Detroit, Oregon

{{About | the city in Oregon | the city in Michigan | Detroit }} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Detroit, Oregon |settlement_type = [[City]] |nickname = |motto = |image_skyline = Detroit oregon skyline.jpg |image_caption = Looking north along Detroit Avenue in 2009 |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = Marion_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Detroit_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location in [[Oregon]] |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Oregon]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Marion County, Oregon|Marion]] |government_type = |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = Jim Trett{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} |established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] |established_date = 1952 |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web |title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Oregon|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_41.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=July 28, 2025}}</ref> |area_total_sq_mi = 0.95 |area_land_sq_mi = 0.59 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.37 |area_total_km2 = 2.47 |area_land_km2 = 1.52 |area_water_km2 = 0.95 |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_urban_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] |population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=&g=160XX00US4119100| title=P1. Race – Detroit city, Oregon: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=July 28, 2025}}</ref> |population_total = 203 |population_est = |pop_est_as_of = |population_note = |population_metro = |population_urban = |population_density_km2 = 133.71 |population_density_sq_mi = 346.42 |timezone = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]] |utc_offset = -8 |timezone_DST = Pacific |utc_offset_DST = -7 |coordinates = {{coord|44|44|02|N|122|09|04|W|type:city_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 1604 |postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] |postal_code = 97342 |area_codes = [[Area codes 503 and 971|503 and 971]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 41-19100<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2015-03-07 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 2410330<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410330}}</ref> |website = {{URL|detroitoregon.us}} |footnotes = }} '''Detroit''' is a city in [[Marion County, Oregon]], United States. It was named for [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], in the 1890s because of the large number of people from Michigan in the community. The population was 203 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/> It is part of the [[Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History== [[File:Railroad Turntable just above Detroit, OR. circa 1900 (8113443604).jpg|thumb|left|Railroad turntable, just above Detroit, {{Circa|1900}}]] The original townsite of Detroit was inundated in the summer of 1952 when the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] finished [[Detroit Dam]] on the [[Santiam River]].<ref name="dam">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/V/proj_detbc.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109033948/https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/v/proj_detbc.asp|url-status=dead|title=Willamette Valley Projects - Portland District - US Army Corps of Engineers|archivedate=January 9, 2009}}</ref> The community was relocated about {{convert|1/2|mi|km}} northwest of the original site, on [[Oregon Route 22|Route 22]], and was incorporated as a city the same year.

Construction on the concrete Detroit Dam began on April 1, 1949, as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Willamette Valley Project. The completed dam was dedicated by former Oregon Governor [[Douglas McKay]] and the U. S. Secretary of the Interior on June 10, 1953. In addition to flood control, the dam benefited navigation, irrigation, electric power production, stream purification and recreation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/findingaids/?p=collections/findingaid&id=2876#id473120|title=Gerald W. Williams Regional Albums, 1875-2000|website=scarc.library.oregonstate.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-04-28}} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)] license.</ref>

Located near [[Detroit Lake]] and [[Detroit Lake State Park]], Detroit's economy is dependent on [[tourism]]. The community suffered from a drought in 2001, when Detroit Lake was little more than the Santiam River through the summer.<ref name="lowwater">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theslowlane.com/01tripg/detrl.html|title=Low water picture of Detroit Lake|access-date=January 30, 2007|archive-date=September 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110319/http://www.theslowlane.com/01tripg/detrl.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2010, by a vote of 47–37,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101103/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_the_other_detroit_2|title=Ashamed to be Detroit? Not this tiny Oregon town|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=2010-11-03}}</ref> citizens in Detroit voted down a ballot measure that would have changed the city's name to Detroit Lake, the name of the neighboring reservoir and one of the most visited summer sites in Oregon. The proposal was put forth by Doug DeGeorge, a builder and motel owner who resides in Arizona and wanted to disassociate the town from [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], and its close ties to "crime, corruption, failing schools, and a shaky auto industry". DeGeorge was not present on the day of the city council vote, but repercussions from his comments had phone lines flooded with angry calls from Michigan residents. Voters chose to keep the original name of the city, though most residents and tourists still call it Detroit Lake.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/26/travel/main6992789.shtml |title=Oregon Tourist Town Considers Dumping 'Detroit' |date=2010-10-26 |access-date=2010-10-27 |work=CBS News }}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Gary Brown, a city councilman in Detroit, Michigan, disagreed with the proposal, saying that residents would have made a big mistake because "the Motor City will one day return to its previous glory".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/26/detroit-oregon-name-change_n_773989.html | title=Detroit, Oregon Considers Changing Its Name To Draw More Tourists | work=[[The Huffington Post]] | date=2010-10-26 | access-date=2010-10-27}}</ref>

On September 9, 2020, the entire city of Detroit was mostly burned to the ground during the [[Santiam Fire]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wildfire/gov-brown-press-conference-on-wildfires-in-oregon/283-d8014ecc-cf04-4ba5-bb05-3609141542ab | title=Gov. Brown: Towns of Detroit, Blue River, Vida, Phoenix and Talent are 'substantially destroyed' | work=[[KGW]] | date=2020-09-09 | access-date=2020-09-10}}</ref> Dozens of people were trapped, but managed to escape on a forest road through the active fire.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Healy|first1=Jack|last2=Baker|first2=Mike|date=2020-09-17|title=A Desperate Bid for Survival as Fire Closed In on an Oregon Mountain Town|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/us/fires-oregon-detroit.html|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Detroit, Oregon, destroyed by wildfires|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2020/09/10/detroit-oregon-destroyed-by-wildfires/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=opb}}</ref><ref name="fatalities confirmed">{{cite web|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2020/09/09/santiam-fire-mellows-overnight-but-were-not-out-woods/5754242002/|title=UPDATES: First Santiam Fire fatalities confirmed; sheriff warns people to stay away|author1=David Davis|author2=Zach Urness|author3=Connor Radnovich|author4=Capi Lynn|publisher=Salem Statesman Journal|date=September 11, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}}</ref> A few months later, during the [[February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm|February 2021 winter and ice storm]], the city received 26 in (66 cm) of snow{{emdash}}the most of any place affected by the storm.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weather.com/safety/winter/news/2021-02-14-winter-storm-uri-south-midwest-northeast-snow-ice | title=Winter Storm Uri Spread Snow, Damaging Ice from Coast-to Coast, Including the Deep South (Recap) }}</ref>

==Geography== Detroit is in eastern Marion County, within the [[Cascade Range]]. It is on the north side of [[Detroit Lake]], a reservoir on the [[North Santiam River]]. A tributary, the [[Breitenbush River]], enters the lake on the west side of the city. [[Oregon Route 22]] passes through the center of town, leading east then south {{convert|31|mi}} to [[U.S. Route 20]] at [[Santiam Junction]], and west {{convert|52|mi}} to [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]], the state capital and Marion [[county seat]]. The {{convert|10497|ft|adj=on}} summit [[Mount Jefferson (Oregon)|Mount Jefferson]] is {{convert|17|mi}} to the east-southeast.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Detroit has a total area of {{convert|0.96|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.37|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 38.4%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Climate=== The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above {{convert|71.6|F|C}}. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Detroit has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated ''Csb'' on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=772253&cityname=Detroit,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Detroit, Oregon Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | single line = yes | location = [[Detroit Dam]] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present)

| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pqr |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 12, 2025}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00352292&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 12, 2025}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1960= 206 |1970= 328 |1980= 367 |1990= 331 |2000= 262 |2010= 202 |2020= 203 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Census 2020"/> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Detroit had a population of 203. The median age was 58.6 years, with 11.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 32.5% 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.5 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A19100&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 106 households in Detroit, of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.1% were married-couple households, 21.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 393 housing units, of which 73.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.3% were owner-occupied and 21.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

No residents lived in urban areas; 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A19100&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A19100&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | [[White Americans|White]] || 175 || 86.2% |- | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 0 || 0% |- | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 0 || 0% |- | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 0 || 0% |- | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 0 || 0% |- | Some other race || 3 || 1.5% |- | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 25 || 12.3% |- | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 16 || 7.9% |}

===2010 census=== As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 202 people, 96 households, and 59 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|342.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 368 housing units at an average density of {{convert|623.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.0% of the population.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 96 households, of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.64.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 51.4 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.9% were from 25 to 44; 48.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

===2000 census=== As of the census of 2000, there were 262 people, 119 households, and 69 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|496.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 383 housing units at an average density of {{convert|726.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.56% White, 1.15% Native American, 0.38% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.82% of the population.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 119 households, out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.77.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $32,250, and the median income for a family was $35,156. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $22,188 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,857. About 17.9% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 44.1% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

==Education== Detroit is served by the [[Santiam Canyon School District]], whose schools are located in nearby [[Mill City, Oregon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://santiam.k12.or.us/|title=Santiam Canyon School District 129J|website=Santiam Canyon School District}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Detroit, Oregon}} * {{Official website|detroitoregon.us}} * [http://www.detroitlakeoregon.org Detroit Lake Recreation Area Business Association] * [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/a-d/detroit.aspx Entry for Detroit] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]'' * {{Oregon Encyclopedia|city_of_detroit|Detroit|Reinhardt, Bob}}

[[Category:Cities in Oregon]] [[Category:Cities in Marion County, Oregon]] [[Category:Salem metropolitan area, Oregon]] [[Category:1952 establishments in Oregon]] [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1952]]