Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland, within the Tualatin Valley. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a commuter town in the Portland metro area . Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850, then incorporated in 1872, making it the first city in Washington County.
The population was 26,225 at the 2020 census, an increase of 8% over 2010 figure (21,083).
Pacific University is located here. Old College Hall on campus, and nine other sites in the city, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
thumb|left|Forest Grove, 1909
thumb|left|Pacific Avenue, circa 1920
Prior to the 1840s when Euro-Americans settled the area, the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya Native American tribe lived on the Tualatin Plains in what is now Forest Grove. In 1841, Alvin T. and Abigail Smith were among the earliest to use the Oregon Trail and settled on what was first known as West Tualatin Plain. They overwintered with Henry Harmon Spalding, arriving in what is now Forest Grove in the fall. Intending to be missionaries, they found little potential as most of the natives had succumbed to European diseases. Smith served as the community's first postmaster beginning on February 1, 1850, and his log cabin served as the post office. In 1880, the now Chemawa Indian School opened in the city to forcibly assimilate Native American children, but moved to Salem in 1884. The city started the Fire Department in 1894. The population reached nearly 1,300 in 1900. and in January 1914, competitor Southern Pacific (SP) followed suit, opening its own line, separate from OE's.
The Oregon Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion-218th Field Artillery Regiment is headquartered in Forest Grove.
Geography
Forest Grove is located on the western edge of the Portland metropolitan area and the Willamette Valley.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
One of the largest Giant Sequoia trees of the state of Oregon can be found in Forest Grove.
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Forest Grove has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
right|thumb|The 120-foot (36-meter) flagpole on Pacific Avenue between Maple and Laurel streets, looking west.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Forest Grove had a population of 26,225 and 9,103 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.3 years, with 23.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.1% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males age 18 and over.
As of the 2020 census, 99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 9,010 households in Forest Grove, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.3% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 17,885 || 68.2%
|-
| Black or African American || 266 || 1.0%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 338 || 1.3%
|-
| Asian || 709 || 2.7%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 82 || 0.3%
|-
| Some other race || 3,559 || 13.6%
|-
| Two or more races || 3,386 || 12.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 7,153 || 27.3%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 21,083 people, 7,385 households, and 4,871 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,845 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 78.8% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 12.5% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.1% of the population.
There were 7,385 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.31. These include the Alvin T. Smith House, First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Old College Hall.
Annual events include a sidewalk chalk art festival, and a holiday light parade.
Valley Arts Association, established in 1966, is one of the oldest nonprofit, volunteer associations in the Pacific Northwest. Its gallery sells member art, and offers art classes.
The Star Theatre, built in 1912, featured films and live productions. A community theater company performs there.
Education
thumb|Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university in Forest Grove. Notable buildings include Old College Hall and Marsh Hall.
Forest Grove, as well as Gales Creek, Dilley, and portions of Cornelius, are all part of the Forest Grove School District.
Media
Newspapers
- Forest Grove Leader
- News-Times
Film location
In the 1990s, filming for the television show, Nowhere Man, took place in Forest Grove numerous times. In 2015, an episode of The Librarians was filmed at Pacific University and two other sites in Forest Grove. The city's Forest Theater hosted a free public screening of the episode at the same time it aired on TV . The 2019 series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists was filmed in Forest Grove, mostly at Pacific University.
Infrastructure
Highways
Highways include Oregon Route 8 (Tualatin Valley Highway) and Oregon Route 47.
Public transportation
Bus service is provided by TriMet and Yamhill County Transit Area. Ride Connection provides free, non-profit bus service called "GroveLink" in suburban areas.
Healthcare
Tuality Forest Grove Hospital is located in Forest Grove.
Notable people
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- Tabitha Moffatt Brown
- Joseph Conrad Chamberlin
- Bobby Chouinard
- Harvey L. Clark
- Aubrey Gordon
- Haley Heynderickx
- Jesse Jenkins
- Genevieve Springston Lynch
- Nellie Owens
- Zac Rosscup
- Alvin T. Smith
- Richard VanGrunsven
Sister cities
Forest Grove's sister city is Nyūzen, Japan.
See also
- Merix Corporation
- The Grand Lodge Hotel
References
- Smith, Alvin T. Original diaries at Pacific University Archives
- Drury, Clifford Merrill. 'Henry Harmon Spalding: Pioneer of Old Oregon." Caxton Printers, Caldwell, ID, 1936.
External links
- Entry for Forest Grove in the Oregon Blue Book
- Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Forest Grove history from Grovenet