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Community Profile - Northeast Salem Suburbs Like Keizer, the suburbs of this northernmost part of northeast Salem have proven a convenient stopping-off place for commuters with jobs throughout the Willamette Valley. This characteristic has caused the area's population to grow to nearly 35,000 residents, with more homes and more residents being added every year.
Today, the area is a mix of older and newer homes, along with apartments, retail shops, supermarkets, and even some manufacturing. Lot sizes for newer homes have been trimmed in recent decades as much of the area has been annexed into the City of Salem, and builders have combined with city planners to pack more and more people into the same area. Most of
the single-family homes in this part of northeast Salem are east of Lancaster
Drive. Most
of the businesses are centered along streets like Lancaster Drive, Silverton
Road and Portland Road. One of the greatest things about this part of Salem is the area's relatively affordable home prices. The median price for a single-family home has been running about 35 percent lower than the median price for the greater Portland area. A median-priced three-bedroom home in the 97305 Zip Code sold for $205,900 in the third quarter of 2007. The area is also attractive for other reasons. Chemeketa Community College is centrally located here, and the area has several good schools, including several elementary schools and a middle school. It also features a number of nice neighborhood parks and playgrounds that are within walking distance of many homes. The Oregon State Fairgrounds are remarkably close, but not so close that the area is affected by the traffic congestion and other problems that such a large attraction can generate. The area also has two onramps to Interstate 5, one on Portland Road, and one on Chemawa Road. Of course, being a part of Salem adds additional benefits. The state capital is here. The city boasts an excellent university with one of the top law schools in the nation, Willamette University. Many civic and social clubs are available. The city also has lots of cultural events, movie theatres, athletic clubs, public tennis courts, golf courses and other recreational opportunities. And it also has great access to the Cascade Mountains and its ski areas, lakes, hiking trails and other fun spots, as well as to the Oregon Coast and things like beachcombing, kite flying, crabbing, fishing and more. The elementary schools here include Hammond, Hayesville, Hazel Green, Lake Labish, Lamb, Middle Grove, Scott and Yoshikai, which serve students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Student enrollments in the 2005-06 school year ranged from a low of 114 at Lake Labish to a high of 609 at Scott. Average enrollment per school was 359. Three middle schools serve the area: Adam Stephens Middle School on Hayesville Road; Waldo Middle School, which is just outside the area on Lansing Avenue; and Whiteaker Middle School, also outside the area on Lockhaven Drive in Keizer. These schools serve grades 6 thru 8. They had average enrollment of 828 in the 2005-06 school year. Most of the students in the area attend McKay High School, although some live in the attendance area for McNary High School, which is in Keizer. As of the 2005-06 school year, McKay High School had 1,836 students and a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. According to figures from the Oregon Department of Education, 58.3 percent of the school's students were eligible for free or reduced lunch, 51.2 percent were classified as minorities, and 21.6 percent spoke English as a second language. The Department of Education reported that 25.5 percent of McKay's students dropped out by their fourth year. At the same time, McNary High School had 2,035 students and a student-teacher ratio of 23 to 1. The Department of Education reported that 33.1 percent of the school's students were eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch, 30.2 percent were classified as minorities, and 6 percent spoke English as a second language. Only 15.2 percent of McNary's students dropped out by their fourth year. More interesting facts about northeast Salem's suburbs: Annual Events Bite of Salem ¾ For nearly 15 years, the Rotary Club of South Salem has treated the entire Salem area to a showcase of local food and entertainment in the club's efforts to raise money for local youth programs. The event starts the Friday of the last weekend in July and features a variety of live musical acts and styles of food from local businesses. It's even been known to have quite a fireworks show to finish off the weekend at Riverfront Park in downtown Salem, 116 Marion St. NE. For more info, call 503-763-1944. Great Oregon Steam-Up ¾ Antique Powerland Museum is home to this annual event the last weekend in July and the first weekend in August. A group of power equipment enthusiasts created the museum to preserve and demonstrate the steam-powered equipment and antique farm machinery that helped give rise to the Industrial Revolution. The Great Oregon Steam-Up gives visitors a chance to see this restored power equipment in action. The museum is open Wednesday thru Sunday from March 1st to October 31st each year at 3995 Brooklake Rd. NE. For more specific information about the Great Oregon Steam-Up, or the museum's hours, call 503-393-2424. Marion County Fair ¾
Even though Salem is home to the Oregon State Fair, as county seat of Marion
County, the city also hosts a county fair the second weekend in July each year.
