rockey clifts".[6]

St. Helens was established as a river port on the Columbia River in the 1840s. The original town was surveyed and platted by Scottish-born Peter Crawford.[7] In 1853, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company tried to make the city their only stop on the Columbia River.[8] Portland's merchants boycotted this effort, and the San Francisco steamship Peytona helped break the impasse.[8] St. Helens was incorporated as a city in 1889.[9] St. Helens and the adjacent town of Houlton merged in 1914.[10] Houlton is now a part of the West St. Helens neighborhood.

## Geography

[edit]

U.S. Route 30 passes through the city. It is located along the west bank of the Columbia River north of where Multnomah Channel enters it. Milton Creek flows through the town, entering Multnomah Channel via Scappoose Bay.[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.51 square miles (14.27 km2), of which 4.53 square miles (11.73 km2) is land and 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2) is covered by water.[12]

## Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, St. Helens has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate Csb.

Climate data for St. Helens, Oregon

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 63
(17)  | 71
(22)  | 82
(28)  | 90
(32)  | 102
(39)  | 117
(47)  | 106
(41)  | 107
(42)  | 106
(41)  | 94
(34)  | 72
(22)  | 62
(17)  | 117
(47)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 46.5
(8.1)  | 50.5
(10.3)  | 55.4
(13.0)  | 60.7
(15.9)  | 67.8
(19.9)  | 72.6
(22.6)  | 80.4
(26.9)  | 81.6
(27.6)  | 75.7
(24.3)  | 63.4
(17.4)  | 52.4
(11.3)  | 45.7
(7.6)  | 62.7
(17.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 40.6
(4.8)  | 42.6
(5.9)  | 46.5
(8.1)  | 50.7
(10.4)  | 57.1
(13.9)  | 61.5
(16.4)  | 67.6
(19.8)  | 68.2
(20.1)  | 62.9
(17.2)  | 53.5
(11.9)  | 45.4
(7.4)  | 40.2
(4.6)  | 53.0
(11.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 34.7
(1.5)  | 34.7
(1.5)  | 37.5
(3.1)  | 40.6
(4.8)  | 46.3
(7.9)  | 50.4
(10.2)  | 54.8
(12.7)  | 54.7
(12.6)  | 50.1
(10.1)  | 43.5
(6.4)  | 38.3
(3.5)  | 34.6
(1.4)  | 43.3
(6.3)
Record low °F (°C)  | 9
(−13)  | 4
(−16)  | 18
(−8)  | 20
(−7)  | 21
(−6)  | 34
(1)  | 38
(3)  | 30
(−1)  | 34
(1)  | 20
(−7)  | 10
(−12)  | 1
(−17)  | 1
(−17)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 6.33
(161)  | 4.76
(121)  | 4.76
(121)  | 3.81
(97)  | 2.77
(70)  | 1.85
(47)  | 0.39
(9.9)  | 0.78
(20)  | 1.84
(47)  | 3.94
(100)  | 6.68
(170)  | 7.56
(192)  | 45.45
(1,154)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 1.3
(3.3)  | 0.4
(1.0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0.4
(1.0)  | 0.8
(2.0)  | 3
(7.6)
Average precipitation days  | 18  | 15  | 17  | 15  | 12  | 9  | 4  | 5  | 7  | 12  | 18  | 18  | 150
Source 1: Temperature and precip averages [13]
Source 2: Record highs, lows, and snowfall averages,[14] June 2021 record high [15]

### Neighborhoods

[edit]

Columbia Heights is a formerly separate populated place that is within the city limits of St. Helens.[16][17]

The Olde School in St. Helens

## Demographics

[edit]

### 2017 population estimate

[edit]

According to the Portland State University Population Research Center,[18] the estimated 2017 population of St. Helens is 13,240.

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 209| | —
1890| 220| | 5.3%
1900| 258| | 17.3%
1910| 743| | 188.0%
1920| 2,220| | 198.8%
1930| 3,994| | 79.9%
1940| 4,304| | 7.8%
1950| 4,711| | 9.5%
1960| 5,022| | 6.6%
1970| 6,212| | 23.7%
1980| 7,064| | 13.7%
1990| 7,535| | 6.7%
2000| 10,019| | 33.0%
2010| 12,883| | 28.6%
2020| 13,817| | 7.2%
Sources:[4][19][20][21][22][23][3]

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[24] of 2010, there were 12,883 people, 4,847 households, and 3,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,843.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,098.0/km2). There were 5,154 housing units at an average density of 1,137.7 per square mile (439.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.3% White, 0.6% African American, 1.6% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.1% of the population.

