Helix is a city in

Umatilla County Umatilla County () is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,075. Hermiston is the largest city in Umatilla County, but Pendleton remains the county seat. Umatilla County is part of ...

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

, United States. The population was 184 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Pendleton– Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Helix, a geometry term and a part of the

ear An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists of ...

, was originally to be named Oxford, but authorities declined that option when the community's post office was to be named in 1880. The citizens then decided on Helix since a resident had recently had ear surgery. The author of '' Oregon Geographic Names'',

Lewis A. McArthur Lewis Ankeny McArthur (April 27, 1883 – November 8, 1951), known as "Tam" McArthur, was an executive for Pacific Power and Light Company. He was also the secretary for the Oregon Geographic Board for many years and the author of ''Oregon ...

, had his doubts about the story.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 184 people, 55 households, and 46 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 68 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 81.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 8.7% Native American, 3.8% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 6.5% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 6.0% of the population. There were 55 households, of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 16.4% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.54. The median age in the city was 35.7 years. 34.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.6% male and 48.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 183 people, 62 households, and 46 families living in the city. The population density was 1,600.5 people per square mile (642.3/km²). There were 68 housing units at an average density of 594.7 per square mile (238.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.54% White, 2.19% Native American, 0.55% from other races, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population. There were 62 households, out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.47. In the city, the population was spread out, with 38.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,292, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $27,500 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $13,338. About 14.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 19.2% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those 65 or over.

Economy

Helix School is the predominant employer within the city. The immediate land surrounding Helix is used almost exclusively for dryland farming. The predominant crop is

wheat Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat (''T. aestivum''). The archaeologi ...

with

canola Close-up of canola blooms Canola flower Rapeseed oil is one of the oldest known vegetable oils. There are both edible and industrial forms produced from rapeseed, the seed of several cultivars of the plant family Brassicaceae. Historically, ...

peas The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the flowering plant species ''Pisum sativum''. Each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. Botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and d ...

used as a cover crop and

break crop Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing seasons. It reduces reliance on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, and the probability of developing resistant ...

. The Stateline Wind Farm and Vansycle Wind Project are nearby.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The city is home to the Helix Heart of the Country Rodeo held each Memorial Day weekend. The city also hosts the annual Wheatstock music festival during August.

Notable people

* Raymond F. Rees, former Adjutant General of Oregon * Lowell Stockman, representative from Oregon to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from 1943 to 1953

References

External links

Entry for Helix
in the ''

Oregon Blue Book The ''Oregon Blue Book'' is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon prepared by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. The ''Blue Book'' comes in both print and on ...

''
Photo of children in Helix
in 1922, courtesy of Bill Tozier
Heart of the Country Rodeo

{{authority control Cities in Oregon Cities in Umatilla County, Oregon Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area 1880 establishments in Oregon Populated places established in 1880