{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Elgin, Oregon | settlement_type = City | nickname = Jewel of the Blue Mountains | motto = | image_skyline = The Elgin Opera House and City Hall, Elgin - DPLA - 04149860899f8bff7ccef7fc5ad27f53.jpg | imagesize = 280px | image_caption = Elgin Opera House and City Hall | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = Union_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Elgin_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250x200px | map_caption = Location in Oregon | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Oregon | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Union | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = S. James Johnson <ref>[https://cityofelginor.org/pages/city-council City Council]</ref> | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1891 | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = 1.01 | area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='41'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 2.62 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.01 | area_land_km2 = 2.62 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 1717 | population_metro = | population_urban = | population_density_km2 = 655.78 | population_density_sq_mi = 1698.32 | timezone = Pacific | utc_offset = -8 | timezone_DST = Pacific | utc_offset_DST = -7 | coordinates = {{coord|45|33|53|N|117|55|17|W|type:city_region:US-OR_source:gnis|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 2687 | website = [http://www.cityofelginor.org/ www.cityofelginor.org] | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 97827 | area_code = 541 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 41-22550<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2410422<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410422}}</ref> | footnotes = | pop_est_footnotes = | unit_pref = Imperial | leader_title1 = City Administrator | leader_name1 = Alex McHaddad <ref>https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=714855984170678&set=pcb.714856334170643 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref> }} '''Elgin''' is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Elgin had a population of 1,717.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{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&for=place%3A22550&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 2, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The community is named after the ''Lady Elgin'', a ship lost on Lake Michigan.
The city is known for the Elgin Opera House, originally dedicated in 1912.<ref>{{Oregon Encyclopedia|elgin_opera_house|Elgin Opera House|Joe Fitzgibbon}}</ref> ==History== {{moresources|section|date=September 2025}} Elgin was settled by hunters, trappers, and people of all ethnic groups. Very rarely did they make the treacherous travels from nearby La Grande, because it was 120 miles away by river through the valley, which back then was covered in thick forest. (Today, La Grande and Elgin are only 20 miles away via Wallowa Lake Highway). Elgin was the gathering place for trappers and hunters to replenish their supplies. Many settlers emigrated from Walla Walla across the mountains on dog sleds. This is how Elgin became the "Elgin Huskies". Mr. Mckinnis and his family were the first settlers. He brought cattle from Illinois and moved to what was the outskirts of Elgin, and built one of the first homes. Even though his home is not set in the history in Elgin there is a letter from his wife's sister attesting to this fact. Mr. McKinnis built the mills from Elgin to La Grande and also owned all the century farms in the valley passing them down to his kin in death. He also worked in the first bank in Elgin before they moved to La Grande. Mr. McKinnis stated that this home was built in 1864. thumb|upright|Old grain elevator in Elgin The area of Elgin was previously called "Fish Trap" and "Indian Valley." The city was platted in 1886 following the washout of Ruckles Road over the Blue Mountains, which caused investors to leave nearby Summerville for Elgin.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Barbara Ruth|title=Main Street: Northeastern Oregon|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|year=1982|isbn=0-87595-073-6|page=87}}</ref>
By 1887 Elgin had general stores, a livery, a hotel, and a church, as well as a nearby sawmill, which continues as a more modern Boise Cascade mill.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bailey|first=Barbara Ruth|title=Main Street: Northeastern Oregon|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|year=1982|isbn=0-87595-073-6|page=106}}</ref> Between 1887 and 1908, the area around Elgin had 35 sawmills, most transportable water-driven whipsaws (vertical reciprocating saws).<ref name="rr">{{cite book|last=Deumling|first=Dietrich|title=The roles of the railroad in the development of the Grande Ronde Valley (masters thesis)|publisher=Northern Arizona University|location=Flagstaff, Arizona|date=May 1972|oclc=4383986|page=61}}</ref> Local landowners would sell the trees for 50 cents per thousand board feet, which is about how much the sawmills could handle in a day.<ref name="rr" /> At the time, log transportation cost about two dollars per thousand board feet, and a mill could sell the processed lumber for $6–10 per thousand board feet.<ref name="rr" />
Growth increased with the arrival of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company railroad branch line from La Grande, Oregon in Nov. 1890.<ref name="Asay">{{cite book | last=Asay| first=Jeff| title=Union pacific Northwest: A Revised and Expanded History of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company | year=2014 | publisher=Union Pacific Historical Society | page=19 | isbn=978-1-932704-32-7 }}</ref> The railroad was expanded from Elgin to Wallowa, Oregon and Joseph, Oregon in 1908 by the Union Pacific Railroad. Elgin was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 18, 1891.<ref name="law">{{cite journal|last=Baker|first=Frank C.|year=1891|title=Special Laws|journal=The Laws of Oregon, and the Resolutions and Memorials of the Sixteenth Regular Session of the Legislative Assembly Thereof|publisher=State Printer|location=Salem, Oregon|page=774|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yr2wAAAAIAAJ&q=oregon%20legislature%20hillsboro%20incorporation&pg=PA774}}</ref>
==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|0.99|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{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 }}</ref>
Elgin is at the junction of Oregon Route 82 and Oregon Route 204. Jubilee Lake and its campground are {{convert|19|mi|km}} north of Elgin, in the Umatilla National Forest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umatilla/recreation|title=Jubilee Lake Campground|publisher=U.S. Forest Service|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite map|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey|title=The National Map|series=National Hydrography Dataset|url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/?p=default&b=base1&q=jubilee%20lake%2C%20oregon&x=-13131333.872229094&y=5747272.948822515&l=10&v=|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref>
