Oregon Coastal Futures Project

About the Oregon Coast

Geography
The Oregon coast stretches 362 miles and includes seven counties: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, and Curry. Portions of Lane and Douglas Counties extend inland from the coast region, but all other coastal counties are bound by the Pacific Ocean and Coast Range.(1) Measured from the Coast Range crest, Oregon’s coastal area encompasses about 7,800 square miles, more than one-third of which is under federal ownership.

Population and Demographics
The Oregon coast is home to about one in every fifteen Oregonians – 6.5% of the state’s population.(2) These 225,000 residents are scattered along the coast, with 60% living in the coast’s 32 incorporated communities and 40% living in unincorporated communities or the countryside.(3) (4) The five largest cities are Coos Bay (15,374 residents), Astoria (9,813), North Bend (9,544), Newport (9,532), and Lincoln City (7,437).(5)

The Oregon coast gained about 20,000 new residents in the 1990s, as 26 of the 32 cities grew.(6) Warrenton grew fastest, by 53%, while ten other communities grew by more than 20% and three unincorporated areas grew at least 30%.(7)

The Oregon coast’s population is older than the state average, and includes many retirees.(8) According to the 2000 Census, one-third of all coastal residents are over the age of 55, and the median age on the coast is 40, compared with the state’s median age of 36.(9) Some communities are home to a large concentration of retirees – 14 communities have a median age higher than 50 years.(10) The 2,600 residents of Harbor, in Curry County, have a median age of 60.(11) The coast is ethnically homogenous; 91% of coastal residents are Caucasian, compared with 84% of the state.(12)

Economy and Employment
Over 100,000 people work on Oregon’s coast, 80% of whom work for private businesses.(13) Tourism leads the way, employing 23,000 people, or 22% of the labor force.(14) In 2002, tourism spending on the Oregon coast exceeded $1.3 billion, an 80% increase from 1991.(15)

The growth in tourism has partially offset a decline in the coastal timber and fishing industries. Timber production in the 1980s totaled 1.3 billion board feet annually; today about 1 billion board feet are logged a year.(16) Over the last two decades timber production has declined by 30-50% in all coastal counties, with the sole exception of Clatsop, where timber production has actually increased.(17) Yet the coast remains one of the largest producers of timber in Oregon – in 2002 the coast accounted for more than a quarter of all timber production in the state.(18) Likewise, though coastal revenues for salmon troll and gillnet fishing declined over 90% from 1988 to 1999, in 1999 the fishing industry generated $123 million of personal income for coastal communities.(19) (20)

Agriculture is important in many parts of the Oregon coast. In 2001, gross farm sales on the Oregon coast totaled more than $175 million.(21) Dairy products brought in nearly $95 million in sales, which is more than one-third of state dairy production; Tillamook County alone produces $85 million in dairy products annually.(22) Some regions are perfect for specific products; farms in Curry County account for 90 percent of the nation’s Easter lily bulbs, and 35 million pounds of cranberries are grown on acidic soils near Bandon.(23) (24)

Despite growth in some areas, the coast’s economy lags behind the rest of the state. While statewide employment grew by 23% from 1990 to 2000, coastal jobs increased by only 13%.(25) Unemployment has also been higher on the coast. From 1996 to 2001 the average unemployment rate on the coast was more than 7%, compared with 5.7% for the state.(26) Using an index based on employment and income figures, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department considers four coastal counties (Coos, Douglas, Lane outside of Dunes City, and Lincoln) to be economically distressed, along with seven communities outside of the economically distressed coastal counties (Astoria, Brookings, Garibaldi, Gold Beach, Nehalem, Port Orford, and Tillamook).(27)

Income on the Oregon coast has also lagged behind that in other parts of Oregon, and poverty has been higher. Coastal per capita income is $24,000 a year, 15% below the state average.(28) And the 2000 Census found 13% of coastal residents live in poverty, compared with 10.6% statewide. Children First for Oregon reports nearly half of all children on the coast (46%) live in or near poverty, compared with 37% statewide.(29)

