Estacada is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, roughly 30 miles southeast of Portland. The origin of the city's name is disputed. One explanation is that the city's name is a corruption of the name of a local resident, Esther Katie. There is no evidence that she existed. The more prosaic explanation is that someone with knowledge of the Llano Estacado region of modern-day Texas threw the name in a hat and it won, but somehow the final o became an a. Whatever the truth, it is doubtless the only place in United States (possibly Planet Earth) bearing the name Estacada. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,371.
Geography
Estacada is located at 45°17'24" North, 122°20'4" West (45.290009, -122.334537)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²). 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.67% water. The Clackamas River flows by the town, which drains into the Willamette River, thence the Columbia. There are four dams in the immediate vicinity of Estacada: River Mill Dam, Faraday Dam (a diversionary dam), Cazadero Dam, and North Fork Dam.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 2,371 people, 850 households, and 591 families residing in the city. The population density is 871.9/km² (2,259.6/mi²). There are 886 housing units at an average density of 325.8/km² (844.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 84.86% White, 0.17% African American, 1.43% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.91% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. 12.78% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 850 households out of which 39.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% are married couples living together, 13.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% are non-families. 26.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.78 and the average family size is 3.26.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,200, and the median income for a family is $46,445. Males have a median income of $37,269 versus $22,267 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,049. 12.9% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 15.8% are under the age of 18 and 5.9% are 65 or older.
After the building of the dams, the primary economy has been lumber. As this has fallen on hard times, the town has been depressed in recent years; many young people have left. Lately, power and recreation have added to the economy. The area is truly beautiful, and a popular get-away for residents from nearby Portland.Economy
