Seaside is a city in

Clatsop County Clatsop County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,072. The county seat is Astoria. The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of ...

, Oregon, United States, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The name Seaside is derived from ''Seaside House'', a historic summer resort built in the 1870s by railroad magnate

Ben Holladay Benjamin Holladay (October 14, 1819 – July 8, 1887) was an American transportation businessman responsible for creating the Overland Stage to California during the height of the 1849 California Gold Rush. Ben Holladay created a stagecoach ...

. The city's population was 6,457 at the 2010 census.

History

Ocean Shore Limited railroad at Seaside, Oregon (3229235015)

The Clatsop were a historic Native American tribe that had a village named ''Ne-co-tat'' (in their

Chinook language The Chinookan languages were a small family of languages spoken in Oregon and Washington along the Columbia River by Chinook peoples. Although the last known native speaker of any Chinookan language died in 2012, the 2009-2013 American Community ...

) in this area. Indigenous peoples had long inhabited the coastal area. About January 1, 1806, a group of men from the Lewis and Clark Expedition built a salt-making

cairn A cairn is a man-made pile (or stack) of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a marker or as a burial mound. The word ''cairn'' comes from the gd, càrn (plural ). Cairns have been and are used for a broad variety of purposes. In prehis ...

at the site later developed as Seaside. The city was not incorporated until February 17, 1899, when coastal resort areas were being settled. It is about by car northwest of Portland, Oregon, a major population center. In 1912, Alexandre Gilbert (1843–1932) was elected Mayor of Seaside. Gilbert was a French immigrant, a veteran of the Franco Prussian War (1870-1871). After living in San Francisco, California and

Astoria, Oregon Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1811, Astoria is the oldest city in the state and was the first permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. The county is the northwest corne ...

, Gilbert moved to Seaside where he had a beach cottage (built in 1885). Gilbert was a real estate developer who donated land to the City of Seaside for its one-and-a-half-mile-long Promenade, or "Prom," along the Pacific beach. In 1892, he added to his beach cottage. Nearly 100 years later, what was known as the Gilbert House was operated commercially as the Gilbert Inn since the mid-1980s. Both it and Gilbert's eponymous "Gilbert Block" office building on Broadway still survive. Gilbert died at home in Seaside and is interred in

Ocean View Abbey Mausoleum The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the wor ...

in Warrenton.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Seaside lies on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, at the southern end of the Clatsop Plains, about south of where the

Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...

empties into the Pacific. The city is developed on both sides of the

Necanicum River The Necanicum River is a river on the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States, approximately long. It drains a timber-producing area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range northwest of Portland. It forms the first estuary south of t ...

, which flows to the ocean at the city's northern edge. Tillamook Head towers over the southern edge of the city. 120px, Harvesting razor clams The geography associated with the gradual slope of the broad sandy beaches of

Clatsop Spit Clatsop Spit is a giant sand spit on the Pacific coast along U.S. Route 101 between Astoria and the north end of Tillamook Head in Clatsop County, northwest Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River. The Clatsop Spit was formed by Columbia River ...

provide excellent conditions for the formation of beds of millions of Pacific razor clams annually. The razor clams attract thousands of visitors to Seaside Beach each year. Waves attract surfers all year round from the challenging point break off the tip of Tillamook Head to the sandy shores at "the cove" parking lot at Ocean Vista Drive.

Climate

Seaside has an

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...

(Köppen ''Cfb''), typical Pacific Northwest climate, bordering very closely on a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen ''Csb''). It receives rainy winters and mild-to-cool summers. Mean high temperature in the warmest month, August, is roughly . The warmest heatwaves, however, occur in September. The hottest day on record was , which occurred on both September 23, 1943 and September 24, 1974. The coldest temperature ever recorded was which occurred on December 8, 1972.

