Reedsport is a city in northwest Douglas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,310.
History
Reedsport was established on the estuary of the Umpqua River on January 7, 1852. It was named for a local settler, Alfred W. Reed, who founded the city in 1912. The post office was established July 17, 1912.
The building of Southern Pacific Railroad lines extending south to Coos Bay led to the development of Reedsport. Before the post office was established in 1912, Reedsport was a camp for railroad construction workers.
Built on marshy ground, for much of its history Reedsport has struggled with frequent flooding; most of its early buildings were elevated above ground. After a devastating flood in 1964, a dike was constructed to protect the lower town. During this flood, the waters reached the fish hatchery and overflowed the fish troughs allowing hundreds of thousands of smallmouth bass to be introduced into the Umpqua River. According to fishing reports small-mouth bass became the most abundant fish in the river. Every few years, high water induces city employees to close the dikes to prevent low-lying areas of the city from flooding.
In the last quarter of the 20th century, Reedsport struggled with the collapse of the Oregon timber industry. In the last two decades, Reedsport has seen an increase of tourism. Part of this is due to its close proximity to the fishing of the Umpqua River. Another part of the recent surge in tourism is due to the sand dunes that are near Reedsport.
Although the U.S. Forest Service maintains a local office in the town, Reedsport's historic connection with the timber industry ended in 1999 with the closing of the International Paper plant in nearby Gardiner.
Recently, Reedsport has seen a rise in tourism due to recreation at the nearby Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Winchester Bay. A number of businesses catering to all-terrain vehicles have opened in Reedsport to serve the needs of this growing activity.
Geography and climate
Reedsport is at the junction of Oregon Route 38 and U.S. Route 101, north of Winchester Bay and northwest of Roseburg.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Reedsport has a rainy Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb), with mild dry summers and mild, very wet winters. Although 26.3 mornings will fall below , only 0.9 afternoons reach , and the hottest temperature recorded is only on August 29, 1944, and September 5, 1973. Only 0.2 afternoons fail to top freezing each year, and the coldest temperature is on December 8, 1972. The wettest month record is November 1973 with , whilst June to September have on occasions been rainless.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,154 people, 1,948 households, and 1,138 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,207 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 0.3% African American, 1.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.9% of the population.
There were 1,948 households, of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.68.
The median age in the city was 51.2 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 27.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,378 people, 1,978 households, and 1,265 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,178 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.92% White, 0.02% African American, 1.23% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.68% of the population.