Transportation
Highway 101 is a scenic byway that runs the length of the Oregon Coast, acting both as a highway and a main street through many coastal communities. With a growth in population, traffic has become more congested on Highway 101: the Oregon Department of Transportation data show the average daily flow of traffic increased by 10% from 1993 to 2003.(30) The influence of seasonal tourism on Highway 101 is also evident, as traffic volumes in August are an average of 59% higher than traffic volumes in January.(31)

The Beach
In 1967, the Oregon Legislature passed the Beach Bill, which guaranteed public access to all of Oregon’s beaches. Today, 90% of Oregon’s beaches are accessible to the public via 1,150 beach access points, an average of three access points per mile of coastline.(32)

Beach erosion is a major concern, with 13% of the coastline critically eroding according to a 1999 study.(33) Approximately 5% of the coastline has some form of armoring or structure to limit erosion.(34) However, these structures exacerbate erosion problems in neighboring areas.

View this document as a two-page handout: About the Coast (545K PDF)
View the accompanying citations page as a two-page handout: AboutTheCoast-Citation Page (548K PDF)

ENDNOTES
When examining available data the “coast” included data for Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties, and, when possible (e.g. with Census data), Dunes City, Florence, and Reedsport. Lane and Douglas Counties were omitted from calculations because estimates for data attributable to the small portions of the counties in the coastal zone could not be made or obtained (with the exception of some community data for Dunes City, Florence, and Reedsport).

1) Length of coastline source: Surfrider Foundation. State of the Beach 2003: Oregon Summary. Website. http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach/6-state/state.asp?state=OR.