Tsunami inundation zone

Part of Seaside is located in a tsunami inundation zone. Among other preparation, the City of Seaside has embarked on a program in which residents above the zone are asked to volunteer to store within their homes barrels of medical supplies, water purification systems, emergency rations, tarps, and radios, with each barrel having enough supplies to last 20 individuals for at least 3 days. As of January 2017, there are 119 barrels within volunteer households and a waiting list of interested households. Seismologists estimate that there is a one in three chance that Seaside will be hit by an earthquake and tsunami within the next fifty years.The Really Small Ones
''New Yorker'', Kathryn Schulz, Nov. 4, 2016. On Tues. Nov. 8, 2016, Seaside citizens voted 65% to 35% to issue $99.7 million in bonds to move the remaining three schools out of the tsunami inundation zone.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,457 people, 2,969 households, and 1,565 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,638 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.4%

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 ...

, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or

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 12.4% of the population. There were 2,969 households, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.4% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.3% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age in the city was 41.5 years. 20% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Arts and culture

Seaside holds an

art walk "First Friday" is a name for various public events in some cities (particularly in the United States) that occur on the first Friday of every month. These citywide events may take on many purposes, including art gallery openings, and social and pol ...

the first Saturday of each month from March through December. Several galleries are located along Broadway street in the historic Gilbert District. The Seaside Jazz Festival (formerly the Oregon Dixieland Jubilee) was a long-running annual festival that featured some of the most popular Trad Jazz and

Swing Swing or swinging may refer to: Apparatus * Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth * Pendulum, an object that swings * Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus * Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse * Swing rid ...

bands in the US and Canada.

Annual cultural events

Seaside hosts an annual

4th of July Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music) In music a fourth is an interval spanning four staff po ...

celebration which includes a parade, outdoor concerts, and one of the largest fireworks displays on the west coast. Seaside, Oregon city hall

Every spring until 2016 (in 2017 and 2018, the conference was moved to Salem, and the Dorchester Conference was moved to Welches, Oregon in 2019), Seaside hosted th
Dorchester Conference
a convention of Oregon political activists, typically conservative, independent, or center-right. This convention was founded in 1964 by then-state representative Bob Packwood as a forum for all Republicans statewide. In the 1990s, it became dominated by members of the conservative branch of the party. Over the years the conference has attracted visits from presidential candidates, debates between Republican primary candidates, and discussions of wider political and social issues. It is run by an independent board and is not formally affiliated with the Oregon Republican Party. The Miss Oregon Pageant, the official state finals to the Miss America Pageant, takes place annually at the

Seaside Civic and Convention Center A seaside is the marine coast of a sea. * A seaside resort is a resort on or near a sea coast. Seaside may also refer to: Places Canada * Seaside Park, British Columbia, also known as Seaside United Kingdom * A mostly undeveloped coastal area i ...

. Seaside Beach Volleyball, the 2nd largest Beach Volleyball Tournament in the world takes place annually on the 2nd weekend of August. Started in 1982 the tournament has grown each year. In 2022 Seaside Beach Volleyball had over 1,800 teams and 192 courts for the four days of tournament play. The annual Salt Maker's Return is held in September. The themed event celebrates Seaside history. Five men of the Lewis and Clark expedition needed nearly two months to make the equivalent of of salt; it was critical for them to be able to preserve meat for the winter and their several thousand-mile journey home to the East. Seaside, Oregon 1972

The beach and promenade at Seaside serve as the finish line for the

Hood to Coast Hood To Coast is a long distance relay race that starts at Mount Hood and continues nearly 200 miles to the Oregon Coast. Known as "the mother of all relays", it is the largest running and walking relay in the world, with 12,600 runners in the Hoo ...

and Portland to Coast relays, held annually on the weekend before

Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

Museums and other points of interest

Seaside is home to the

Seaside Aquarium __NOTOC__ The Seaside Aquarium is a privately owned aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, United States. It is one of the oldest aquariums on the West Coast. History The building where the aquarium is located was built initially as a natatorium in the 1 ...

, featuring living regional marine life, a hands-on discovery center, and a gray whale skeleton, all within a short walk from the Lewis & Clark monument. The Seaside Museum & Historical Society features exhibits on local and regional history, and offers tours of the Butterfield Cottage, which has been restored to its 1912 state. Murals adorn several buildings throughout Seaside, depicting history, marine life, and life in Seaside. The Seaside Visitors Bureau and Travel Oregon Welcome Center offers one-on-one information for travelers to Seaside, as well as maps, magazines, public restrooms, and an oversized Adirondack chair popular for selfies with those traveling along the 101.

