Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 12,790 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 15,140 residents.

Canby is the home of the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, where the annual Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo has been held since 1907. The fairgrounds, located north of Oregon Route 99E, are used in August for the fair and year-round for other events.

History

Canby is named for Edward Richard Sprigg Canby, a Civil War general who was later killed in the Modoc War by Captain Jack and his group of warriors. The towns of Canby in Modoc County, California and Canby in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota are also named after him.

Geography

Canby is located at (45.266002, -122.690663). This puts it about 20 miles SW of Portland.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.

Canby is separated from its larger urban neighbors by a stretch of farmland in rolling hills and fields. Entering Canby from the north brings visitors past the Willamette River, and from the south through the historic community of Aurora.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,790 people, 4,489 households, and 3,366 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,390.0 people per square mile (1,309.9/km²). There were 4,743 housing units at an average density of 1,257.1/sq mi (485.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.42% White, 0.47% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 7.47% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.52% of the population.

There were 4,489 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,811, and the median income for a family was $49,690. Males had a median income of $42,145 versus $28,775 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,322. About 6.0% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Rail

The Union Pacific (formerly a Southern Pacific mainline) freight and passenger (via Amtrak) line runs right through the middle of downtown Canby although Amtrak passenger trains no longer stop here. The Oregon Pacific Railroad branchline (to Molalla) interchanges with the Union Pacific mainline at Canby.

Mass transit

The city's bus system is Canby Area Transit (CAT). CAT buses are free and do not run on major holidays, and offers connections to Portland's TriMet bus system in Oregon City and Wilsonville.

Automobile

Oregon Route 99E bisects the city from east to west. The town is divided from east to west by Clackamas County Hwy. 170 (in town Highway 170 is known as Ivy St. and just out of town it is known as the Canby-Marquam Hwy.). Another of Canby's major thoroughfares, Knights Bridge Rd., yields access to Interstate 5.

The city of Canby has a grid system in place. North-south streets have names, generally in alphabetical order from the west side of town to the east side, the first street being Ash street, and the last north-south street being Vine street (although Baker Street, being the westernmost street in northwest Canby, is an exception). East-west streets are generally numbered, with Highway 99E being considered South 1st street, and all numbered streets north of the Union Pacific rail line having a North, Northeast, or Northwest name, starting with North 1st Street. There are some exceptions, however for east-west streets, all of them roads that lead out of town: Northwest Knights Bridge Road is not a numbered street, neither are North Territorial Road or Southeast Township Road. Ivy Street is the division point between East and West in Canby's grid system, as well as being Canby's primary north-south thoroughfare.

Waterways

The historic Canby Ferry provides year-round transportation across the Willamette River (river conditions permitting) between Canby and Wilsonville. The ferry is located three miles north of the town center, at the end of North Holly Street, past Molalla River State Park, and is a popular local attraction in the summer months. The next nearest crossings are at the Boone Bridge, upriver at Charbonneau, or at one of two bridges, the Oregon City Bridge or the George Abernethy Bridge downriver that connect Oregon City and West Linn.

Aviation

Canby is close to the Aurora State Airport and the Portland-Mulino Airport, both of which are both served by General Aviation only. Outside the city limits of Canby are Dietz Airpark, Workman Airpark and Lenhardt's , all private, residential grass airstrips. Most citizens of Canby travel by air from the Portland International Airport or Salem Municipal Airport, the closest airports with commercial airline service.

Pedestrian and bicycle

Canby features a paved road which is closed to automobile traffic, and is maintained by the city parks department, the Molalla Forest Road. This road was formerly a private road used by logging trucks, but is now used primarily by bicyclists and pedestrians. The publicly accessible portion of the Molalla Forest Road extends from the Willamette River southward to the Molalla River, crossing Highway 99E and the Union Pacific Railroad on a very prominent green bridge.

Sports

Canby has a long history of having successful athletic programs. Both school teams and community teams, along with their associated organizations, are models for other communities. Canby Kids is an umbrella organization that coordinates youth sports up through grade 8 and includes baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, softball and lacrosse.

Sites of interest

• Hart's Reptile World

Sister city

• Kurisawa, Hokkaidō, Japan (from 1987 to present)

References

External links

• City of Canby
• Oregon Blue Book listing for Canby