Woodyville was the
"head of navigation" from the southern Willamette to Portland. In March of 1856, the "James Clinton," a
squat riverboat, traveled up the Willamette as far as Eugene Skinner's cabin
(at the foot of what is now called Skinner's Butte in Eugene). However, low waters much of the year caused
the Woody wharves to remain the principle docks of the area. Early river trade carried calico, millstones
and plowshares to the area, returning grain, lumber and fatted livestock to
Portland markets.
Floods in the
1860s destroyed most of Woodyville and changed the course of the Willamette
sufficiently that the town slowly disintegrated and many residents of
Woodyville moved south to the Junction City area as river traffic was diverted
to nearby Harrisburg.
In the second
phase of Junction City development, Ben Holladay, a high-rolling entrepreneur,
began building the Oregon & California Railroad south from Portland, with
plans to spike one line down the east side of the Willamette and another down
the west. Holladay's plan was to bring
the two lines together in the southern Willamette Valley.
Predicting a "new
Chicago," Holladay selected a low-lying, slough-crossed town site and, in 1871,
created Junction City as his railroad convergence point. The town sprang up instantly, in part
because the folks from the now-riverless Lancaster hitched homes and shops to
horses and dragged them to newly platted lots in the infant community.
Rapidly, the town
became a full-blown railroad town. Holladay created a roundhouse, depot, shops, freight warehouses, storage
buildings bunkhouses and a mess hall for construction crews. The city was chartered by the Oregon
legislature in 1872. The City's first ordinance directed the creation of 8'
wide sidewalks "downtown." The City's
second ordinance prevented swine from wandering at large.
Holladay's
railroad junction never came to be. His
east-side line became the main route of the Southern Pacific. The west-side line never made it to Junction
City.
Despite this,
Junction City flourished as a railroad town through the first decades of the 20th
century. By the time Southern Pacific
moved its shops and offices to Eugene, the community was sustained by a strong
agricultural economy, a few sawmills that worked logs from the nearby Coast
Range - an indication that this community relates more closely to the Siuslaw
National Forest than the Willamette - and a diversified retail and professional
community that afforded a large measure of self-sufficiency to the town.
In 1902, A. C.
Nielsen, a Danish immigrant from Minnesota, arrived in Junction City to create
a western settlement of Danes. He
bought 1,600 acres of land, partitioned into 10- and 20-acre farmsteads and
began attracting Danish settlers. This in-migration is commonly referred to as
the "Danish invasion." An alternate name for JC is "Forbindelestaad". This area
in town is now called "Dane Lane" which is identified by a large sign at the
beginning of the lane that lists the 20 or so families who live there.
Nielsen wanted to
establish a series of Danish Lutheran churches from Tacoma to San
Francisco. And the Danish colony soon
founded its own Lutheran Church in Junction City and began to grow. They preserved their language and culture
for a generation or two, but assimilated into the mainstream culture, at least
partly because the agricultural work they pursued made them so much like their
neighbors.
In the middle
years of the century, Junction City's farms - Danish and otherwise - were
diversified "Old McDonald" operations. But agriculture steadily evolved, becoming more specialized. Crops that had been historic mainstays, like
hops and flax, disappeared. By the end
of World War II, the area's agriculture had settled into two distinct
components. Grass seed and wheat were
grown on thick clay soils that dominated much of the Willamette Valley
floor. And an ever-changing array of
orchard, produce and seed crops was cultivated on the richer soils nearest the
river.
A handful of wood
products operations continued in the area. Downtown contained a solid anchor of shopkeepers that provided basic
needs for the population that, for the most part, lived and worked in Junction
City.
Some of that
structure began to change in the 1960s. Construction of I-5 well east of the town stole much of the traffic from
Hwy 99, the city's main artery. At the
same time, the city was becoming home to more and more residents who commuted
to jobs in the Eugene/Springfield area. The shift came partly because of a reduction in wood products and partly
because advances in education were leading local residents to the sort of high-skill
jobs found in metropolitan areas.
At the same time,
Junction City was becoming increasingly attractive to those who had come from
elsewhere to take Eugene/Springfield jobs, but who preferred small-town life.
