Keizer () is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 39,376, making it the 14th most populous city in Oregon. It lies in the Willamette Valley and is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after pioneer Thomas Dove (T. D.) Keizur and his family, who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims.
History
The original settlement was at Keizer Bottom, near the banks of the Willamette River. The community was named after Thomas Dove Keizur, one of its first settlers. Somewhere in the translation of donation land claim records, his name was misspelled.
The settlement suffered in the flood of 1861, and the inhabitants rebuilt their homes on higher ground. Further floods in 1943, 1945, 1946 and 1948 hampered the growth of the community, and it was not until dams were built in the 1950s to regulate the flow of the Willamette that Keizer began to flourish.
The city of Salem tried to annex the growing community adjacent to its limits many times. Beginning in 1964, a number of Keizer residents, powered by Janet and Richard Bauer and family, tried to convince the people of Keizer that it would be cheaper and better to form their own city. It was not until November 2, 1982, that, with the support of the nearby unincorporated community of Clear Lake, residents voted to make Keizer a city.
| 1970 = 11292
| 1980 = 18592
| 1990 = 21884
| 2000 = 32203
| 2010 = 36478
| 2020 = 39376
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 39152
| estref =
| footnote = Sources:
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0% lived in rural areas.
There were 14,706 households in Keizer, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 28,520 || 72.4%
|-
| Black or African American || 409 || 1.0%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 636 || 1.6%
|-
| Asian || 809 || 2.1%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 399 || 1.0%
|-
| Some other race || 3,744 || 9.5%
|-
| Two or more races || 4,859 || 12.3%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 8,644 || 22.0%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 36,478 people, 13,703 households, and 9,498 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 14,445 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 82.5% White, 0.8% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 9.0% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.3% of the population.
There were 13,703 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13. The festival was founded by Schreiner's Iris Gardens, one of the country's largest retail iris growers, and has been facilitated by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce since 1987. Events include a carnival, a beer garden, craft and food vendors, a 5k walk/run, a vintage car show, and a parade. The school, built in 1916, has been completely restored and is the only public historic building in Keizer. Other tenants of the building include the Keizer Community Library, the Keizer Art Association and gallery, and the Keizer Chamber of Commerce.
The first schoolhouse in the Keizer area was built in 1878, and its first teacher was Nina McNary, older sister of U.S. Senator Charles L. McNary. The first school was torn down in 1915 and replaced in 1916 with the building that now serves as the Keizer Heritage Community Center.
- Daniel R. Hokanson, lieutenant general in the U.S. Army
- Charles L. McNary, U.S. senator from 1917 to 1944
Sister cities
Keizer has a sister city relationship with Iyo, Japan (2025).
References
External links
- Entry for Keizer in the Oregon Blue Book
- Keizer Chamber of Commerce