Media

Newspaper

*''

Seaside Signal The ''Seaside Signal'' is a weekly newspaper published for the community of Seaside, Oregon, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily ...

Radio

* KSWB — 840 AM ( Classic Hits) * KBGE — 94.9 FM ( AAA) * KCYS — 96.5 FM ( Country) * KCRX — 102.3 FM ( Classic Rock) *

KMUN KMUN (91.9 FM) and KCPB-FM (90.9 FM) are National Public Radio member radio stations in Astoria, Oregon. Repeaters * KTCB at 89.5 FM, Tillamook See also *List of community radio stations in the United States This is a list of FCC-licensed com ...

— 91.9 FM

Transportation

*Seaside has two major highways,

U.S. Route 101 U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 (US 101), is a north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. It is also known as (The Royal Roa ...

and

U.S. Route 26 U.S. Route 26 (US 26) is an east–west United States highway that runs from Seaside, Oregon to Ogallala, Nebraska. When the U.S. highway system was first defined, it was limited to Nebraska and Wyoming; by the 1950s, it continued into Idaho and ...

. *Seaside is served by an intercity bus system. * Seaside Municipal Airport *Seaside is currently working on a Transportation System Plan (TSP). It will serve as the transportation element of the City of Seaside's Comprehensive Plan. The TSP will describe how the transportation network in Seaside is being used now and how it is expected to be used in the future (in 2022).TSPs need to be developed according to the State of Oregon's Transportation Planning Rule. At the end of the project, the recommended improvements will be consistent with the Clatsop County TSP and the Oregon Highway Plan.

Notable people

Deborah Boone Deborah Boone (born 1951) is an American politician from the state of Oregon. She served as a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, where she represented District 32. Her time in office began with her appointment on August 4 ...

(born 1951), member of Oregon's House of Representatives * Ken Carpenter (1926–2011), American football player * Betsy Eby (born 1967), painter *

Charles Irving Elliott Charles Irving "Sam" Elliott (1892–1972) was a pioneer aviator in the Hawaiian Islands. As an airline pilot, he is credited with the first scheduled passenger flight between the Hawaiian Islands, the first scheduled airmail flight between the ...

(1892-1972), Aviation Pioneer *

Karl Marlantes Karl Arthur Marlantes (born December 24, 1944) is an American author and Vietnam War veteran. He has written three books: '' Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War'' (2010), ''What it is Like to go to War'' (2011), and ''Deep River' ...

(born 1944), author, businessman and decorated Marine veteran. *

Ruth Radelet Ruth Radelet (, born April 28, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for her work as the lead vocalist in the electronic band Chromatics, formed in 2001. A native of Portland, Oregon, Radelet joined Chromatics i ...

(born 1982), singer and musician of Chromatics *

Ormond Robbins Ormond Orlea Robbins (March 14, 1910 – July 21, 1984) was an American author of hardboiled detective fiction and weird fiction. His work was primarily published in the Popular Publications catalog of pulp fiction. The most part of his ...

(1910–1984), author *

John Schlee John H. Schlee (June 2, 1939 – June 2, 2000) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s. Schlee was born in Kremmling, Colorado and grew up in Seaside, Oregon, where he was known as Jack Schlee. He s ...

(1939–2000), golfer * Norton Simon (1907–1993), industrialist and philanthropist *

E. E. Smith Edward Elmer Smith (May 2, 1890 – August 31, 1965), publishing as E. E. Smith, Ph.D. and later as E. E. "Doc" Smith, was an American food engineer (specializing in doughnut and pastry mixes) and science-fiction author, best known for the '' ...

(1890–1965), author *

Tsin-is-tum Tsin-is-tum, also known as Jennie Michel (c. 1814–1905, Clatsop), was a Native Americans in the United States, Native American folklore, folklorist based on the Pacific Coast of Oregon. Called "Last of the Clatsops" at the time of her death in 19 ...

(c. 1814–1905), Native American folklorist *

Mark Wiebe Mark Charles Wiebe (born September 13, 1957) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He also played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour. Early life Wiebe was born in Seaside, Oregon and grew up in Escond ...

(born 1956), golfer