The city's
population has doubled in the last 30 years and growth in the surrounding rural
area has been even greater due to the development of many small home- and
farmsteads in the '70s and '80s.
"It's become a community
of newcomers, but they don't get involved right away. It takes them awhile to
settle before they start to join in. The large apartment complex south of town
is more transient. Those people don't tend to stay."
"In the 1950s, this was a
strong Danish community, not really accepting of newcomers. Gradually that has
changed."
Harrisburg,
originally known as Prairie City, was incorporated in 1886. It is located in
western Linn County, east of the Willamette River. It's growth impetus came
after the great flood of the Willamette River in 1861. The flood destroyed what
is now Lancaster and the river came right up to Harrisburg where it has
remained ever since. Harrisburg was the farthest reach for commercial river use
during the steamboat era (www.ohwy.com/or/h/harrisbu.htm).
The Willamette River continues to be important to Harrisburg for fishing and
boating. It also provides the backdrop to the Fourth of July fireworks show.
Last year was the 50th annual celebration. Harrisburg had a population of 2062
in 1990 and 2795 in 2000, an increase of 26% (Census Data, Table Seven).
One
person characterized Harrisburg this way:
"A little farming
community being overwhelmed by motor coach manufacturing and the in-migration
of bedroomers."
Monroe
had 528 people in 1990 and 607 in 2000, an increase of 13% (Census Data, Table
Seven). It is in the southern portion of Benton County. It was settled through
homesteading, timber production, and as a small river port, dating from the
1840s. Agriculture has been its mainstay from the beginning. The fertile soils
along the Willamette and Long Tom Rivers were and are used for row crops, most
often for vegetables. The heavier clay soils away from the river are used for
grass seeds. Christmas trees are a strong element of local agriculture.
November and December is known as a period of high activity in the community,
as Christmas trees are cut and sent to market by rail, helicopter, and truck.
Although timber mills around Monroe disappeared sometime ago, many people still
earn income from the timber industry.
In
summary, settlement patterns in the Tri-County CRU in the past have been
oriented around river traffic and timber production, and currently around
agriculture and commuting. Many residents discussed the changing nature of
their countryside due to the settlement of commuters on old farmsteads, rural
homes, and new subdivisions. As discussed below, changing settlement patterns
and work routines have reduced the local economy and favored out-migration by
young people.
"The only kids who come
back are tied to family farms or businesses."
Publics
The
Tri-County CRU is comprised mainly of people of European descent, with emphasis
on Scandanavian countries. In the past, the communities were insular with long
standing family and social ties. Many families go back many generations.
In
recent years, commuters have become an important element of the community. A
twenty-minute or so commute puts workers into Corvallis, Albany, or Eugene.
The area has an
active community of Mennonites who are active in ongoing community support.
"A group of them [Mennonites] came and donated time
to build the Picnic Building [at the Harrisburg Area Museum], a 10,000 square
feet area with tables donated by Hull-Oakes [Lumber Company]."
Visitors do not
seem to be an important component of the local economy. Neither the Chamber nor
businesses are oriented to tourists. The Visitors' Center at the bank had lots
of information but it was for other locations.
Monroe
residents are mostly commuters to Eugene and Corvallis. In addition, there are
a substantial number of seniors and seasonal workers that help out on the
Christmas tree farms. One official believed that that 60% of Monroe's
population is low income.
Networks
See Section Two.
Work Routines
There
was a thriving lumber economy in Junction City, but it disappeared long before
the downturn of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Agriculture has been the
mainstay of settlement over the years, but its future is uncertain. A number of
granges are still scattered in the area.
"The row crops and
canneries are all gone. When Agripac left, it really hurt the farmers."
In 1968, a group
of business partners began constructing slide-in camper units for pickup
trucks. This fledgling operation was to
be the seed for a regional recreational vehicle industry that now involves
dozens of manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and after-market specialists from
Eugene to Harrisburg. The prime Junction City representative of this industry
is Country Coach, Inc., as shown in the chart below.
