Merrill is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Merrill had a population of 821.
Merrill is an agricultural area and is home to an annual Potato Festival. The area was also part of the Klamath Basin water crisis pitting agricultural interests against endangered species water requirements, tribal interests, and environmentalists.
Merrill was the birthplace and boyhood home of Carl Barks, the Disney comics artist who created Scrooge McDuck, among other characters. It is home to the Raiders of Lost River Jr./Sr. High School.
Geography
Merrill is southern Klamath County, near the Oregon–California border. It is along Oregon Route 39 southeast of Klamath Falls and northwest of Tulelake.
The Lost River flows by Merrill.
Climate
The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Merrill has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
History
Merrill was named for rancher Nathan S. Merrill, who settled at this location in 1890. A post office was established in Merrill in 1896. H. E. Momyre was the postmaster. The first business in Merrill was a grist mill.
Economy
As of 2002, the five largest employers in Merrill were the Malin Potato Coop, Klamath County School District, the Martin Food Center, the Merrill Grain and Feed Center, and Country Boy Meats.<br />U.S. Decennial Census<br />
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Merrill had a population of 821. The median age was 35.3 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.8 males age 18 and over.
There were 307 households in Merrill, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
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| White || 447 || 54.4%
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| Black or African American || 4 || 0.5%
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| American Indian and Alaska Native || 9 || 1.1%
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| Asian || 5 || 0.6%
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| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 6 || 0.7%
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| Some other race || 232 || 28.3%
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| Two or more races || 118 || 14.4%
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| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 409 || 49.8%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 844 people, 308 households, and 221 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 347 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 70.9% White, 0.1% African American, 1.5% Native American, 23.8% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.1% of the population.
It is in the territory of Klamath Community College.
References
External links
- Entry for Merrill in the Oregon Blue Book