There were 4,847 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 34 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 10,019 people, 3,722 households, and 2,579 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,305.6 inhabitants per square mile (890.2/km2). There were 4,032 housing units at an average density of 927.8 per square mile (358.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.74% White, 0.34% African American, 1.68% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population. 21.5% were of German, 10.9% English, 9.5% Irish and 9.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 3,722 households, out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.

St. Helens City Hall

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,648, and the median income for a family was $45,548. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $26,725 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,237. About 8.7% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Tourism

[edit]

In October, the town embraces the Halloween spirit with a month-long celebration of spooky events and decorations geared toward entertaining crowds of families. The Riverfront District in St. Helens, Oregon served as the backdrop for the 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown.[25] The film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel Twilight also filmed in the town.[26]

## Education

[edit]

Public schools in St. Helens are served by the St. Helens School District.

## Media

[edit]

Until ceasing publication in 2024,[27] The Chronicle was a weekly newspaper covering St. Helens and published since 1881.[28]

KOHI (AM) is St. Helens' local AM radio station.[29]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Robert Cornthwaite, actor
* Holly Madison, Playboy model, reality TV personality on The Girls Next Door and Holly's World
* Rob Mallicoat, baseball player
* David Mayo, American football player
* Frank A. Moore, Chief Justice of Oregon Supreme Court
* Katee Sackhoff, actress
* Chris Wakeland,[30] baseball player

## Sister city

[edit]

St. Helens has one sister city:

* Bowral, New South Wales, Australia[31]

## See also

[edit]

* Nob Hill Nature Park
* Port of St. Helens

## 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: St. Helens, Oregon
3. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. ^ "State & County QuickFacts: St. Helens (city), Oregon". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
6. ^ "Journals of Lewis & Clark". University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
7. ^ Olson, Jerry (March 30, 2014). "GLO Surveyor Personal Notes" (PDF). Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
8. ^ a b MacColl, E. Kimbark (1979). The Growth of a City: Power and Politics in Portland, Oregon 1915-1950. Portland, Oregon: The Georgian Press. ISBN 0-9603408-1-5.
9. ^ "Incorporated Cities: St. Helens". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
10. ^ History of St. Helens. City of St. Helens, Oregon. Accessed 29 Nov 2024.
11. ^ "U.S. 30". Google Maps. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
12. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
13. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". www.prism.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
14. ^ "ST HELENS RFD, OREGON (357466)". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
15. ^ "NWS Weather & Hazards Viewer". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
16. ^ "Columbia Heights". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. May 1, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
17. ^ "Columbia Heights". Google Maps. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
18. ^ "Portland State College of Urban & Public Affairs: Population Research Center | Population Estimates and Reports". www.pdx.edu. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
19. ^ "Population-Oregon" (PDF). U.S. Census 1910. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
20. ^ "Population-Oregon" (PDF). 15th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
21. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Oregon" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
22. ^ "Oregon: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
23. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
25. ^ "Spirit of Halloweentown Returns to St. Helens, Oregon with "Halloweentown" Cromwell Family Reunion | City of St Helens". www.ci.st-helens.or.us. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
26. ^ "'Twilight' descends on St. Helens". South County Spotlight. Pamplin Media Group. October 30, 2009. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
27. ^ Sparling, Zane (October 15, 2024). "Two more Oregon newspapers go dark. This time in Columbia County". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
28. ^ "The Chronicle". Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
29. ^ "KOHI 1600 AM". KOHI 1600 AM. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
30. ^ "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
31. ^ "Oregon Sister Relationships-Oregon International Trade". Archived from the original on March 13, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2009.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Helens, Oregon.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for St. Helens (Oregon).

* City of St. Helens (official website)
* Entry for St. Helens in the Oregon Blue Book

* v
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Municipalities and communities of Columbia County, Oregon, United States

County seat: St. Helens

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* Clatskanie
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