Major employers
Country Coach (Established 1973, 900-1000 employees)
Guaranty Chevrolet (Established 1966, 450 employees)
Lochmead
Farms/Dari-Mart (Established 1940, 400 employees)
Junction City
School Dist. (Established 1908, 225 employees)
Trus
Joist-McMillian (Established 1975, 220 employees)
Eagle Veneer (Established 1982, 100 employees)
Source: "Information
Guide to Junction City"
Before
Interstate 5 was developed, Junction City boasted a department store, a variety
store and women's clothing store. The development of Highway 99 into a
four-lane created a "Go to Eugene" mentality. Residents say the community was
never the same after these developments - it became less insular and more open,
its economy became more tied to the region, and its local businesses are now
reduced and struggling.
A
substantial number of residents commute to larger towns of Eugene, Albany, and
Corvallis for work. Although many residents pointed to the high level of
employment for commuting, it is also clear that residents do not want to see
themselves as a bedroom community. From its earliest history, Junction City had
its own economic base and identity, and the key values of the community are
still oriented in this direction.
Junction
City has a fair number of home-based businesses. The city does not require
business licenses so this activity is hard to track.
Harrisburg,
similarly, has seen an increase in commuters to Eugene, Corvallis, and Albany,
with city leaders attributing its population growth in 1990s to this factor.
Agriculture in Harrisburg remains strong. While wheat and flax were important
in the past, today it is vegetables, orchard crops and grass seed operations.
It is also has several manufacturing facilities producing motor homes, bridge
beams, plywood, bomb disposal trailers and interior materials for airlines.
Morse Brothers Inc. had a sizeable sand and gravel operation dating from the
1950s, and now produces pre-stressed concrete products for a Northwest market
("Tri-County Business Directory, 2001).
The
Business Directory bills Harrisburg as "a farm town popular with families
seeking livability." It is clearly a bedroom community. But as yet it has
little more to offer commuters to Corvallis, Albany or Eugene. Downtown is dead
or dying. Harrisburg Plaza is a recent development, but five of its seven
storefronts remain empty. Many of the wonderful, old houses in the downtown
area are being allowed to deteriorate. At the same time the in-migrant growth
practically surrounding the core of Harrisburg is remarkable. It is likely that
as some threshold is reached, Harrisburg will re-create downtown with services
useful in a commuting economy. For the present, energy in the community seems
devoted to new housing developments and the high school.
Recently, the
Monaco Coach Corporation acquired Safari Motor Coach in Harrisburg and local
people believe the acquisition will give the town a much needed economic boost.
About 200 of the 600 employees have been retained, and $1.5 million has been
invested by Monaco in the facility. Many Monroe residents commute to the
Hewlett-Packard plant. Nearby Hull-Oakes Lumber employs about 80 people, while
Alpine Vineyard employs five (Oregon Economic and Community Development
Department, Community Profile, 2000).
Support Services
The Scandinavian
Festival in Junction City is all about "community spirit."
The famous
festival was created in 1961, partly as an economic response to business and
transportation changes that were buffeting the community. The heritage of the Danes, still preserved
by a few older residents, was the foundation for an event that, over the last
40 years, has become Oregon's premier ethnic celebration, attracting over
150,000 people each year. The festival involves hundreds of locals, including
enthusiasts without a drop of Scandinavian blood. Since 1961, it has transformed its downtown for four days into an
Old World town, celebrating a variety of arts and crafts, foods, and cultural
entertainment from that region.
Junction City is
very Internet linked. A wireless system is being established across the city.
Residents feel that this capacity has led to the creation of home-based
businesses that add to the local economy.
Reportedly, a
prison is to be built off of Meadowview Road, with a groundbreaking date of
2003.
"There's a 'wait and see' attitude about the prison.
People are worried about effects on schools or the potential for increased
development."
"The business community worked really hard to pull
things together to make the prison happen. It will be a boon to the community."
Civic
organizations in Junction City include Scandanavian Festival Association,
Habitat for Humanity, Business and Professional Women, Education Together
Foundation, 4-H, Friends of the Library, Lions Club, and a host of service
clubs.
Junction City has
two museums, the Mary E. Pitney House and the Lee House Museum. Junction City's
paper, Tri-County News, covers Lane, Linn and Benton Counties. Residents
expressed concerns about the downtown.
"The school system is excellent, but we need a vital
downtown. People have to be able to make a good living."
Harrisburg and
Junction City share a Chamber of Commerce based in Junction City.
