Waldport, Oregon

Waldport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,033 at the 2010 census. The city is located on the Alsea River and Alsea Bay, 15 miles (24 km) south of Newport and 8 miles (13 km) north of Yachats. History Settlement of Waldport began in 1879 when David Ruble bought squatter’s rights from Lint Starr for $300 for property including the area now known as "Old Town." Many early settlers were of German descent, and one of the names proposed for this town was Waldport: "wald" meaning forest or trees, and "port" referring to its proximity to the ocean. The plat for the town was recorded on September 9, 1885, and by 1911, when Waldport was incorporated, it boasted a dozen businesses and 150 inhabitants. Camp Angel, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp near Waldport, was home to World War II conscientious objectors involved in the arts. In September 1975, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles gave a lecture in Waldport on UFOs which was attended by roughly 150 people. In the following days, an estimated 20 residents, nearly one out of 30 people who lived in the town, abandoned their homes and possessions and joined their group, Heaven's Gate. An Oregon State Police investigation concluded that no laws had been broken. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.02 square miles (7.82 km2), of which 2.77 square miles (7.17 km2) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2) is water. Climate This region experiences warm (but not hot) and semi-dry summers with some rainy days, with no average monthly temperatures above 70.4 °F (21.3 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Waldport has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps. Waldport's Köppen classification and climate is similar to locations such as parts of Ireland, the southern UK, northwest Washington state around Olympic National Park and Canada's British Columbia. There are cool winters during which intense rainfall occurs. It has warm, dry summers with partly overcast and moderate rainfall through the summer months. Snow in Waldport is rare but possible in winter months. Average December temperatures are a maximum of 53.0 °F (11.7 °C) and a minimum of 39.0 °F (3.9 °C). Average August temperatures are a maximum of 70.4 °F (21.3 °C) and a minimum of 61.5 °F (16.4 °C). The record high temperature was 108 °F (42 °C). The record low temperature was −12 °F (−24 °C). Average annual precipitation is 78.4 inches (1,990 mm). There are on average 165 days with measurable precipitation, which makes Waldport a temperate rainforest. Demographics 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Waldport had a population of 2,249. The median age was 58.0 years. 14.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 35.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.2 males age 18 and over. 86.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 13.4% lived in rural areas. There were 1,115 households in Waldport, of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.1% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 1,324 housing units, of which 15.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.7% were owner-occupied and 33.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 2,033 people, 974 households, and 530 families living in the city. The population density was 733.9 inhabitants per square mile (283.4/km2). There were 1,196 housing units at an average density of 431.8 per square mile (166.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population. There were 974 households, of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.6% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.69. The median age in the city was 53 years. 15.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.1% were from 25 to 44; 36.9% were from 45 to 64; and 26.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 2,050 people, 909 households, and 540 families living in the city. The population density was 956.8 inhabitants per square mile (369.4/km2). There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of 513.0 per square mile (198.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.41% White, 0.10% African American, 2.20% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.71% of the population. There were 909 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.81. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,301, and the median income for a family was $38,571. Males had a median income of $29,904 versus $22,071 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,939. About 9.4% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over. Government On February 22, 2009, Mayor Herman Welch announced that he was leaving the Republican Party. Upon re-registering as a member of the Independent Party of Oregon, he became the first public official in Oregon to be a member of that party. On April 3, 2025, the Waldport City Council unanimously voted to expel mayor Heide Lambert, citing a violation of a section of the city charter which states no member of the council shall directly or indirectly attempt to direct a city officer or employee in the performance of their duties. On April 10, Lambert arrived at a scheduled council meeting along with a contingent of supporters and attempted to assume her seat, but was escorted from the meeting and cited for disorderly conduct, although charges were later dropped. On May 8, Lincoln County’s presiding judge ruled that the city council had to reinstate Lambert as mayor until there is time to decide whether her removal the previous month was legal. Following this, on May 27, the city council unanimously voted to reinstate Lambert, citing legal expenses and a desire to move on. Education Waldport High School is a public high school in Waldport that opened in 1958. The school is part of the Lincoln County School District. In 2010, the west campus of Oregon Coast Community College opened in Waldport. Infrastructure Alsea Bay Bridge Wakonda Beach State Airport References Further reading Siuslaw National Forest; History Department; Portland State University. "Camp 56: An Oral History Project: World War II Conscientious Objectors and the Waldport, Oregon Civilian Public Service Camp" (PDF). Center for Columbia River History. Retrieved August 15, 2013. External links City of Waldport (official website) Entry for Waldport in the Oregon Blue Book