Sisters, Oregon

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sisters, Oregon
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Oregon


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Oregon
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Deschutes
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Mr. Brad Boyd
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1946
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 1.5
area_total_km2 = 3.8
area_land_sq_mi = 1.5
area_land_km2 = 3.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_km2 = 0
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 959
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 255.4
population_density_sq_mi = 663.0
timezone = Pacific
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = Pacific
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 44 |latm = 17 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 121 |longm = 32 |longs = 56 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 969.9
elevation_ft = 3182
website = [http://www.ci.sisters.or.us www.ci.sisters.or.us]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 97759
area_code = 541
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 41-67950GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1127008GR|3
footnotes =

Sisters is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 959 at the 2000 census. By 2005 the population had grown to about 1500 with growth predicted to 4700 by 2020.

History

Camp Polk was established as a military post in 1865 in response to the Paiute Indian wars that were raging throughout eastern Oregon during the 1860s and 70s.Named after the Oregon county from which the camp’s commanding officer hailed, it consisted of a group of cabins along the west bank of Squaw Creek, about three miles northeast of Sisters. The troops spent the winter of 1865-66 there. After discovering that there was no Indian problem they left. Around 1870, the area was homesteaded by Samuel Hindeman who also ran the post office. The post office at Camp Polk was moved to the present site of Sisters in 1888, and the name was changed to Sisters after the Three Sisters mountains that dominate its western skyline.

Geography

Sisters is located at coor dms|44|17|27|N|121|32|56|W|city (44.290828, -121.549024)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²).

Whychus Creek runs through the southern half of town.

The main highways through downtown, U.S. Route 20 and Oregon Route 126also have a lot of pedestrian traffic, and are known for their many specialty stores and galleries. West of town the highways share a route over Santiam Pass. East of town they split with Oregon Route 126 heading east to Redmond and with US 20 turning south east on its way to Bend [ [http://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA/gis/docs/countymaps/desc1.pdf desc1 ] ] Sisters is also the eastern terminus of Oregon Route 242 [ [http://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA/gis/docs/countymaps/desc1.pdf desc1 ] ] which runs west over the McKenzie Pass a summertime only scenic route over the Cascades.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 959 people, 397 households, and 262 families residing in the city. The population density was 663.0 people per square mile (255.4/km²). There were 482 housing units at an average density of 333.2/sq mi (128.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% White, 1.56% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 1.36% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.59% of the population.

There were 397 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $43,977. Males had a median income of $35,563 versus $21,771 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,847. About 7.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Sisters area is served by Sisters School District, which is responsible for the education of approximately 1,300 students at four schools:
* Sisters Elementary School - Kindergarten through Grade 4
* Sisters Middle School - Grades 5 through 8
* Sisters High School - Grades 9 through 12
* Sisters High School Alternative Programs - Grades 9 through 12

Sisters is also home to Sisters Christian Academy, a non-denominational Christian school. [ [http://www.sisterschristianacademy.com/ Sisters Christian Academy] ]

Media

The local newspaper is the "Nugget Newspaper" published weekly on Wednesdays. It is free and available at most businesses in town.

Recreation

Sisters is surrounded by the Sisters District of the Deschutes National Forest. Hiking, biking and horse riding trails go from the city limits into the Three Sisters Wilderness. The Sisters Community Trails Committee is working to improve the trail network.

The Sisters area is also home to several mountain biking trails, including the Peterson Ridge and Suttle Lake trails.

Hoodoo ski resort and many snow parks are nearby.

Transportation

*Sisters Eagle Air Airport
*Oregon Route 242
*Oregon Route 126
*U.S. Route 20

Notable residents

*Sam Elliott, actor
*Dan Fouts, former professional football player
*Ken Ruettgers, former professional football player

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.sisters.or.us/ City of Sisters]
* [http://www.sisterschamber.com/ Sisters Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.outlawnet.com/outlaw/ssd/ Sisters School District]