Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, it has a population of 6,747.
The Junction City area is notable for its Scandinavian heritage, with the city's Scandinavian Festival attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. Junction City was previously a center of recreational vehicle manufacturing. Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided that it would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail line on the west side. The westside line, however, was not built according to plan and the rail junction never materialized. Many families of Danish ancestry subsequently settled in the area. Danish was spoken regularly in the area until the 1940s, with Lutheran Church services offered in Danish until 1951. In 1961, residents of Junction City founded the Scandinavian Festival, an annual event that remains popular to this day, to celebrate the legacy of these and other Scandinavian immigrants to the Junction City area.
In the early 1990s, Junction City voters considered two ballot initiatives aimed at restricting LGBT civil rights. The initiatives sought to ban the city government from enforcing civil rights protections based on sexual orientation and prohibited public money from being spent to "promote" homosexuality. The first ballot initiative was narrowly passed by voters on June 29, 1993, by a vote of 631 to 628 (50.12% in favor). The election was subsequently invalidated due to evidence of voter fraud by supporters. Litigation led by the ACLU of Oregon showed that a Junction City church had allowed several members of their congregation who did not live in Junction City to fraudulently register to vote in Junction City by claiming the church was their residential address. Sales in over 63 countries raised more than $650,000.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Junction City has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Junction City had a population of 6,787, a population density of , and 2,704 housing units at an occupancy rate of 96.2%.
The median age was 37.8 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% 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 94.6 males age 18 and over.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 5,671 || 83.6%
|-
| Black or African American || 58 || 0.9%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 102 || 1.5%
|-
| Asian || 81 || 1.2%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 12 || 0.2%
|-
| Some other race || 267 || 3.9%
|-
| Two or more races || 596 || 8.8%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 673 || 9.9%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,392 people, 2,184 households, and 1,394 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,323 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.4% White, 0.7% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.0% of the population.
There were 2,184 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.
The median age in the city was 36 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census Hazelnuts, hay, grass seed, nursery crops, Christmas trees, sheep, and dairy products are the major agricultural products of the area. Junction City is also located in a growing wine region. The Lower Long Tom American Viticulture Area (AVA), establish in 2021, is located primarily in the Junction City area.
Junction City is home to a number of prominent agricultural businesses. Lochmead Farms, a dairy headquartered in the city, was awarded the top dark chocolate ice cream and the second-best vanilla ice cream at the 2018 World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. Lochmead Farms operates a chain of 44 Dari Mart convenience stores throughout the south Willamette Valley. The Eugene Livestock Auction, the largest in western Oregon, is also located in Junction City.
Junction City was a center of the RV and motorcoach manufacturing in the 20th Century, with the nickname "The RV Manufacturing Capital of the World." It was also the home of Monaco Coach Corporation and Marathon Coach prior to their move to nearby Coburg. Similarly, Guaranty RV Super Center of Junction City was the largest RV dealership in the U.S. No RV or motorhome manufacturers remain in Junction City following the Great Recession.
Arts and culture
Annual events
thumb|"Function 4 Junction" cruise in Junction City
- The Scandinavian Festival occurs annually in mid-August and features traditional Scandinavian costumes, crafts, and folk dance.
- The Daffodil Drive Festival is a two-day event held annually in mid-March, featuring a driving route heavily planted with daffodils extending from Junction City to the Long Tom Grange Hall.
- The "Function 4 Junction" is a two-day classic car show and cruise held annually in June.
- The Highway 36 "52-Mile Yard Sale" is a three-day event held annually in late June in which many yard sales are held along the 52-mile length of Oregon Route 36, which extends from Junction City to Mapleton in the Oregon Coast Range. Founded in 2004, the event is patterned after the 127 Corridor Sale in the Tennessee area.
Education
The city is served by the Junction City School District, which includes Junction City High School. Junction City is also located in the Lane Community College District.
Notable people
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- James A. Bushnell, first chairman of the board of Bushnell University
- Charity Dean, disease control expert and assistant director of California's Department of Public Health
- Bobby Doerr, Major League Baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- Kate Elliott, fantasy and science fiction writer
- Ty Harden, Major League Soccer player
- Eric Hays, basketball player and coach
- Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society
- Buster B. Jones, American fingerpicking-style guitar player
- Walter McClure, track and field athlete
- Dmae Roberts, public radio producer, writer, actress, and playwright
- Dave Wilcox, American football player, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Justin Wilcox, American football coach
- John N. Williamson, politician
References
External links
- Entry for Junction City in the Oregon Blue Book
- Official City Website