McMinnville, Oregon

McMinnville
City
McMinnville, Oregon
Pioneer Hall at Linfield University
Nickname(s):  Mac
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°12′42″N 123°11′50″W / 45.21167°N 123.19722°W / 45.21167; -123.19722Coordinates: 45°12′42″N 123°11′50″W / 45.21167°N 123.19722°W / 45.21167; -123.19722
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Yamhill
Founded	1856
Incorporated	1876
Government
• Mayor	Scott Hill
Area [1]
• Total	10.57 sq mi (27.39 km2)
• Land	10.57 sq mi (27.39 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	157 ft (47.9 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	32,187
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	34,743
• Density	3,285.39/sq mi (1,268.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	97128
Area code(s)	503, 971
FIPS code	41-45000[4]
GNIS feature ID	1163136[5]
Website	City of McMinnville

McMinnville is the county seat of and largest city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby (1820–1884), an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee. As of the 2019 census, the city had a population estimate of 34,743.^[6]

McMinnville is at the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Yamhill River in the Willamette Valley. The city is home to Wings and Waves Water Park,^[7] Cascade Steel (a Schnitzer Steel Industries company), Oregon Mutual Insurance Company, the Woodworth Contrarian Hedge Fund,^[8] Linfield University, Joe Dancer Park, and Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, the home of Howard Hughes' famed Spruce Goose^[9] flying boat.

History[]

Town founder William T. Newby joined the Great Migration of 1843, later claiming land in 1844 on the present site of McMinnville in what was known as the Oregon Country. He built a grist mill in 1853 at what would become the west end of Third Street. On May 5, 1856,^[10] Newby platted a town and named it after his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee.^[11] Newby would later make a substantial donation of land for the founding of an institution of higher learning in the town, originally called McMinnville College but known today as Linfield University.^[11]

McMinnville was incorporated as a town in 1876 and became a city in 1882. County residents voted to move the county seat of Yamhill County from Lafayette to McMinnville in 1886.

Geography[]

McMinnville is 54 miles (87 km) from Lincoln City on the Pacific Ocean, 37 miles (60 km) from Portland, and 26 miles (42 km) from Salem, the state capital.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 10.58 square miles (27.40 km²), all of it land.^[12]

Economy[]

Michelbook Country Club, a private 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, was developed on the farmland of Captain Francis Michelbook. Land development in the area of the country club has been a factor in McMinnville's growth".^[13] In the early 60's, Kelton Peery, Chuck Colvin and Willard Cushing felt it was time for the city to have a private golf course and began to search for property. They soon persuaded Captain Francis Michelbook, former Commander of the Oregon National Guard’s Third Infantry Company A, that a country club would be the proper use for his land.^[14] Captain Michelbook did have some conditions to proceed which included that the country club would bear the family name "Michelbook". The country club has a driving range, practice facility, golf shop and a Class A PGA Professional.^[15]

Real estate continues to be on an economic boom for the growth of McMinnville and Yamhill county, especially around Michelbook Country Club.^[16] The first home on the golf course was built by John and Helen McMillan at 1811 St. Andrews Drive along the ninth fairway. The fourth addition was opened to help pay for a 35-par second nine and remodeling of four holes on the first nine. The cost of these improvements was $700,000. The second nine was opened on July 27, 1984 with Dr. Ross hitting the first drive.^[17] The newest 4-bedroom home, built nearest the club house, sold for $610,000 in 2021.^[18] Charming architecture was recently cited by Sunset Magazine in a review of the Best Small Towns to Live in the United States.^[19]

In 2019 the Oregon International Air Show switched to the McMinnville Municipal Airport. The airshow promotes Aviation while honoring Military and Veterans. In addition to the economic surge provided by the Air Show, the Oregon International Air Show involves the community and provides grants for McMinnville. Since 1988 more than $3 million has donated back throughout McMinnville (Yamhill County), Hillsboro (Washington County), Oregon and southwest Washington. Express Employment Professionals, Stoller Family Estates, and Xenium are once again sponsors of the 2021 Air Show.^[20] The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be showcased in the 2021 Oregon International Air Show at the McMinnville Airport in July and August.^[21]