Harrisburg has
many community services available. In the 300 block of Smith, for example, is
City Hall, a Linn County Sheriff substation, the library, the Family Resource
Center and the Senior Citizen Center. Community groups use a big bulletin board
here. The Harrisburg Medical Clinic is on the next block of Smith. The
Harrisburg Area Museum at Heritage Park operates for locals and visitors,
displaying local history and farm antiques (Figure 76). The post office,
located at 2nd and Smith in downtown, also has a bulletin board and
is a communication spot.
Residents say that
Harrisburg has a great school system, due largely to the in-migration and
infusion of new money into the system. Housing is said to be cheaper than in
Junction City, which is why the population has grown substantially over the
last decade. A few people stated that population grew 30%, which is pretty
close to the census figures. Harrisburg does not have its own police force but contracts
with Linn County Sheriff's Department for services.
Figure 76
The Junction City Historical Museum
For
support systems in Harrisburg, Adult and Family Services operates an office.
The 7th Day Adventist Church has a clothing bank, and Local Aid
provides food boxes. Womenspace, offering services to victims of domestic
violence, has one staff person available half a day a week. These facilities
are seeing an increase in demand but their staff are not sure why. There has
been no discernible in-migration of low-income people. The area experiences
some seasonal layoffs, with some getting severance pay, and some getting little
more than unemployment. These people come for food and services when the
benefits are running out.
"Paddle
Oregon" is a river event in its 2nd year that originates in
Harrisburg. The Willamette River not only is important for this event, but for
local fishing and for access by hunters. Local residents value the waterfront
park.
Monroe has an
active Lion's Club that is well regarded. The South Benton Enhancement Task
Force is another active group, focusing on education. It sponsors a bus that
brings books to rural towns around the area and has projects for kids in the
park during the summer.
The Monroe
Telephone Company has been operating since 1956 and serves people in a 50
square mile radius. In addition to telephone it offers cable television and
Internet services.
Recreational Activities
See
Section Three.
B. Trends, Themes and Citizen Issues
Related to Community Life
Trends
Steady to rapid
population increase.
An emphasis on
commuting to urban jobs as a livelihood strategy.
A decline of local
retail and commercial outlets.
Themes
Junction City
appears as a self-contained community that is not ready to become a "bedroom"
to any place else. There is a belief that, "If you live here, you are part of
this community, no matter where you work." Many people still have long familial
history in Junction City or are married to someone who does. The local values
are that you attend church regularly and you support the school system,
especially the High School. You take pride in your community and do not see
dichotomies or divisions. And even if you're not Scandanavian, you will be
eating "abelskivvers" at the Festival.
"Nice
community. We don't want to be classified as a part of Eugene or a part of any
place. We are not a bedroom community."
"I
like this town. It's small but it has big city amenities because Eugene and
Portland are close enough."
Community Issues
Residents
in this unit feel like the economy is good, but they'd like to attract a few
businesses to fill gaps in what is offered locally, like a Bi-Mart store,
clothing stores and a grocery. People do not want to go to Eugene for basic
amenities.
"That's
the problem with this town. Everyone wants to live here but nobody wants to
support the downtown."
Residents in
Harrisburg, especially, voiced concern about changes in their community and its
uncertain future.
"Zoning
laws have made it easy for urbanites to buy cheap land in Harrisburg. It's
contributing to the sprawl."
"It's going through an
identity crisis."
"It needs to grow, but is unable to bring
in new business."
"We need a grocery store badly."
"Harrisburg can't get any participation
from the community."
"People have been there a long time.
There's a lot of apathy."
"They need some kind of spark. The City
Manager is good, but he's kind of laid-back."
"Harrisburg has great potential but no
interest. People get enthused about something but then just seem to get bored.
They can't get service organizations going."
Section
Two:
Communication
Strategies
A. Informal Networks and Communication
In Junction City,
the All-In-One Home Center sells hunting and fishing licenses and gear. It
provides information on four wheeling.
Business owners,
elected officials and farmers, use the Mirage Body Works as a men's gathering
place. This network is a major means of communicating information in the
community. Junction City has many informal bridge groups that mobilize people
around key issues. Local residents readily bring up names of informal leaders
who have a positive reputation.