About the Project About the Coast Support the Project Design Action Team Get Involved Questionnaire Current News (June 8, 2006) News Archives Events Resources Links Search This Site The Oregon Coastal Futures Project is a project of 1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon Downtown Development Association, and Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition 1000 Friends of Oregon is grateful for the following foundations' support of the Coastal Futures Project: • Meyer Memorial Trust • Collins Foundation • Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust • Goodman Foundation • Over the River and Through the Woods Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation		About the Oregon Coast Geography The Oregon coast stretches 362 miles and includes seven counties: Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos, and Curry. Portions of Lane and Douglas Counties extend inland from the coast region, but all other coastal counties are bound by the Pacific Ocean and Coast Range.(1) Measured from the Coast Range crest, Oregon’s coastal area encompasses about 7,800 square miles, more than one-third of which is under federal ownership. Population and Demographics The Oregon coast is home to about one in every fifteen Oregonians – 6.5% of the state’s population.(2) These 225,000 residents are scattered along the coast, with 60% living in the coast’s 32 incorporated communities and 40% living in unincorporated communities or the countryside.(3) (4) The five largest cities are Coos Bay (15,374 residents), Astoria (9,813), North Bend (9,544), Newport (9,532), and Lincoln City (7,437).(5) The Oregon coast gained about 20,000 new residents in the 1990s, as 26 of the 32 cities grew.(6) Warrenton grew fastest, by 53%, while ten other communities grew by more than 20% and three unincorporated areas grew at least 30%.(7) The Oregon coast’s population is older than the state average, and includes many retirees.(8) According to the 2000 Census, one-third of all coastal residents are over the age of 55, and the median age on the coast is 40, compared with the state’s median age of 36.(9) Some communities are home to a large concentration of retirees – 14 communities have a median age higher than 50 years.(10) The 2,600 residents of Harbor, in Curry County, have a median age of 60.(11) The coast is ethnically homogenous; 91% of coastal residents are Caucasian, compared with 84% of the state.(12) Economy and Employment Over 100,000 people work on Oregon’s coast, 80% of whom work for private businesses.(13) Tourism leads the way, employing 23,000 people, or 22% of the labor force.(14) In 2002, tourism spending on the Oregon coast exceeded $1.3 billion, an 80% increase from 1991.(15) The growth in tourism has partially offset a decline in the coastal timber and fishing industries. Timber production in the 1980s totaled 1.3 billion board feet annually; today about 1 billion board feet are logged a year.(16) Over the last two decades timber production has declined by 30-50% in all coastal counties, with the sole exception of Clatsop, where timber production has actually increased.(17) Yet the coast remains one of the largest producers of timber in Oregon – in 2002 the coast accounted for more than a quarter of all timber production in the state.(18) Likewise, though coastal revenues for salmon troll and gillnet fishing declined over 90% from 1988 to 1999, in 1999 the fishing industry generated $123 million of personal income for coastal communities.(19) (20) Agriculture is important in many parts of the Oregon coast. In 2001, gross farm sales on the Oregon coast totaled more than $175 million.(21) Dairy products brought in nearly $95 million in sales, which is more than one-third of state dairy production; Tillamook County alone produces $85 million in dairy products annually.(22) Some regions are perfect for specific products; farms in Curry County account for 90 percent of the nation’s Easter lily bulbs, and 35 million pounds of cranberries are grown on acidic soils near Bandon.(23) (24) Despite growth in some areas, the coast’s economy lags behind the rest of the state. While statewide employment grew by 23% from 1990 to 2000, coastal jobs increased by only 13%.(25) Unemployment has also been higher on the coast. From 1996 to 2001 the average unemployment rate on the coast was more than 7%, compared with 5.7% for the state.(26) Using an index based on employment and income figures, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department considers four coastal counties (Coos, Douglas, Lane outside of Dunes City, and Lincoln) to be economically distressed, along with seven communities outside of the economically distressed coastal counties (Astoria, Brookings, Garibaldi, Gold Beach, Nehalem, Port Orford, and Tillamook).(27) Income on the Oregon coast has also lagged behind that in other parts of Oregon, and poverty has been higher. Coastal per capita income is $24,000 a year, 15% below the state average.(28) And the 2000 Census found 13% of coastal residents live in poverty, compared with 10.6% statewide. Children First for Oregon reports nearly half of all children on the coast (46%) live in or near poverty, compared with 37% statewide.(29) Transportation Highway 101 is a scenic byway that runs the length of the Oregon Coast, acting both as a highway and a main street through many coastal communities. With a growth in population, traffic has become more congested on Highway 101: the Oregon Department of Transportation data show the average daily flow of traffic increased by 10% from 1993 to 2003.(30) The influence of seasonal tourism on Highway 101 is also evident, as traffic volumes in August are an average of 59% higher than traffic volumes in January.(31) The Beach In 1967, the Oregon Legislature passed the Beach Bill, which guaranteed public access to all of Oregon’s beaches. Today, 90% of Oregon’s beaches are accessible to the public via 1,150 beach access points, an average of three access points per mile of coastline.(32) Beach erosion is a major concern, with 13% of the coastline critically eroding according to a 1999 study.