McMinnville has a wide-array of banking, credit unions, and options for investments. Founded in 1922, First Federal Savings and Loan Association Headquarters in McMinnville is cited by Newsweek Magazine as one of the best banks in the United States.^[22] The city also has brick and mortar locations for many of the largest national banks in the United States including; Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, KeyBank, US Bank and Bank of America. Credit Unions have been growing membership at a rapid pace in McMinnville, with the newest expansion of Oregon State Credit Union.^[23] Opening doors for business in November of 2019, Oregon State Credit Union led the way in youth investment by making donations to the elementary and middle-school travel baseball program.^[24] McMinnville and all Yamhill County residents are also served by Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) with the county being rooted in aviation manufacturing.^[25] BECU supports McMinnville High School graduating seniors, and undergraduate students currently enrolled at Chemeketa Community College and Linfield University, with $2,500 Foundation Scholarships.^[26] OnPoint Community Credit Union, founded as Portland Teachers Credit Union, has a branch in McMinnville. OnPoint Community Credit Union provides funding and foundational investments in the McMinnville Education Foundation and McMinnville Music Boosters.^[27] The downtown area also offers branch locations for Federal Reserve Non-Member Banks, Citizens Bank^[28] and Columbia Bank.^[29]

McMinnville is a destination for foodies due to its world-class restaurants and a commitment of the McMinnville Downtown Association in marketing Dine Out(Side).^[30] Dine Out(Side) turns downtown McMinnville into a promenade, partnering with a number of locally owned businesses along Third Street.^[31] A downtown Farmers market operates from May until October.^[32] McMinnville has an amazing network of economic influencers that is founded in the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce. The McMinnville Chamber of Commerce is centered upon representing the best of McMinnville that offer expertise in their industry.^[33] Another excellent business and networking resource for business owners in McMinnville is the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).^[34] LeTip of McMinnville keeps the economic engine of McMinnville firing on all cylinders by turbocharging membership with member features such as Power Circles.^[35] The McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) has an extended network in gaining business resources, grants, and business planning execution for owners looking to move their business ventures.^[36]

Founded in 1894, Oregon Mutual Insurance is located in downtown McMinnville, Oregon.^[37][38][39] Oregon Mutual Insurance is an independent mutual insurance company providing personal, commercial, and agricultural property and casualty coverages for individuals, families, and businesses in the U.S. states of Oregon, Idaho, California, and Washington.^[40]

Founded in 2016, the Woodworth Contrarian Hedge Fund is a major local financial institution located in downtown McMinnville, Oregon.^[8][41]

There are 597 wineries in the Willamette Valley and 764 vineyards.^[42] Since the 1990s, the majority of the vineyards of the Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) are in the area surrounding McMinnville, giving this city a claim to the title of the capital of Oregon's wine industry.^{[citation needed]} In January 2005, a McMinnville AVA was established after an application from Youngberg Hill Vineyards. The AVA includes 14 wineries and 523 acres (2.12 km²) within the Willamette Valley AVA. The city is at the northeastern border of its AVA namesake.^[43] The world-renowned Oregon wine industry has become so popular that Linfield University expanded to offer a B.A. or B.S. in wine studies.^[44] McMinnville has been home of Golden Valley Brewery and Pub since 1993. Golden Valley Brewery and Pub serves Angus beef raised on their family ranch.^[45] Heater Allen Brewing, located outside of McMinnville's historic Granary District, crafts one of the world's top rated Pilsners.^[46] McMinnville is home to 6 craft breweries, including 2 gluten-free breweries.

McMinnville is home to Cascade Steel. Cascade Steel specializes in turning recycled metal into high-quality finished steel products. Cascade Steel Rolling Mills utilizes electric arc furnace (EAF) mini-mill production for a wide range of hot rolled products including rebar, coiled reinforcing bar, wire rod, and merchant bar.^[47] Cascade Steel operates as a subsidiary of Schnitzer Steel, a publicly-traded Fortune 1000 company.^[48] In 2016, Organic Valley purchased Farmers Cooperative Creamery in McMinnville, Oregon. It serves 72 co-op members in Oregon and Washington.^[49] Organic Valley is the nation's largest farmer-owned organic cooperative and one of the world's largest organic consumer brands.^[50] In 2021 a massive 3-alarm fire decimated the McMinnville Creamery, forcing residents to evacuate a 1/2 mile radius.^[51]

