Rufus is a city in Sherman County, Oregon, United States. The population was 268 at the 2020 census. The city was named for an early settler, Rufus Carrol Wallis. The city is bordered on the northern side by the Columbia River and the John Day Dam. Rufus is located in the high desert and has wildlife such as porcupines, coyotes, ground squirrels, deer, hummingbirds, ospreys, and kestrels. The city has a gas station, post office, tackle shop, market, two restaurants and two hotels. Rufus is also home to Giles French waterfront park and a no-fee boat launch on the Columbia River.
Rufus is also home to archaeological site 35SH119, where various Native American groups quarried petrified wood and other materials for stone tool creation. Although petrified wood is not as desirable as obsidian for such tools, the proximity of this site made it a location that was regularly visited over thousands of years. The quarry site is located on the west end of Rufus in what is now the Gorge Vista subdivision. The lack of human remains and datable artifacts meant that this archeological site was not recommended for inclusion in the national register of historic sites and only the original survey post marks the location of the quarry.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rufus has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
thumb|Post office in Rufus
thumb|The John Day Dam is adjacent to the city on the Columbia River
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Rufus had a population of 268. The median age was 49.3 years. 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 109.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.2 males age 18 and over. The census also reported that 0% of residents lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 130 households in Rufus, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.7% were married-couple households, 30.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 225 || 84.0%
|-
| Black or African American || 0 || 0%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 3 || 1.1%
|-
| Asian || 4 || 1.5%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0%
|-
| Some other race || 17 || 6.3%
|-
| Two or more races || 19 || 7.1%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 45 || 16.8%
|}
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 249 people, 115 households, and 65 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 141 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.2% White, 5.2% Native American, 5.2% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.3% of the population.
There were 115 households, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.5% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.89.
The median age in the city was 51.1 years. 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.8% were from 25 to 44; 34.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.6% male and 47.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census