Scio ( ) is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. Located east of Jefferson and south of Stayton, it sits along Oregon Route 226 near the confluence of the north and south forks of the Santiam River. Incorporated in 1866, the population was 956 at the 2020 census.

History

Oregon Geographic Names suggests that Scio was named by one of the original residents, William McKinney, who, with Henry L. Turner, set up a flour mill at the new town. Turner suggested McKinney come up with a name for the place, and McKinney used the name of his former home, Scio, Ohio. The Ohio village is, in turn, named for a Greek island called Chios; the Italian version of the name is Scio.

thumb|left|Post office in Scio in 2009

Thomas Creek, which flows through the city, was named for Frederick Thomas, who obtained a Donation Land Claim and settled on the banks of the creek in 1846. Scio post office, headed by postmaster Euphronius Wheeler, was established on October 3, 1860. The community was incorporated as a city on October 24, 1866.

Resident Lawrence William Moore shot 20 people, killing 5, at the Oregon Museum Tavern in nearby Salem on May 7, 1981. Moore was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of four counts of murder. In September 2008, the Animal Liberation Front released 215 minks from the S&N Fur Farm, with 177 later captured by the ranch. A flood in January 2012 caused significant property damage in Scio and the surrounding area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Scio lies at en elevation of 317 feet above sea level.

Demographics

thumb|upright|Scio library and city building

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Scio had a population of 956. The median age was 34.3 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.

0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 361 households in Scio, of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.0% were married-couple households, 14.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 848 || 88.7%

|-

| Black or African American || 8 || 0.8%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 7 || 0.7%

|-

| Asian || 8 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 2 || 0.2%

|-

| Some other race || 16 || 1.7%

|-

| Two or more races || 67 || 7.0%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 38 || 4.0%

|}

2010 census

As of the census Fire protection is via the Scio Fire District, which operates three stations in the greater Scio area. Law enforcement is through a contract with the Linn County Sheriff's Office.

Points of interest

Scio refers to itself as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the West." There are five bridges as part of its Covered Bridge Tour out of a total of eight in Linn County. Most of those bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), including Weddle Bridge, Shimanek Bridge, Gilkey Bridge, and the Hannah Bridge. Scio is also home to the ZCBJ Hall, a lodge built on beside Thomas Creek in 1922 by the large Czechoslovak population then living in the area. Now owned by the Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair, the lodge is used for community events and rented out for private events such as weddings and is also listed on the NRHP.

  • Samuel T. Richardson, attorney

References

  • Listing for Scio in the Oregon Blue Book