Climate[]

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). Just 43 miles from the Pacific Coastal community of Lincoln City, McMinnville will often see a Marine Layer offering cool foggy days.^[52] A warm summer day makes a quick beach trip an ideal feature of living in McMinnville. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, McMinnville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.^[53] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 39.8 °F (4.3 °C) in December to 66.4 °F (19.1 °C) in August.^[54] Annual precipitation averages 39.74 inches (1,009 mm), with normal monthly precipitation peaking in November.^[54] The lowest temperature recorded is −7 °F (−22 °C) on January 31, 1950, while the highest is 114 °F (46 °C), most recently on June 28, 2021.^[54]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	388		—
1880	670		72.7%
1890	1,368		104.2%
1900	1,420		3.8%
1910	2,400		69.0%
1920	2,767		15.3%
1930	2,917		5.4%
1940	3,706		27.0%
1950	6,635		79.0%
1960	7,656		15.4%
1970	10,125		32.2%
1980	14,080		39.1%
1990	17,894		27.1%
2000	26,499		48.1%
2010	32,187		21.5%
2019 (est.)	34,743	[3]	7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[55] 2018 Estimate[56]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 32,187 people, 11,674 households, and 7,779 families living in the city. The population density was 3,042.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,174.6/km²). There were 12,389 housing units at an average density of 1,171.0 per square mile (452.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.2% White, 0.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 10.7% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.6% of the population.

There were 11,674 households, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 34 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 26,499 people living in the city, among 9,367 households and 6,463 families. The population density was 2,675.8 people per square mile (1,033.5/km²). There were 9,834 housing units at an average density of 993.0 per square mile (383.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.39% White, 1.39% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.68% Black or African American, and 0.18% Pacific Islander. 14.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 7.26% identify themselves as from other races, and 2.86% from two or more races.

There were 9,367 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 14.7% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,953, and the median income for a family was $44,013. Males had a median income of $33,517 versus $24,405 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,085. 12.9% of the population and 8.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Outdoor activities, Recreation and City Parks[]

McMinnville is home to the Bayou Golf 9-hole Regulation Course. Bayou Golf is par three course with a driving range along with putting & chipping practice areas. Snacks, Beverages, Beer and Wine are available and tee times are generally available throughout the summer. The annual membership is under $100 and includes an Oregon Golf Association USGA Handicap.^[57] Bayou Golf offers a Junior Golfer program that includes age 5+ on the par three and age 8+ on the regulation course.^[58] Bayou Golf was established in 1964 by Dr. White and Family and is situated along the South Yamhill River. The course ideal for play from Spring until late fall along tree lined fairways, bunkers, and water features that make for an affordable, scenic, and challenging round of golf.^[59]

McMinnville Community Center is headquarters for the McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department, which administers 18 parks throughout the city.^[60] The largest city park is the 100-acre sports field complex and community park named after a longtime city manager Joe Dancer.^[61] Joe Dancer Park has a dozen baseball and softball fields. The park also features soccer fields, playground equipment, and the Drew Ottley Memorial Skate Park. An additional Skate Park is available at Discovery Meadows Community Park, along with baseball and softball fields. Discovery Meadows Community Park is 22-acres featuring picnic shelters (available to rent), playgrounds, play structure w/towers, climbing walls, climbing boulders, water features, basketball courts, and walking pathways (1 mile paved) and trails (.95 mile soft) throughout.^[62]

McMinnville offers a premier travel baseball program for elementary and middle-school children through the Junior Baseball Organization (JBO).^[63] The program generally fields nine (9) teams each year, three (3) teams at each level of competition.^[64] An association of the Westside Youth Baseball Association, McMinnville JBO fields teams as part of the Junior Baseball Organization of Oregon following the National Federation of State High School (NFHS) rulebook.^[65] Elementary and middle-school children also can compete in a premier travel basketball program with the McMinnville Basketball Association.^[66] The programs provide annual camps and feature competitive regional tournaments drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the city each year.^[67][68] Additionally, the city of McMinnville provides excellent administration of the youth sports leagues in both baseball and basketball, along with other many other competitive sports.^[69]

