Rockaway Beach is a city in

Tillamook County Tillamook County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,390. The county seat is Tillamook. The county is named for the Tillamook or Killamook people, a Native American tribe who we ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

, United States. The population was 1,312 at the 2010 census. The city houses the Rockaway Beach Old Growth Cedar

Preserve The word preserve may refer to: Common uses * Fruit preserves, a type of sweet spread or condiment * Nature reserve, an area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or other special interest, usually protected Arts, entertainment, and media ...

, a 46-acre wetlands preserve which opened in 2019. The preserve has an elevated walkway, which terminates at a large cedar tree known as ''The Big Tree'', which is estimated to be 500–900 years old.

History

The community of Rockaway was established as a

seaside resort A seaside resort is a resort town, town, village, or hotel that serves as a Resort, vacation resort and is located on a coast. Sometimes the concept includes an aspect of official accreditation based on the satisfaction of certain requirements, suc ...

in 1909 by the Rockaway Beach Company. It was named after Rockaway Beach on

Queens Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. Rockaway post office was established in 1911. Rockaway was connected by train to Portland in 1912. The name of the city was changed to Rockaway Beach in 1987. The

Pronto Pup Pronto Pup is an amusement park and carnival food similar to a corn dog made with flour mix, which is used by restaurants and street vendors across the United States. Named for the speed of the cooking process, the Pronto Pup was invented in Rock ...

, a brand of corn dog, was invented at Rockaway in the late 1930s.

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 the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

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 incl ...

of 2010, there were 1,312 people, 667 households, and 374 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: 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 term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 1,875 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.4%

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 on ...

, 0.4%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.7% Native American, 0.7%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 1.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, 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 Vic ...

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 2.9% of the population. There were 667 households, of which 16.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.9% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.52. The median age in the city was 55.1 years. 13.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16% were from 25 to 44; 37.4% were from 45 to 64; and 29% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,267 people, 635 households, and 368 families living in the city. The population density was 821.0 people per square mile (317.7/km). There were 1,573 housing units at an average density of 1,019.3 per square mile (394.4/km). The racial makeup of the city was 95.82% White, 0.08% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.71% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population. There were 635 households, out of which 12.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.51. In the city, the population was spread out, with 14.0% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $28,798, and the median income for a family was $35,742. Males had a median income of $30,956 versus $21,776 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 $17,766. About 7.0% of families and 10.8% 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 13.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

*
City of Rockaway Beach
(official website)
Entry for Rockaway Beach
in the '' Oregon Blue Book''
Rockaway Beach Chamber of CommerceRockaway Beach Official Tourism Website
{{authority control Cities in Oregon Populated coastal places in Oregon Cities in Tillamook County, Oregon Seaside resorts in Oregon 1909 establishments in Oregon Populated places established in 1909