(33) Approximately 5% of the coastline has some form of armoring or structure to limit erosion.(34) However, these structures exacerbate erosion problems in neighboring areas. View this document as a two-page handout: About the Coast (545K PDF) View the accompanying citations page as a two-page handout: AboutTheCoast-Citation Page (548K PDF) ENDNOTES When examining available data the “coast” included data for Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Tillamook, and Lincoln Counties, and, when possible (e.g. with Census data), Dunes City, Florence, and Reedsport. Lane and Douglas Counties were omitted from calculations because estimates for data attributable to the small portions of the counties in the coastal zone could not be made or obtained (with the exception of some community data for Dunes City, Florence, and Reedsport). 1) Length of coastline source: Surfrider Foundation. State of the Beach 2003: Oregon Summary. Website. http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach/6-state/state.asp?state=OR. Back to text 2) Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development Ocean-Coastal Management Program. Visiting the Coast: Population and Demographics. Website. http://www.lcd.state.or.us/coast/visiting/popul_demig.html. Back to text 3) Gross population source: Ibid. http://www.lcd.state.or.us/coast/visiting/popul_demig.html. Back to text 4) Number of incorporated communities and population distribution source: 2000 Census Data. http://www.census.gov/. [Methodology: The census lists both the populations of incorporated communities and counties, so the total population of coastal communities was subtracted from the coastal county population to estimate the number of people living in unincorporated areas.] Back to text 5) 2000 Census Data. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 6) 1990 and 2000 Census Data. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 7) Ibid. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 8) Average age data source: 2000 Census Data. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 9) Steve Cowden. “The Coast Snapshot.” In Pulaski, Alex. 16 November 2003. “The Nine States of Oregon – Plying and Idle Economy: The Coast.” The Oregonian. Back to text 10) 2000 Census Data. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 11) Ibid. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 12) Ibid. http://www.census.gov/. Back to text 13) 2001 Data from US Bureau of Economic Analysis. http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/data.htm. Back to text 14) Dean Runyan Associates. February 2004. Oregon Travel Impacts, 1991-2003p: Statewide Preliminary Estimates, Detailed County Estimates. Salem: Oregon Tourism Commission. http://www.deanrunyan.com/impactsOR.html. Back to text 15) Ibid. http://www.deanrunyan.com/impactsOR.html. Back to text 16) Oregon Department of Forestry. Oregon Annual Timber Harvest Reports. http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/resource_policy/resource_planning/Annual_Reports/Default.asp. Back to text 17) Ibid. http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/resource_policy/resource_planning/Annual_Reports/Default.asp. Back to text 18) Ibid. http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/resource_policy/resource_planning/Annual_Reports/Default.asp. Back to text 19) Gilden, Jennifer (ed.). 1999. Oregon’s Changing Coastal Fishing Communities. Corvallis: Oregon Seagrant and Oregon State University. http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/o99001.pdf. Back to text 20) Oregon State Archives. Oregon Blue Book. http://bluebook.state.or.us/facts/economy/economy05.htm. Back to text 21) Oregon Agricultural Information Network. 2001 Gross Farm Sales Report. Oregon State University Extension Service. http://ludwig.arec.orst.edu/oain/SignIn.asp. Back to text 22) Oregon Agricultural Information Network. 2002 Dairy Products Commodity Report. Oregon State University Extension Service. http://ludwig.arec.orst.edu/oain/SignIn.asp. Back to text 23) Easter Lily bulb data source: Curry County website. http://www.co.curry.or.us/. Back to text 24) Cranberry harvest data sources: Nakano, Craig. 11 August 2002. “At Play on Oregon’s Coast.” LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/la-tr-coosbay11aug11.story. -and- Oregon Department of Agriculture. 24 June 1998. “Oregon Cranberry Industry Poised for Expansion.” http://www.oda.state.or.us/information/news/1998/cranberry_98.html. Back to text 25) Steve Cowden. “How the States Stack Up.” In Mapes, Jeff, Alex Pulaski, and Gail Kinsey Hill. 2 November 2003. “The Nine States of Oregon.” The Oregonian. Back to text 26) Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. http://www.econ.state.or.us/. Back to text 27) Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Distressed Areas in Oregon. http://www.econ.state.or.us/distarea.htm. Back to text 28) 2001 Data from US Bureau of Economic Analysis. http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/data.htm. Back to text 29) Children First for Oregon. Status of Oregon’s Children: County Data Book 2003. http://www.childrenfirstfororegon.org/databooks.htm. Back to text 30) Oregon Department of Transportation. Automatic Traffic Recorder Stations. http://www.odot.state.or.us/tdb/traffic_monitoring/tvtable.htm. Back to text 31) Ibid. http://www.odot.state.or.us/tdb/traffic_monitoring/tvtable.htm. Back to text 32) Surfrider Foundation. State of the Beach 2003: Oregon Summary. Website. http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach/6-state/state.asp?state=OR. [Note: The Surfrider report calculates 1,150 beach access points to correspond to one every ½ mile, but the figure stated in this fact sheet reflects 1,150 access points/362 miles of coastline=slightly more than three points per mile.] Back to text 33) Ibid. http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach/6-state/state.asp?state=OR. Back to text 34) Ibid. http://www.beach.com/stateofthebeach/6-state/state.asp?state=OR. Back to text Return to Coastal Futures homepage

		For more information, please contact: Coastal Advocate, 1000 Friends of Oregon (503) 391-0210 \| info@coastalfutures.org