City Park is within walking distance from the downtown business district. It opened 1910, when the city sold $3,000 in park bonds to finance construction of a bandstand and a small zoo featuring bears, deer and other local animals. Near the site of Lower City Park, along Cozine Creek, there was a large flour mill, called the Star Mill that closed in 1921 and was damaged by fire in 1927. The City of McMinnville sold $8,500 in bonds to finance the purchase of the property. The tract ran from Star Mill Way to Cozine Creek and West Second Street, to the Mill pond site. The pond site is now occupied by tennis courts. Wortman Park is a large forested park with a small stream running through it. A disc golf course was installed 1991 and is home to the annual Squirrel Open, an Oregon Disc Sports Association's Oregon Series tournament.

Additionally since 1956 the McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department has overseen the Aquatic Center which includes two indoor swimming pools, a hot tub and the Fitness Center. The Aquatic Center is home of the McMinnville High School Grizzly Swim Team and the McMinnville Swim Club. McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department partners with Chemeketa Community College as students may earn college credits through the use of the Aquatic Center.

Education[]

Along with several private schools, the city enjoys a growing school district and two Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), Chemeketa Community College and Linfield University.

In 1858, Linfield University was founded as Baptist College of McMinnville.^[70] Later renamed McMinnville College and then Linfield College, in 2020 the Board of Trustees renamed the school Linfield University.^[71] Linfield is an independent, comprehensive institution of higher education for undergraduate and graduate studies in 56 unique majors.^[72] The University enrolls roughly 2,000 students from 24 states with nearly 95% of students utilizing financial aid.^[73]

Linfield University is located on nearly 200 acres with over 60 facilities.^[74] The Linfield University athletic program is part of the Northwest Conference, NCAA Division III rostering varsity sports, along with intercollegiate sports and activities.^[75] In 2020 the football program upgraded their facility with the largest scoreboard in NCAA Division III.^[76] The 1,800 square foot display measures in at 60 feet wide and 30 feet high. The football program notched it's 64th consecutive winning season in 2019.^[77]

In the mid to late 70's community locations for Chemeketa Community College expanded to McMinnville. Chemeketa Yamhill Valley received accreditation as a college campus in the fall of 2011 and McMinnville became the home of the second multi-campus community college in the state of Oregon.^[78] The Yamhill Valley campus provides numerous services including; academic advising, counseling support services, student clubs and activities, student accessibility services, library/tutoring centers, open computer labs, testing services, bookstore, conditioning/fitness center, and cafe/coffee shop.^[79] The campus is also set up to issue student identifications and has WI-FI available in the parking lot.^[80]

Nearly two decades after McMinnville College was founded, the city of McMinnville levied a tax to build the first public school house.^[81] The McMinnville School District is responsible for the education of nearly 7,000 K-12 school children. The McMinnville School District superintendent is Debbie Brocket.^[82] The largest high school of the county, McMinnville High School (MHS), has an enrollment of over 2,000 students.^[83]

Along with MHS, the school district offers two middle schools and five elementary schools in the city. Children from outside of the city limits and unincorporated areas of Yamhill County attend McMinnville City Schools.^[84] The school district also bears the burden of oversight, administration, and maintenance of Wascher Elementary in the nearby community of Lafayette, Oregon.^[85]

Private schools in McMinnville include the McMinnville Montessori School, McMinnville Christian Academy (MCA) and St. James Catholic Elementary School. Each private school offers a unique experience for students and parents. The McMinnville Montessori School provides before and after school care utilizing Joe Dancer and City Parks.^[86] McMinnville Christian Academy provides pre-school education all the way through middle-school. Additionally, MCA provide cost-effective and superior after-school programs.^[87] St James Catholic Elementary School recently implemented multi-age learning in all classrooms where students will stay with the same teacher over a period of two years.^[88] The school provides excellent activities through numerous fundraisers working in concert with community partners.^[89]

Arts and culture[]

Annual cultural events[]

Turkey Rama is a three-day festival held in downtown McMinnville celebrating the ongoing tradition of the turkey barbecue. The barbecue was started in 1938 by turkey farmers in Yamhill County when the county's main source of wealth was the turkey-farming industry. Today, commercial exhibitions have replaced the "turkey exhibitions", and the turkey-judging competitions and turkey races have been eliminated in favor of more "turkey-friendly" rides, booths, and outdoor entertainment.

