Socioeconomic Profile of the Oregon Coast: A Comparative Analysis

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Epperly, Haley, Tommy Swearingen, and Shannon Davis

Publish Date: 2020

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Lindsay Aylesworth

Job Position: Marine Reserves Program Leader

Telephone: 541-867-4741

E-Mail Address: lindsay.x.aylesworth@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: This report was created to provide a broad socioeconomic profile of the Oregon coastal communities. It originated from a need to understand how the coastal communities are similar or different, and how the coast differs from the rest of the state. The purpose of this report is to: • Provide a basic understanding of the historic conditions that defined the coastal communities. • Describe, in very general terms, various economic characteristics of the coastal communities. • Illustrate the unique demographic attributes of the coastal communities. • Provide demographic and economic comparisons to differentiate between these communities and between the coastal communities and the rest of the state. • Discuss several significant socioeconomic issues and trends that impact coastal communities. The information presented in this report should be of value to readers who want a general orientation to the coast of Oregon. The data are drawn from secondary sources. Certain issues such as poverty, housing affordability, population trends and gentrification are highlighted. It is common knowledge that these topics are of concern on the Oregon coast. The purpose herein is to comparatively illustrate the nature of these socioeconomic conditions along the coast. Finally, the data that form the basis of this report will be used for the evaluative purposes previously discussed, anticipating the marine reserve evaluation process in 2023. The Oregon coast is a unique region that stretches 363 miles from the Columbia River in the north to the California state border in the south. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Oregon coast is separated from the rest of the state by the Oregon Coast Range to the east. Seven counties comprise the Oregon coast region. The eastern boundaries of five coastal counties (Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, and Curry) end to the west of the Coast Range crest, while Lane and Douglas counties extend farther east to interior valleys. In the following report, comparative data for the counties of Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, and Curry are used. Similar data presented for coastal Lane County are derived from the towns of Florence and Dunes City, and data from Reedsport and Winchester Bay are used for coastal Douglas County. Livelihoods, demographics, and other socioeconomic characteristics of coastal residents vary significantly in comparison to the general Oregon population. This report is designed to capture a snapshot of the socioeconomic conditions on the Oregon coast and includes comparisons between coastal communities. In addition, the socioeconomic characteristics of Oregon’s coastal communities are compared to the data for the rest of the state. All coastal communities are included in the tables throughout the report. However, the smaller coastal communities often exhibit anomalously extreme characteristics. For this reason, communities with a population size of less than 500 are excluded from the comparative discussions. This topic is covered in more detail in the next section of this paper. Compared to the rest of Oregon, the coast is comprised of an older, less educated population with greater economic dependence on tourism and retirement. Coastal communities generally have a larger proportion of retirement-age people, higher poverty rates, and higher second-home vacancy rates than state averages. These differences, amongst others, have led to diverse coastal communities distinct from other communities throughout the rest of Oregon. In addition, the variances observed between coastal towns are often larger than those found between the coast and the state.2 Many coastal towns are widely associated with a specific economic sector (e.g. a fishing village, a tourism town, or a retirement community). Many characteristics of a town with a strong fishing industry presence will differ substantially from a community that is dependent on a significant tourism economic base. The comparisons highlighted in this paper are intended to facilitate an initial understanding of the Oregon coastal communities, but the socioeconomic circumstances of the coast warrant additional study. A brief historical chapter is presented first to facilitate readers’ understanding of how the current circumstances evolved.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: Updated April 2020. Original version 2018.

Geographic Extent: Oregon

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown