Port Orford, Oregon

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Port Orford, Oregon |settlement_type = City |motto = "Natural. Wonders." |image_skyline = port Orford.jpg |imagesize = 200px |image_caption = 1990 Aerial view of Port Orford |image_map = Curry_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Port_Orford_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location in Oregon |pushpin_map = USA |pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Oregon |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Curry  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = |established_title = Incorporated |established_date = 1911  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_total_sq_mi = 1.60 |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 = 4.15 |area_land_sq_mi = 1.56 |area_land_km2 = 4.04 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.05 |area_water_km2 = 0.12  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> |population_total = 1146 |population_density_km2 = 283.90 |population_density_sq_mi = 735.09  |timezone = Pacific |utc_offset = -8 |timezone_DST = Pacific |utc_offset_DST = -7 |coordinates = {{coord|42|44|59|N|124|29|51|W|type:city(1153)_region:US-OR_source:gnis-1147902_elevation:18|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 43 |website = [http://www.portorford.org www.portorford.org]  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 97465 |area_code = 541 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 41-59250<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/> |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2411467<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411467}}</ref> |footnotes = }}

'''Port Orford''' ({{langx|tol|tr’ee-ghi~’- ’an’}}<ref>{{Cite web | title = Siletz Talking Dictionary|website=Siletz.swarthmore.edu| access-date = 2012-06-04| url = http://siletz.swarthmore.edu/?entry=5722}}</ref>) is a city in Curry County on the southern coast of Oregon, United States. The population was 1,146 at the 2020 census.

The city takes its name from George Vancouver's original name for nearby Cape Blanco, which he named for George, Earl of Orford, "a much-respected friend."

Port Orford is the westernmost settlement in the state of Oregon, and the westernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Port Orford|publisher=City of Port Orford|url=http://www.portorford.org/|access-date=2015-05-27}}</ref>

==History== thumb|left|Circa 1920–30 Before the arrival of European settlers, the Port Orford area was inhabited by the indigenous Tututni people. The Tututni languages were a part of the Pacific Coast Athabaskan language family.<ref name="rules">{{cite web | url=http://www.native-languages.org/tututni.htm| title=Tututni Language and the Coquille Indian Tribe|publisher=Native Languages of the Americas|access-date=2009-03-06}}</ref> [[File:Battle Rock, Oregon.png|thumb|Battle Rock<ref name="Brock">Oregon Geographic Names, in Oregon Historical Quarterly, 1925</ref> as depicted in the 19th century]] thumb|Battle Rock

Spanish explorer Bartoleme Ferrelo mapped Cape Blanco in 1543. It remained the farthest north point on the coastal map until 1778, when British explorer Captain Cook found land farther west.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4Kkjd_xwS0C&q=cape+blanco+spanish&pg=PT41|title=On the Edge: Mapping North America's Coasts|last=Dunlap|first=Thomas R.|date=2012-07-18|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199974382|language=en}}</ref> Captain George Vancouver sighted land and named it Port Orford in 1792.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T_WQDWc_vuQC&q=port+orford+tichenor&pg=PT9|title=Port Orford and North Curry County|last=Nelson|first=Shirley|date=2010-08-09|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=9781439640272|language=en}}</ref> In June 1851, Captain William Tichenor, in command of the U.S.S. ''Seagull'', pulled into Port Orford, leaving behind nine men.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l-gNAAAAIAAJ&q=port+orford+tichenor&pg=PA193|title=... History of Oregon ...|last=Bancroft|first=Hubert Howe|date=1888|publisher=History Company|language=en}}</ref> Fort Orford, a U.S. Army fort, was established 14 Sep 1851 near the town and lasted until 22 Aug 1856.

In October 1941, then-mayor Gilbert Gable, frustrated with the poor condition of the state roads around Port Orford, which hampered both travel and economic development, suggested that a number of counties along the Oregon and California state border should secede and create the State of Jefferson. This movement came to an end with U.S. involvement in World War II.<ref name="gable">{{cite web| url=http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/jefferson03.asp| title=Jefferson County: The State that Almost Seceded| publisher=AAA| access-date=2009-03-06| archive-date=March 2, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302161758/http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/jefferson03.asp| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography== Port Orford is located on U.S. Route 101 between the Pacific Ocean and the Siskiyou National Forest, {{convert|28|mi|km}} north of Gold Beach and {{convert|27|mi|km}} south of Bandon. At 124 degrees, 29 minutes, 53 seconds west longitude, it is the westernmost city in the contiguous United States, though in Clallam County, Washington, there are three unincorporated communities that are farther west than Port Orford: Neah Bay, La Push, and Ozette. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2011-02-20}}</ref>

There is a low promontory called Battle Rock on the southern coast of Port Orford.<ref name="Brock"/>

===Climate=== Port Orford has an oceanic climate (''Csb'' according to the Köppen climate classification system) with cool, very wet winters and mild, dry summers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=487653&cityname=Port+Orford,+Oregon,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Port Orford, Oregon Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase.com|access-date=16 December 2017}}</ref> The average annual precipitation is {{Convert|72.61|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="wrcc">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?orporf|title=PORT ORFORD 2, OREGON - Climate Summary|website=Wrcc.dri.edu|access-date=16 December 2017}}</ref> It is at the northern end of Oregon's "banana belt", a region with relatively warm weather caused by the Brookings effect. Its hardiness zone is 9b.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zipdatamaps.com/97465|title=Zip Code 97465 Profile, Map and Demographics - December 2017|access-date=16 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014407/http://www.zipdatamaps.com/97465|archive-date=17 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> <div style="width: 75%;"> {{Weather box |location = Port Orford, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present) |single line = Y |collapsed = Y |Jan record high F = 79 |Feb record high F = 79 |Mar record high F = 82 |Apr record high F = 82 |May record high F = 88 |Jun record high F = 86 |Jul record high F = 88 |Aug record high F = 86 |Sep record high F = 95 |Oct record high F = 89 |Nov record high F = 78 |Dec record high F = 80 |year record high F = |Jan high F = 54.4 |Feb high F = 55.0 |Mar high F = 55.4 |Apr high F = 56.9 |May high F = 60.7 |Jun high F = 63.9 |Jul high F = 67.5 |Aug high F = 68.2 |Sep high F = 67.2 |Oct high F = 63.1 |Nov high F = 57.3 |Dec high F = 54.5 |year high F = 60.3 | Jan mean F = 48.0 | Feb mean F = 48.1 | Mar mean F = 48.8 | Apr mean F = 50.5 | May mean F = 54.2 | Jun mean F = 57.4 | Jul mean F = 60.7 | Aug mean F = 60.9 | Sep mean F = 59.3 | Oct mean F = 55.4 | Nov mean F = 50.4 | Dec mean F = 47.6 | year mean F = |Jan low F = 41.6 |Feb low F = 41.2 |Mar low F = 42.3 |Apr low F = 44.1 |May low F = 47.7 |Jun low F = 50.9 |Jul low F = 53.9 |Aug low F = 53.7 |Sep low F = 51.3 |Oct low F = 47.6 |Nov low F = 43.5 |Dec low F = 40.7 |year low F = 46.5 |Jan record low F = 14 |Feb record low F = 19 |Mar record low F = 26 |Apr record low F = 24 |May record low F = 26 |Jun record low F = 33 |Jul record low F = 33 |Aug record low F = 35 |Sep record low F = 28 |Oct record low F = 28 |Nov record low F = 20 |Dec record low F = 13 |year record low F = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 11.60 |Feb precipitation inch = 8.51 |Mar precipitation inch = 9.34 |Apr precipitation inch = 6.79 |May precipitation inch = 3.39 |Jun precipitation inch = 1.90 |Jul precipitation inch = 0.40 |Aug precipitation inch = 0.56 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.54 |Oct precipitation inch = 4.82 |Nov precipitation inch = 10.16 |Dec precipitation inch = 12.62 |unit precipitation days = 0.05 in |Jan precipitation days = 20.4 |Feb precipitation days = 17.3 |Mar precipitation days = 20.2 |Apr precipitation days = 18.3 |May precipitation days = 11.2 |Jun precipitation days = 7.6 |Jul precipitation days = 2.3 |Aug precipitation days = 2.8 |Sep precipitation days = 5.7 |Oct precipitation days = 11.6 |Nov precipitation days = 20.0 |Dec precipitation days = 20.3 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00356784&location=OR|title = NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = 2022-01-08}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00356784&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 13, 2025}}</ref> |date=January 8th, 2022 }} </div>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1860= 146 |1870= 100 |1890= 108 |1900= 227 |1910= 227 |1920= 217 |1930= 300 |1940= 755 |1950= 674 |1960= 1171 |1970= 1037 |1980= 1061 |1990= 1025 |2000= 1153 |2010= 1133 |2020= 1146 |footnote=source:<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|url=https://www.census.gov|access-date=2013-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Moffatt|first=Riley Moore|title=Population History of Western U.S. Cities and Towns, 1850–1990|location=Lanham, Maryland|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=1996|page=214|isbn=978-0-8108-3033-2}}</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, Port Orford had a population of 1,146. The median age was 60.8 years. 11.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 41.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 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%3A59250&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 29, 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%3A59250&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 605 households in Port Orford, of which 14.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.7% were married-couple households, 24.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 737 housing units, of which 17.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.6% were owner-occupied and 33.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.<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%3A59250&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 1,011 || 88.2% |- | Black or African American || 5 || 0.4% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 21 || 1.8% |- | Asian || 8 || 0.7% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 4 || 0.3% |- | Some other race || 12 || 1.0% |- | Two or more races || 85 || 7.4% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 48 || 4.2% |}