The International Pinot Noir Celebration has been held every July since 1987 on the Linfield University campus. The IPNC is a three-day event in which winemakers, northwest chefs, media, epicures and wine lovers gather at Linfield University.^[90]

In 2018, the McMinnville Noon Rotary Club partnered with the Willamette Valley Cancer Foundation for an annual event promoting McMinnville community projects culminating the MAC Food Truck Festival. The festival is a celebration of local businesses and the best food trucks of Oregon while showcasing the wide array of beer and wine scene of the Willamette Valley. Hagan Hamilton, Lum's Buick GMC Cadillac, Citizens Bank, Hyder Dental, Oregon Oncology, Willamette Valley Medical Center, Online NW, Recology, Morris Carpet Cleaning, and Physicians Medical Center are sponsors.^[91]

Established in 1993, the Sip! McMinnville Wine & Food Classic is a three-day event held at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum benefiting the St. James School of McMinnville.^[92] It features local winemakers and vintners alongside chefs from the Pacific Northwest, and attendees can taste and purchase wine and food.

Museums and other points of interest[]

Wings & Waves Waterpark is an indoor, all-season waterpark that includes ten waterslides, ranging from slides for the little ones to slides for daredevils, and a fun wave pool. Slide out of a real Boeing 747 aircraft sitting on the roof, and enjoy an awesome day of fun.^[93] The nearby Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is best known as the home of the Spruce Goose, the world's largest propeller-driven seaplane, built by the famed aviator Howard Hughes.

The museum, home to another 80 historic aircraft and exhibits, is a pair of large symmetrical buildings with glass facades, a local landmark which can be seen for miles. Additional major exhibits include a SR-71 "Blackbird", a Titan II SLV Missile (with its launch control center), and a Grumman F6F3 "Hellcat." There is also an "IMAX class" digital 3D theater, the Wings & Waves indoor waterpark (containing wave pool, 4 slides emerging from 747 on building's roof, and educational displays), and the newly built Boy Scout Jamboree park.

The Yamhill Valley Heritage Center Museum - Located just outside of downtown McMinnville at the intersection of HWY 18 and Durham Lane. One of 2 museums operated by the Yamhill County Historical Society striving to protect, preserve and share the heritage of Yamhill County www.YamhillCountyHistory.org

Featuring a working Blacksmith Shop, Sawmill, Steam Traction Engine, Hutchcroft School House, Logging and Dairy Displays and Educational Programs. The Museum hosts many annual events including Farm Fest in early April and Harvest Fest in mid August.^{[citation needed]}

McMinnville UFO photographs[]

McMinnville is well known among UFO researchers for photographs originally published on the front page of the June 9, 1950, edition of the city's newspaper, the News-Register (then known as the Telephone-Register), reportedly of an unidentified flying object; the photographs were taken nearly a month earlier, on May 11, 1950 at the farm of Paul and Evelyn Trent. The Oregonian published the photographs the next day, and within a month they were published in LIFE magazine.^[94]

Although these images have come to be known as the "McMinnville UFO photographs", the Trent farm was actually located in Sheridan, Oregon, around nine miles (15 km) southwest of McMinnville.^[95] The heated debate which followed between UFO researchers and skeptics made the town's name famous and has spurred an annual "UFO Festival" in McMinnville, the second largest such gathering in the United States to that of Roswell, New Mexico.^[96]

Media[]

• MCM-TV - McMinnville Community Media^[97]
• News Register - County Newspaper
• KKJC-LP 93.5 FM - Christian talk radio operated by Calvary Chapel of McMinnville
• KLYC 1260 AM
• KSLC 90.3 FM - Linfield University student radio
• The Linfield Review - The student news site for Linfield University
• The Bruin - McMinnville High School student paper^[98]

Infrastructure[]

Transportation[]

McMinnville is on Oregon Route 99W approximately 38 miles (61 km) south of downtown Portland and approximately 46 miles (74 km) north of Corvallis. Oregon Route 18 forms a bypass around the city along its southern border and connects McMinnville with the Oregon Coast just north of Lincoln City approximately 55 miles (89 km) west. Oregon Highway 18 is also known as Three Mile Lane from its McMinnville city center interchange east to the McMinnville Municipal Airport. The southern end of Oregon Route 47 is just northeast of city limits and connects McMinnville with Washington County.

Major thoroughfares in McMinnville are Highway 99W and Adams and Baker Streets which form a north–south couplet through the center of the town; Lafayette Avenue (which was at one time the route of U.S. Highway 99W), East Third Street (the main street through the downtown core), and West Second Street (the main street connecting downtown with the western residential areas). Baker Creek Road, Evans Street, Riverside Drive, South Davis Street, Fellows Street, Cypress Street and Booth Bend Road are also important collector streets connecting industrial or residential areas with the downtown core or the primary arterial streets.

McMinnville Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the City of McMinnville.^[99]

The Portland & Western Railroad serves McMinnville on its Westside Branch. Major railroad shippers include Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Land O'Lakes Purina LLC, RB Rubber Products and McMinnville Gas. P&W maintains a depot in downtown McMinnville, itself a remnant from the Red Electric interurban passenger service which served McMinnville from 1914–1929. McMinnville is a hub for P&W, with trains operating between McMinnville and Newberg, Willamina, Dallas and Albany.

Historically, McMinnville had a landing for riverboats traveling up the Yamhill River. The Yamhill Lock near Lafayette helped facilitate river navigation up to McMinnville. However, the use of the Yamhill River for commercial purposes was short-lived; the city's only recreational boat dock has been unusable for years. River levels are unpredictable and difficult for boaters (water levels can be very high in winter and very low in summer).

Public Transit is provided by the Yamhill County Transit Area. Three city routes provide Monday–Friday service starting at 6:30 AM and continuing through 7:50 PM. A Saturday "Loop" runs from 10:00 AM through 6:00 PM. YCTA also provides intercity service to all communities in Yamhill County on four different routes; hourly weekday and infrequent Saturday service to Newberg and Tigard, and weekday commuter trips to Hillsboro and Salem.

Intercity bus service is also provided by Caravan Airport Transportation and Valley Retriever between Portland and Newport, each with one daily trip in each direction stopping in McMinnville. Greyhound Bus formerly served McMinnville until 2004 with a stop on its Portland–San Francisco route, ending nearly 80 years of service on the route dating back to the Southern Pacific Railroad's rail and bus passenger service.

Electricity and Water[]

Since 1888, the city has been served by McMinnville Water and Light, a municipal utility.^[100] Economic development experts cite low utility rates as an important recruiting effort with McMinnville offering the 2nd lowest electricity rates and the 3rd lowest water rates in the entire state.^[101]

Health care[]

Willamette Valley Medical Center, along the outskirts of McMinnville, is an 88-bed acute-care, full-service facility, accredited by The Joint Commission.

Notable people[]

• Whitney Blake - Actress and mother of actress Meredith Baxter Birney
• Scott Brosius - Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series MVP Award-winning baseball player
• Jim Bunn - Oregon politician
• Troy Calhoun - NCAA Football Head Coach, Air Force
• Pat Casey - Oregon State University NCAA Baseball Head Coach
• Catt family - 21st Century bank-robbing family^[102]
• Beverly Cleary - Children's author, National Book Award and Newbery Medal recipient
• Verne Duncan - Oregon and Idaho politician
• Matthew Haughey - Noted blogger
• Bill Krueger - Major League Baseball (MLB) and Senior Baseball Analyst for Root Sports Northwest
• Elgen Long – Aviator, researcher and author
• Ehren McGhehey - Jackass cast member
• Joe Paterson - Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for Arizona Diamondbacks
• Ad Rutschman - College Football Hall of Fame Coach^[103]
• Ross Shafer - Comedian, television host, and motivational speaker
• Raemer Schreiber - Physics pioneer that worked at Los Alamos during WWII
• Charlie Sitton - Former National Basketball Association (NBA) professional basketball player
• Will Vinton - Oscar-winning director and producer of animated films

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to McMinnville, Oregon at Wikimedia Commons
• Entry for McMinnville from the Oregon Blue Book
• "McMinnville". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
• Visit McMinnville