Enterprise is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon. Enterprise serves as Wallowa County's county seat. As of the 2020 census, Enterprise had a population of 2,052.

History

thumb|right|Enterprise, c.1912

thumb|right|Near Enterprise, Oregon

Enterprise was platted in 1886, and in 1887 residents considered Bennett Flat, Wallowa City, Franklin, and other possibilities before voting for Enterprise during a community meeting in a tent owned by a mercantile company. The name was meant to reflect "the policy of its inhabitants". In November 1887, a post office was established in the community, and Catherine Akin became the first postmaster.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Enterprise had a population of 2,052. The median age was 43.6 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.

The 2020 census reported that 0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 909 households in Enterprise, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.2% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 1,833 || 89.3%

|-

| Black or African American || 6 || 0.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 20 || 1.0%

|-

| Asian || 7 || 0.3%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 40 || 1.9%

|-

| Two or more races || 143 || 7.0%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 91 || 4.4%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,940 people, 871 households, and 522 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 965 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 871 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 46 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Economy

thumb|right|Building on E Main St., Enterprise, Oregon, across from the [[Wallowa County Courthouse]]The Wallowa Memorial Hospital is a primary employer in the area.

Many cattlemen and farmers live in the Enterprise area, including representatives of the Oregon Cattleman's Association, the Wallowa County Stockgrowers, and other groups. Livestock continues to be the largest sector of Wallowa County's agricultural economy, which is vastly dominated by cattle. There are currently over 24,000 mother cows in the permanent herds with an additional 8,000 cattle from other areas grazing for the summer. There is nearly 5,000 head of sheep that summer in the county. These operations produce over $17.9 million of farm gate sales.

The crops portion of agriculture is much more diversified with nearly 9,000 acres of wheat, 4,200 acres of barley, with nearly 29,000 acres of hay (alfalfa, grass, and grain) grown. Added to the incidental "tree farm" income, crops in Wallowa County produce over $25 million. The total agricultural farm gate sales for Wallowa County was $43,519,000 in 2007.

Enterprise has several commercial greenhouses that sell nursery stock and numerous individuals within the local community also grow vegetables in private greenhouses. The organization of private growers into a brokerage is an ongoing project and several private growers feature their wares at the Enterprise Farmers Market every Saturday throughout the summer.

Two bronze foundries, Parks Bronze and TW Bronze, are situated in Enterprise. Numerous artists, craftsmen and musicians call Enterprise home.

Education

thumb|right|240px|Enterprise with the Wallowa Mountains in the distance

  • Enterprise High School
  • Enterprise Elementary School

Media

  • The Wallowa County Chieftain is the newspaper of record, in continuous publication since 1884.
  • Wallowa Valley Online

Radio

  • KWVR (AM) 1340
  • KWVR-FM 92.1
  • KWRL FM 102.3
  • KCMB FM 104.7

Infrastructure

Transportation

  • Enterprise Municipal Airport

Notable people

  • William B. Ault, US Navy commander during World War II; posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross.
  • Carol D'Onofrio, public health researcher (1936-2020). Grew up in Enterprise, Oregon.
  • Dale T. Mortensen, awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics.
  • Mike Rich, screenwriter.
  • Blaine Stubblefield, founder of the annual National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest

References

  • Entry for Enterprise in the Oregon Blue Book