Joseph, Oregon

Joseph, Oregon
City
Joseph in 2007
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°21′09″N 117°13′49″W
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Wallowa
Incorporated	1887
Named for	Chief Joseph
Area [1]
• Total	0.91 sq mi (2.35 km^2)
• Land	0.91 sq mi (2.35 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation [2]	4,193 ft (1,278 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	1,154
• Density	1,272.33/sq mi (491.49/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (Pacific)
ZIP Code	97846
Area code	541
FIPS code	41-37900[4]
GNIS feature ID	2410150[2]
Website	www.josephoregon.org

Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, the city formally named itself in 1880 for Chief Joseph (1840–1904) of the Nez Perce people. The population was 1,081 at the 2010 census.

History

Joseph was platted in 1883,^[5] and the economy was originally based on the land, especially grain and stock. In 1896 the First Bank of Joseph was robbed; one robber was shot and killed, another shot and captured, and a third escaped with the money.^[6] On occasion there have been reenactments of the robbery. After a railroad line was completed to Joseph in 1908, a lumber mill opened, bolstering the economy.^[5]

When the timber industry collapsed in the 1980s, local unemployment rate approached 17%. However, in 1982 a new industry was born as three bronze foundries opened in the local area.

The city sponsors the annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in late July,^[7][8][9] Bronze, Blues and Brews in August since 2001, and Alpenfest in September, a Swiss-Bavarian festival staged in Joseph and at nearby Wallowa Lake. Alpenfest resembles an Oktoberfest but has more yodeling and alphorn playing, reflecting the area's reputation as "Oregon's Little Switzerland."^[10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.88 square miles (2.28 km²), all of it land.^[11]

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Joseph has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.^[12] The hottest temperature recorded in Joseph was 100 °F (37.8 °C) in July 1919, while the coldest temperature recorded was −34 °F (−36.7 °C) in December 1924.^[13]

Climate data for Joseph, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2012
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	61 (16)	61 (16)	70 (21)	85 (29)	98 (37)	97 (36)	100 (38)	97 (36)	95 (35)	85 (29)	71 (22)	72 (22)	100 (38)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	49.4 (9.7)	50.5 (10.3)	60.8 (16.0)	71.6 (22.0)	79.8 (26.6)	85.7 (29.8)	92.7 (33.7)	91.1 (32.8)	85.8 (29.9)	75.3 (24.1)	59.9 (15.5)	51.5 (10.8)	93.1 (33.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	34.9 (1.6)	39.1 (3.9)	46.3 (7.9)	51.8 (11.0)	61.0 (16.1)	68.4 (20.2)	79.3 (26.3)	79.7 (26.5)	70.6 (21.4)	56.1 (13.4)	42.7 (5.9)	34.7 (1.5)	55.4 (13.0)
Daily mean °F (°C)	26.9 (−2.8)	29.2 (−1.6)	36.3 (2.4)	41.1 (5.1)	49.7 (9.8)	56.3 (13.5)	64.0 (17.8)	64.5 (18.1)	57.0 (13.9)	45.0 (7.2)	33.9 (1.1)	26.2 (−3.2)	44.2 (6.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	18.8 (−7.3)	19.3 (−7.1)	26.2 (−3.2)	30.4 (−0.9)	38.5 (3.6)	44.3 (6.8)	48.8 (9.3)	49.4 (9.7)	43.4 (6.3)	33.9 (1.1)	25.1 (−3.8)	17.7 (−7.9)	33.0 (0.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−5.1 (−20.6)	0.6 (−17.4)	8.5 (−13.1)	17.8 (−7.9)	24.4 (−4.2)	30.5 (−0.8)	36.3 (2.4)	35.0 (1.7)	27.9 (−2.3)	20.5 (−6.4)	9.3 (−12.6)	0.4 (−17.6)	−10.6 (−23.7)
Record low °F (°C)	−29 (−34)	−25 (−32)	−13 (−25)	−3 (−19)	18 (−8)	22 (−6)	22 (−6)	28 (−2)	11 (−12)	5 (−15)	−17 (−27)	−34 (−37)	−34 (−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.26 (32)	1.06 (27)	1.43 (36)	1.92 (49)	2.61 (66)	1.91 (49)	0.85 (22)	0.70 (18)	1.12 (28)	1.39 (35)	1.39 (35)	1.29 (33)	16.93 (430)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	10.7 (27)	9.2 (23)	10.1 (26)	6.3 (16)	1.1 (2.8)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	1.2 (3.0)	7.3 (19)	8.2 (21)	54.2 (138.05)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	12.0	10.5	13.4	13.7	13.8	11.2	4.9	4.8	6.5	11.1	11.8	13.8	127.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	7.9	6.4	7.7	4.1	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.9	4.3	9.0	41.1
Source 1: NOAA[14]
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima 1893-2012)[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	249		—
1900	237		−4.8%
1910	725		205.9%
1920	770		6.2%
1930	504		−34.5%
1940	593		17.7%
1950	666		12.3%
1960	788		18.3%
1970	839		6.5%
1980	999		19.1%
1990	1,073		7.4%
2000	1,055		−1.7%
2010	1,081		2.5%
2020	1,154		6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[15][3]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,081 people, 509 households, and 305 families living in the city. The population density was 1,228.4 inhabitants per square mile (474.3/km²). There were 590 housing units at an average density of 670.5 per square mile (258.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 0.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.^[4]

There were 509 households, of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.57.^[4]

The median age in the city was 51 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.2% were from 25 to 44; 36.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.^[4]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,054 people, 450 households, and 288 families living in the city. The population density was 1,234.8 inhabitants per square mile (476.8/km²). There were 543 housing units at an average density of 636.2 per square mile (245.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.88% White, 0.47% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.^[4]

There were 450 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.^[4]

In the city, the population dispersal was 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.^[4]

The median income for a household in the city was $31,310, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,938 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,163. About 7.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.^[4]

Transportation

East First Street in 2013

• Joseph State Airport
• Wallowa Lake Tramway

Notable people

• Chief Joseph
• Rod Scribner
• Walter Brennan
• Margaret Osborne duPont^[16]
• Joseph, a band started by Natalie, Allison, and Meegan Closner, named after the town.^[17]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Joseph, Oregon
3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
5. Bailey, Barbara Ruth (1982). Main Street: Northeastern Oregon. Oregon Historical Society. pp. 29, 30, 111. ISBN 0-87595-073-6.
6. "Reminiscence of the Joseph, Oregon Bank Robbery of 1896". Reminiscence of the Joseph Bank Robbery. OregonPioneers. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
7. "Rodeo". Chief Joseph Days. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
8. Hopper, Ila Grant (August 22, 1982). "Chief Joseph Days". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. p. B6.
9. "Chief Joseph Days celebrates 70 years of Western heritage". East Oregonian. Pendleton. July 14, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
10. "The Official Joseph Oregon site featuring Eagle Cap Wilderness and Wallowa Lake Oregon - Home". josephoregon.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
12. "Joseph, Oregon". Weatherbase. CantyMedia. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
13. "NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Pendleton". National Weather Service. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
14. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Joseph, OR". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. Finn, Robin (October 25, 2012). "Margaret Osborne duPont, Tennis Champion, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
17. "Sibling Trio Joseph Conjure Vocal Alchemy On ATO Records Debut 'I'm Alone, No You're Not' Out August". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved June 2, 2016.

External links

• Joseph travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Entry for Joseph in the Oregon Blue Book
• City of Joseph
• Joseph Chamber of Commerce
• Chief Joseph Days – official site