Independence is a city in Polk County, Oregon, United States, on the west bank of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 51, and east of nearby Monmouth. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thirty square blocks of the oldest part of Independence form the National Register of Historic Places-listed Independence Historic District.

The population was 9,828 at the 2020 census.

History

Independence was founded by pioneers who migrated from Independence, Missouri. Elvin A. Thorp arrived in the Independence area in 1845 and staked a claim north of Ash Creek in June of that year. He platted a small townsite that later became known as "Thorp's Town of Independence" or the "Original Town of Independence", now known as "Old Town". Thorp named the town for his eponymous hometown in Missouri, as well as in honor of Andrew Jackson's characteristic of "Independence".

In 1847, Henry Hill came across the plains looking for a level piece of ground on which to raise stock. On November 14, 1847, he found his location on the west bank of the Willamette River (south of Ash Street) and marked off his donation land claim, which was square. In 1867, after returning from the California gold mines, Hill platted for a townsite, thereafter to be referred to as Henry Hill's Town of Independence. The city charter bill of February 26, 1885, incorporated E.A. Thorp's Independence and Henry Hill's Independence. Henry Hill Elementary School was named in honor of the latter.

Flood of 1861

When the pioneers first arrived in Independence, the Kalapuya people, who had lived in the area for centuries, warned them about the dangers of flooding along the Willamette River. The Kalapuya had experienced devastating floods in the past, which had even swept away their horses. When hop production began to decline in the early 1950s,

Downtown Independence was bypassed by major freeways in the 1960s,

Geography

Independence is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Ash Creek flows through Independence, where it meets the Willamette River.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Independence had a population of 9,828. The median age was 31.8 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.

There were 3,335 households in Independence, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.2% were married-couple households, 15.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 6,392 || 65.0%

|-

| Black or African American || 74 || 0.8%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 161 || 1.6%

|-

| Asian || 91 || 0.9%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 34 || 0.3%

|-

| Some other race || 1,665 || 16.9%

|-

| Two or more races || 1,411 || 14.4%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 3,388 || 34.5%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,590 people, 2,857 households, and 2,021 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,168 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 19.1% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.3% of the population.

There were 2,857 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.3% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.45.

The median age in the city was 28.3 years. 30.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.5% were from 45 to 64; and 8.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census An elementary school (Independence), a middle school (Talmadge), and a high school (Central) are shared between the two cities.

References

  • Entry for Independence in the Oregon Blue Book
  • Photographs of Independence by Dorothea Lange from the Library of Congress
  • Home page for Independence, Oregon at https://www.ci.independence.or.us/