Page Contents for Brookings, Oregon

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Community events.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Oregon state capital is Salem.
The population of Brookings is approximately 6,315 (2006), 6336 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 2,614 (2000), 2717 (2010).
The amount of land area in Brookings is 7.155 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Brookings is 2.8 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.083 sq kilometers.
The distance from Brookings to Washington DC is 2604 miles.
The distance to the Oregon state capital is 208 miles. (as the crow flies)
Brookings is positioned 42.05 degrees north of the equator and 124.29 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Brookings elevation is 203 feet above sea level.
Brookings per capita income is $ 17,010 (2000).
Brookings median income is $ 31,656 (2000).
The Brookings median home price is $ 145,100 (2000).
Brookings average annual rainfall is 78 inches per year
Brookings average temperature is 57 degrees F.
The average winter temperature is range: though temps may get into the 70’s, usual range is 45 (night) to days at 63 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is range- mid 50’s at night to days at 73 degrees F.

Location

in the southwest corner of Oregon on the beautiful southern Oregon Coast about six miles from the California border. The city has about seven miles of Pacific Ocean shoreline! Brookings is the last Oregon city on Highway 101 before entering California. It is about 100 miles west of Medford and about 265 miles from Portland. Other nearby communities include Harbor, Gold Beach, Cave Junction and Port Orford, all in Oregon and Crescent City North, Crescent City, Bertsch-Oceanview, and Klamath, all in California.
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Climate

moderate. Rain is mostly during the winter between November and April. Railfall is rare during the summer months.Freezing temperatures and snow are virtually non-existent.
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Weather

moderate. The area is on the Oregon coast, but in a part of Oregon referred to as the "Banana Belt" because of the sunny days and warm weather compared to the clouds and fog experienced by the other parts of Oregon’s coast and the northwest. Summers are expected to be foggy and cool in the mornings and pleasant in the afternoon.
Here is a weather page for Brookings.
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History & History Related Items

The "Cheti" were the first people in the area. The Native Americans were called "Chetco" by the newer settlers. They lived off the land and used the resources of the sea for food. The soil in this area was found to be very fertile and provided good crops as well.
While white men came and explored as early as the late 1500’s, no settlement took place until 1853 when a small band settled in the Chetco River Valley. The native people were soon driven off their land by the settlers. After the Rogue River Indian War in 1856, the tribal members were sent to live on the Siletz Indian Reservation near Newport.
The first town to develop was Harbor, founded in 1891, by the Chetco Harbor Land and Townsite Company.

Brookings was named for a local lumberman, Robert S. Brookings. His cousin, John E. Brookings founded Brookings as a company town, but Robert was responsible for the platting of the community.
Brookings was incorporated in 1951.
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Attractions

Azalea Park in Brookings on 33 acres.

The Botanical Garden On Hwy 101 just NW of the Chetco River overpass at Constitution Way. The garden is maintained by volunteers and the Brookings/Harbor Garden Club.

Harris Beach State Park, 1655 Hwy. 101, Brookings, OR 97415; (541) 469-2021. On U.S. 101 just north of Brookings. Campground open year round. Dump station for RV's. Wheelchair accessible sites. Campsites: 4 yurts; 66 tent sites; 52 electrical sites; and 34 trailer spaces with full utility hookups. The campsite also features a Hiker/biker camp. Hot Showers are available to all campers. Public phones and firewood are available. Even cable TV hookup are at selected sites. Call Reservations Northwest for reservations: 1-800-452-5687.

Oregon On-line Highways - Brookings

Port Of Brookings Harbor.
The harbor is home to commercial fishermen as well as pleasure boaters and sport fishermen via public access ramps. There are slips available also. There is a small public access fishing pier near the Coast Guard station. It is accessible from Boat Basin Road. There are many small shops in the harbor area and of course you can always find fresh seafood here.

Kite Festival in July of each year. See Community Events for details.
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Economy & Industry

diverse. Though tourism is important, Brookings is less reliant on the tourist trade than many other of the coastal Oregon cities. Lumber and fishing have been strong sectors in the past, but have diminished somewhat in recent years, though still an important factor. Lily bulb farms are becoming quite important in the local economy. In the twelve mile area between Brookings and Smith River, California, 100% of the Lily Bulbs grown in the country are cultivated here.
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Brookings City Government

The City of Brookings

Brookings City Hall
898 Elk Dr.
Brookings, OR 97415
Phone: 541-469-2163

Brookings has a Manager/Council form of government. The Mayor and four Council members are elected at large. The City Manager, hired by the council, takes care of the day-to-day business of the city.

Brookings Historical Events

1942, September 9
Mount Emily, near Brookings, was the first site in the continental United STates to have aerial bombardment in a time of war. A Japanese submarine launched a floatplane with Nobuo Fujita as the pilot. The objective was to use incendiary bombs to start large fires in the thick forested areas of the Pacific Northwest. Luckily only minor damage occurred. In 1962, he returned to Brookings, this time in peace, to present the town with his family's 400 year old samurai sword. He became an honorary citizen of Brookings in 1997, just before he died.

Brookings Chamber

Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 940
16330 Lower Harbor Road
Brookings, OR 97415
Phone: 541-469-3181
Toll-free: 800-535-9469
FAX: 541-469-4094

Brookings Community Events

Community Events in Brookings

Brookings Organizations

Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 940
16330 Lower Harbor Road
Brookings, OR 97415
Phone: 541-469-3181
Toll-free: 800-535-9469
FAX: 541-469-4094

Brookings Libraries

Chetco Public Library
405 Alder St.
Brookings, OR 97415-9014
Phone: 541-469-7738

Brookings Schools

Brookings-Harbor School District 17
564 Fern St.
Brookings, OR 97415-9613
Phone: 541-469-7443

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Upper Chetco School District 023
99603 N Bank Chetco River Rd
Brookings, OR 97415
Phone: 541-469-2509

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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Southwestern Oregon Community College Brookings

Miscellany

The population of Brookings was:
1990 - 4,400
2000 – 5,447
2005 - 6,297
2006 - 6,315 (estimate)