|
Boardman, Oregon
Samuel
H. Boardman homesteaded on the Columbia River in 1903,
and envisioned a city there. Fifteen years later, the
West Extension Irrigation Canal brought Umatilla River
water 20 miles to the Boardman Project. Homesteaders
flocked to land along the south bank of the Columbia
and the city was born.
In 1952, the Columbia River Highway was rebuilt a mile
south of the original town site, and most businesses
moved south to be convenient to travelers. In the 1960's
the city moved again to avoid the rising waters of Lake
Umatilla behind the new John Day Dam.
In the late 1970's and early 80's, Boardman boomed during
construction of the Portland General Electric coal-fired
power plant system, west of town. The city population
grew from 300-1500. An electrical co-generation plant
powered by Natural Gas came on-line in 1996, increasing
opportunities for industrial development. In the 1990's,
Boardman became one of Oregon's fastest growing communities
in terms of population growth.
A library, city park, marina park with boat launch and
RV campground, soccer field, two neighborhood parks,
10-K Volkswalk and a golf course provide recreational
opportunities. Fishing, game bird hunting, bird watching
and water sports are popular recreational pastimes.
Current educational facilities are: Boardman Child Development
Center, Sam Boardman Elementary & Riverside High
School. In February 2000, Blue Mountain Community College
began construction of its Boardman Center.
Population:
Click here
to see population numbers from the latest census for
Boardman and other Oregon cities.
Climate
and Temperature:
Lowest Monthly Average: 26.1 January
Highest Monthly Average: 89.8 August
Driest Month (1998): July
Wettest Month (1998): January
Precipitation:
Annual Precipitation Average (1998): 8.47"
Economy:
Irrigated agriculture continues to expand in the farmlands
surrounding Boardman: potatoes, onions, mint, dairy,
hay, and hybrid poplar trees now complement the grain
crops. Tillamook County Creamery Association is investing
more than $50 million into a Boardman satellite cheese
plant. Beginning in the summer of 2001, the cheese plant
will use milk from 30,000 dairy cows to produce 55 million
pounds of Tillamook cheese annually. The Port of Morrow,
a busy terminal for container barges, serves as a gateway
to the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Rim Markets. Boardman
has three Interstate-84 interchanges, rail connections,
and an airport.
Top
Industries:
Food Processing
Agriculture
Utilities
Tourism
Major
Employers:
Boardman Foods, Inc. Onion Processing
Lamb-Weston, Inc. Potato Processing
Logan International, Inc. Potato Processing
Oregon Potato Company Potato Processing
Portland General Electric Coal Fired Plant Electricity
Coyote Springs Co-Generation Plant Electricity
Skills Resource Training Center Employment Service
|