The first county fair in Salem was held in the 1860s, soon after Oregon became a
state, and probably featured events like pie-eating contests and horse races.
Nowadays, the fair features carnival rides, a car show, a talent show, a petting
zoo clowns, musical events and more. The county fair also is held at the Oregon
State Fairgrounds, at Silverton Road and 17th Street Northeast. More
information, 503-585-9998. Oregon State Fair ¾ A group of farmers made the first official state fair a popular success when it was held near Oregon City in 1861. The fair is still a popular event, but it has changed a lot since those days. The fair moved to the site of the Marion County Fair in Salem in 1862. Once about 50 acres in size, the fairgrounds grew to about 185 acres. Once a mainstay of the fair, horse racing was eliminated, and agricultural events slowly became overshadowed by carnival rides and music shows. Today's fair features a variety of musical performances, art exhibits, wine tasting, carnival rides and games, craft vendors and a variety of other exhibits and events. For more information, call 503-947-3247 or visit www.oregonstatefair.org. PGE Festival of Lights Parade ¾ Salem has been home to a variety of Christmas parades over the years, but as the town has grown, so have the parades. Now sponsored by Portland General Electric, the Festival of Lights Parade has become the premier holiday event in Salem to showcase the brilliant lights of the holiday season. The parade winds through downtown Salem around 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Saturday in December. for more information, call 503-910-1500 or 503-949-0059. Salem Art Fair ¾ The Salem area has been celebrating art and artists at the Salem Art Fair for nearly 60 years. Hosted by the Salem Art Association, the event provides a variety of art exhibits along with entertainment and food for three days the 3rd weekend in July at Bush's Pasture Park, 600 Mission St. SE. Visitors will see exhibits ranging from painting to pottery, and can enjoy live music, jugglers, magicians and more. The event also features a 5-kilometer "Walk & Run for the Arts," a children's parade and an artist marketplace, where visitors can purchase some fantastic items from local artists. Salem Film Festival ¾ Salem has for many years been host to many arts events, including film festivals of one kind or another. Now a new group is hoping to make a regular film festival part of Salem's cultural tradition. Organizations including Willamette University and Chemeketa Community College have teamed with the Historic Elsinore Theatre, Salem Cinema and Allied Video Productions to present the 2nd annual Salem Film Festival. The 3rd annual festival is scheduled for April 2008. For more information, contact The Historic Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. SE, Salem, OR 97301; phone 503-375-3574. Salem Rodeo ¾ While Salem long ago ceded supremacy for celebrating Oregon's cowboy heritage to smaller towns throughout the state, Oregon's capital city has been making a comeback with the hosting of the annual Salem Rodeo the first weekend in May. The event is held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Silverton Road and features bronc riding, bull riding, barrell racing and a wild horse race, among other events. More information, 503-838-1439. Demographics*
* All figures are estimates based on 2000 U.S. Census data and from estimates of other population research organizations. Demographic figures and classifications are based on Census Bureau classifications and report data. Not all category percentages may add up to 100 due to rounding. Major Employers
School District Contact Information Salem-Keizer School
District Key Crime Statistics Data reported to Salem Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that crime in that part of northeast Salem that's within city boundaries and the 97305 ZIP Code has been considerably higher than crime for all of Salem, as well as considerably higher than both state and national averages. The bright spots in the crime picture here were forcible rapes and arsons, which were both lower than citywide and statewide averages. Crime data was not available for portions of the 97305 ZIP Code that are outside city limits.
^ Figure does not include reported arsons. Source:
Salem Police Department and FBI Uniform Crime Reports. Population adjusted figures are based on estimated
population and number of crimes for 2005. Data do not include numbers of crimes
or crime rates for Hayesville and Jan Ree Gardens areas, which are outside city
limits. Marion County Sheriff's Department does not compile crime statistics
solely for these areas. Local Newspapers Statesman Journal Local Economic Development Organizations Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Strategic Economic Development
Corporation (SEDCOR) Oregon Economic &
Community Development Department |
| Craig Loughridge has been an Oregon-licensed real estate practitioner and consultant since 1999. He has represented buyers and sellers in dozens of real estate transactions involving millions of dollars worth of residential, agricultural and investment properties. He is a graduate of the Oregon Realtor® Institute, and a member of the elite Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council. He can be reached at 503-632-8258. |  |