The Chamber of
Commerce representing both communities has been the most successful vehicle for
galvanizing people into action. Phone trees happen when "there are petitions to
sign."
Junction City
gathering places include:
Viking Inn
Restaurant Hwy 99 on the north end of town
Holly St
Laundromat 8th & Holly
Junction City
Historical Museum 655 Holly
Viking Sal Senior
Center 245 W 5th
Building Blocks
Child Care Center, 575 Greenwood
Loyal
Order of the Moose "The Family Fraternity" Women of the Moose, 427 West Front
Kelynski's
Sports Pub 1712 Ivy (Hwy 99)
Junction
City Café/Acorn Tree Antiques/Community Fax Center/flower shop, 264 W 6th
The
Raven, A Pub
All
in One Home Center 120 W 6th (sells a little bit of everything, including sporting goods)
Pancake
and Steak Depot (used to be the Burlington Depot restaurant)
Kelley's
Barbershop next to Junction City Café
Junction
City Select Market, with bulletin board
Library
corner of Greenwood and W 7th, with Internet access.
In Harrisburg,
many residents use the bulletin board on the 300 block of Smith. It is near
many local service outlets and City Hall. The Post Office has a well-used
bulletin board. The Harrisburg Area Museum involves many people and is a
gathering place on occasion.
Serena's Café is a
family-owned business used by old timers and working men who know each other
and share information. The Vault Restaurant is a local hangout not yet
discovered by newer residents.
In Monroe, social
life revolves around the schools through meetings and sporting events. The Chat
and Chew Restaurant is an important gathering place.
B. Formal Groups and Communication
Figure 77
Organizations With Interest in Public Lands in the
Tri-County Area
|
Organization
|
Contact Information
|
Mission
|
|
Junction City/
Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce
|
Taryl Perry
235 W 6th Ave
Junction City, OR 97448
(541) 998-6154
www.junctioncity.com
|
Business development and
support
|
|
City of Harrisburg
|
Bruce Cleeton
City Administrator
|
Public Administration
|
Section
Three:
The
Public Lands Perspective
A. Uses of and Orientation to Public
Lands
The communities of
the Tri-County Community Resource Unit are oriented to agriculture and
commuting. Residents did not express a
strong connection to public lands. While there is some interaction going west
to BLM land and to the Siuslaw National Forest, no particular perspective emerged
with residents and leaders regarding public lands. No stores or clubs focus on
public land use as in the larger urban centers. Public land uses are
individually centered and are not visible at the group level.
"People here don't feel a part of it [public lands
debate]. People are concerned about the environment but there aren't really
pressing environmental issues here."
The Coast Range is
popular for hunting and the Dunes (the Siuslaw National Forest National
Recreation Area) is popular for four-wheeling. These areas are only one and
one-half hours' drive. Two to three hours drive gets residents to HooDoo Ski
Bowl, Willamette Pass Ski Resort outside of Oakridge and Mt. Bachelor in Bend.
Both Junction City and Harrisburg promote the bicycle path that loops for a
hundred miles around them on state highways.
"Men
have their special places to go hunt or fish."
"Kids
like to go four wheeling on public land that's nearby. They also go out to land
owned by Dave Hull and Starker Forest, west of Junction City, where kids and
adults take their four-wheel drive trucks."
"Recreation? Most
folks go to the coast or the mountains [Cascades]."
There are many
family-oriented recreational opportunities available locally. Baseball is very big. Residents reported great support for school
athletics. An annual auction and
fundraiser supports high school athletics. Junction City wants to build a
community center over by "Dutch's Field" at 15th and Kalmia.
B. Trends and Citizen Issues Related to
Natural Resource Management
Trends
As the commuting economy
deepens in these communities, we would expect to see similar interests emerge
that have developed in other flatland communities - an expressed value for clean
air and water, and recreation interests. The upland/lowland connection will be
made around environmental qualities and recreation opportunities.
Citizen
Issues
"We want clean water. There's a situation with
septic tanks in North Eugene. The water comes this way."
"The
outdoor education program was canceled due to state wide budget cuts. A lot of
people miss that program."
C. Management Opportunities
Outdoor
education is an expressed wish of some residents. Educational opportunities in
general are present through the schools and the various gathering places
reported for these communities.
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