Cove is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 620 at the 2020 census.

History

This area was well known to the Cayuse and Nez Perce Tribes who referred to it as Wiweeletitpe (wee-walla-tit-puh), meaning "Many creeks flowing at that place". Euro-Americans first settled here in 1862, and in 1863 they established a post office named Forest Cove. Samuel G. French was the first postmaster. To avoid confusion between Forest Cove and another Oregon community, Forest Grove in Washington County, post office authorities changed the name to Cove in 1868.

Geography

Cove lies east of La Grande and north of Union along the eastern edge of the Grande Ronde Valley of northeastern Oregon. Mill Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River, flows west from the Wallowa Mountains through Cove. Mount Fanny rises to about about east of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. Oregon Route 237 passes through Cove.

The average total annual precipitation in Cove is about . July has the highest average maximum temperature, about , while January has the lowest average minimum, .

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Cove had a population of 620. The median age was 47.8 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.8 males age 18 and over.

There were 272 households in Cove, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.7% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 563 || 90.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 1 || 0.2%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 9 || 1.5%

|-

| Asian || 4 || 0.6%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0%

|-

| Some other race || 5 || 0.8%

|-

| Two or more races || 38 || 6.1%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 21 || 3.4%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 552 people, 240 households, and 161 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 257 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 0.7% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 240 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.9% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.75. which operates a K-12 public charter school called the Cove School. Cove High School participates in the 1A Old Oregon League in the OSAA.

Union County is not in the boundary of any community college district.

Parks and recreation

Cove Hot Springs Pool is a natural warm-water swimming pool.

Notable people

  • Greg Barreto, former state representative
  • Frank E. Childs, thoroughbred trainer in Racing Hall of Fame, born in Cove
  • Lee Morse, torch singer of the 1920s and '30s, born in Cove
  • Dean Smith, pioneer airmail pilot

References

  • Entry for Cove in the Oregon Blue Book
  • Cove community website
  • City of Cove website