==Climate== This 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, Elgin has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=853&cityname=Elgin%2C+Oregon%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Elgin, Oregon]</ref>
{{Weather box |location = Elgin |single line = Y | Jan record high F = 65 | Feb record high F = 68 | Mar record high F = 78 | Apr record high F = 91 | May record high F = 98 | Jun record high F = 101 | Jul record high F = 108 | Aug record high F = 110 | Sep record high F = 103 | Oct record high F = 92 | Nov record high F = 73 | Dec record high F = 64 | year record high F = 110 | Jan high F = 38.1 | Feb high F = 44.1 | Mar high F = 51.8 | Apr high F = 60.6 | May high F = 69.3 | Jun high F = 76.6 | Jul high F = 87.1 | Aug high F = 86.9 | Sep high F = 78.1 | Oct high F = 64.4 | Nov high F = 47.6 | Dec high F = 39.7 | year high F = 62 | Jan low F = 21.7 | Feb low F = 24.6 | Mar low F = 28.1 | Apr low F = 32.5 | May low F = 38 | Jun low F = 43.4 | Jul low F = 46.4 | Aug low F = 44.7 | Sep low F = 37.9 | Oct low F = 31.7 | Nov low F = 27.6 | Dec low F = 23.7 | year low F = 33.4 | Jan record low F = -27 | Feb record low F = -26 | Mar record low F = -17 | Apr record low F = 11 | May record low F = 17 | Jun record low F = 26 | Jul record low F = 29 | Aug record low F = 25 | Sep record low F = 19 | Oct record low F = 8 | Nov record low F = -24 | Dec record low F = -31 | year record low F = -31 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 2.95 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.5 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.18 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.79 | May precipitation inch = 1.89 | Jun precipitation inch = 1.6 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.65 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.72 | Sep precipitation inch = 1 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.86 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.12 | Dec precipitation inch = 3.37 | year precipitation inch = 23.63 | Jan precipitation days = 13 | Feb precipitation days = 12 | Mar precipitation days = 13 | Apr precipitation days = 11 | May precipitation days = 10 | Jun precipitation days = 9 | Jul precipitation days = 4 | Aug precipitation days = 5 | Sep precipitation days = 6 | Oct precipitation days = 9 | Nov precipitation days = 13 | Dec precipitation days = 13 | Jan snow inch = 14.8 | Feb snow inch = 7.4 | Mar snow inch = 3.2 | Apr snow inch = 0.5 | May snow inch = 0 | Jun snow inch = 0 | Jul snow inch = 0 | Aug snow inch = 0 | Sep snow inch = 0 | Oct snow inch = 0.1 | Nov snow inch = 4.6 | Dec snow inch = 11.3 | year snow inch = 41.9
|source 1 = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?or2597 |title=ELGIN, OR (352597) |access-date=November 23, 2015 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref> |date=November 2015 }}
==Demographics== {{US Census population |1890= 227 |1900= 603 |1910= 1120 |1920= 1043 |1930= 728 |1940= 997 |1950= 1223 |1960= 1315 |1970= 1375 |1980= 1701 |1990= 1586 |2000= 1654 |2010= 1711 |2020= 1717 |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="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N%2CNAME&for=place%3A%2A&in=state%3A41|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}
===2020 census===
As of the 2020 census, Elgin had a population of 1,717. The median age was 41.4 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males.<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%3A22550&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 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%3A22550&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 707 households in Elgin, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.6% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 762 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.8% were owner-occupied and 34.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
{| 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%3A22550&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 1,446 || 84.2% |- | Black or African American || 2 || 0.1% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 16 || 0.9% |- | Asian || 6 || 0.3% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.1% |- | Some other race || 13 || 0.8% |- | Two or more races || 233 || 13.6% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 68 || 4.0% |}
===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, there were 1,711 people, 714 households, and 482 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1728.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 778 housing units at an average density of {{convert|785.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.2% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-12-21}}</ref>
There were 714 households, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
The median age in the city was 43.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
===2000 census=== As of the census of 2000, there were 1,654 people, 638 households, and 444 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,675.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 699 housing units at an average density of {{convert|708.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.16% White, 0.06% African American, 0.73% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
There were 638 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
The median income for a household in the city was $31,449, and the median income for a family was $35,529. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,861. About 8.8% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/> ==Education== Served by Elgin School District 23.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41061_union/DC20SD_C41061.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, OR|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=2025-04-03}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41061_union/DC20SD_C41061_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Union County is not in the boundary of any community college district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clatsopcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02-2-OR-CC-color-map.pdf|title=Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts|publisher=Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development|accessdate=2025-04-03}}</ref>
==Notable people==
*Earl Avery Thompson, inventor of the manual transmission synchronizer in 1923 and leader of the team at General Motors Corporation that developed the first Hydramatic automatic transmission in 1940. *Byron "By" Speece, major league baseball player, 1924 World Series Champions playing for the Washington Senators.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/e-k/elgin.aspx Entry for Elgin] in the ''Oregon Blue Book'' * [http://www.oregongenealogy.com/union/elgin.htm Elgin history]
{{Union County, Oregon}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Cities in Oregon Category:Cities in Union County, Oregon Category:1886 establishments in Oregon Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1886