===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, there were 1,133 people, 603 households, and 285 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|726.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 767 housing units at an average density of {{convert|491.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.6% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 603 households, of which 11.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.7% were non-families. 43.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.47.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age in the city was 54.7 years. 11.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.3% were from 25 to 44; 36.7% were from 45 to 64; and 28.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

===2000 census=== As of the census of 2000, there were 1,153 people, 571 households, and 311 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|719.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 662 housing units at an average density of {{convert|412.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.40% White, 0.09% African American, 1.39% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.60% of the population.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

There were 571 households, out of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45% were non-families. 39% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2 people and the average family size was 2.66.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $23,289, and the median income for a family was $29,653. Males had a median income of $35,221 versus $15,179 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,442. About 16.1% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="wwwcensusgov"/> ==Education== The city is served by the Port Orford-Langlois School District, which includes Driftwood Elementary School, and Pacific High School.<ref>{{cite web|title=Port Orford/Langlois Schools|url=http://www.2cj.com |publisher=Port Orford-Langlois School District|access-date=2011-11-03}}</ref>

==Media== * KDPO-FM 91.9 Radio, repeater station to KDOV-FM of Medford, Oregon

==Notable people== *Hanneke Cassel (1978–), folk violinist *Eli Clare (1963–), writer *Samuel Colver (1817–1891), settler *Richard T. Drinnon (1925–2012), historian *Gilbert Gable (1886–1941), politician *Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), musician *David Brock Smith, politician *Rick Harrison (1965-), TV star *William Tichenor (1813-1887), settler and politician

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

==External links== * [http://www.portorford.org/index.html Official site] * [https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/l-r/port-orford.aspx Entry for Port Orford] in the ''Oregon Blue Book'' * {{Oregon Encyclopedia|port_orford|City of Port Orford}} * wikisource:en:Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 25/Address by Binger Hermann

Category:Port Orford, Oregon Category:Cities in Oregon Category:Populated coastal places in Oregon Category:Cities in Curry County, Oregon Category:Port cities and towns in Oregon Category:1856 establishments in Oregon Territory Category:Tututni Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1856