|
Vale is in Malheur County, Oregon, about 12 miles (19 km) west of the Idaho border. It is at the intersection of U.S. Highways 20 and 26.
Vale was selected as Malheur's county seat in 1955, 68 years after the county was founded. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,976.
History
The community was the first stop in Oregon along the Oregon Trail. A post office with the name of Vale was established in February 1883, and the town was incorporated in 1889.
In September 2004, Oregon's first known human case of the West Nile virus was found in a teenage boy from Vale.
Geography
ORMap-doton-Vale.png
Location of Vale, Oregon
Vale is located at 43°58'56" North, 117°14'37" West (43.982237, -117.243483)1, at an elevation of 2244' (684 m). It is on the Malheur River. There are a number of hot springs and buttes located in the area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²), none of which is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,976 people in the town, organized into 658 households, and 488 families. The population density is 706.4/km² (1,824.9/mi²). There are 724 housing units at an average density of 258.8/km² (668.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 82.49% White, 1.37% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.15% African American, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 11.99% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. 24.85% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 658 households out of which 40.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% are married couples living together, 12.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% are non-families. 22.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.83 and the average family size is 3.32.
The median age within the town is 32 years:
- 31.2% of the town's population is under the age of 18;
- 9.7% is from 18 to 24;
- 26.7% is from 25 to 44;
- 18.2% is from 45 to 64; and
- 14.2% are 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there are 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $27,065, and the median income for a family is $33,355. Males have a median income of $27,176 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town is $11,943. 20.0% of the population and 15.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.8% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
|
