Helix is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Helix had a population of 194. It is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Helix, a geometry term and a part of the ear, was originally to be named Oxford, but authorities<!--"the state" per newspaper, OGN says "postal authorities"I'm sure it was the U.S. Postal Department, not the State that decided this, POs are the province of the feds--> declined that option when the community's post office was to be named in 1880. The citizens then decided on Helix since a resident had recently had ear surgery.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Helix had a population of 194. The median age was 34.6 years, 34.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.

0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 60 households in Helix, of which 61.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.3% were married-couple households, 10.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 6.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 167 || 86.1%

|-

| Black or African American || 0 || 0%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 8 || 4.1%

|-

| Asian || 2 || 1.0%

|-

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

|-

| Some other race || 3 || 1.5%

|-

| Two or more races || 14 || 7.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 13 || 6.7%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 184 people, 55 households, and 46 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 68 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% White, 8.7% Native American, 3.8% from other races, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.0% of the population.

There were 55 households, of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 16.4% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.54. The Stateline Wind Farm and Vansycle Wind Project are nearby.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The city is home to the Helix Heart of the Country Rodeo held on the first Saturday in June every year.

The city also hosts the annual Wheatstock music festival during August.

Notable people

  • Bob Brogoitti, Oregon state legislator
  • Raymond F. Rees, former Adjutant General of Oregon
  • Lowell Stockman, representative from Oregon to the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1953

References

  • Entry for Helix in the Oregon Blue Book
  • Photo of children in Helix in 1922, courtesy of Bill Tozier
  • Heart of the Country Rodeo
  • Wheatstock Music Festival