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Ontario, OR

Frequently asked questions

Ontario, OR

Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The city is the largest community in the region of far eastern Oregon, also known as the Western Treasure Valley.

Ontario is the principal city of the Ontario, OR-ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Malheur County in Oregon and Payette County in Idaho. Ontario is approximately halfway between Portland and Salt Lake City. It is the closest city to the Idaho border along Interstate 84. The city's slogan is "Where Oregon Begins".

Ontario was founded on 11 June 1883, by developers William Morfitt, Mary Richardson, Daniel Smith, and James Virtue. In March 1884, Richard Welch started a post office for the quarter of Ontario, so named by James Virtue after Ontario, Canada. Two months later Joseph Morton applied for a Morton post office at an island about one mile south of town, with Oscar Scott as postmaster. Unfortunately for Morton and Scott, merchants Morfitt and Richardson of Malheur City, gold miner Virtue, and lumberman Smith of Baker City acquired more land and were better financed. More importantly, Morfitt had negotiated a train depot for Ontario. All the settlers and speculators knew the railroad was coming and how important that would be to Ontario's future so Scott closed his Morton post office and built a hotel in present-day Ontario. By December, Scott was Ontario's postmaster.

In a city by the time of World War II, Ontario Mayor Elmo Smith allowed Japanese Americans to settle at a time when much of the West Coast supported their exclusion. Smith told the Associated Press "If the Japs, both alien and nationals, are a menace to the Pacific Coast safety unless they are moved inland, it appears downright cowardly to take any other stand than to put out the call, 'Send them along; we'll cooperate to the fullest possible extent in taking care of them.'" A population of about 134 in the city and surrounding county before the war ballooned to 1,000 as the county recruited farm workers during the war.

Ontario is located at an elevation of 2,150 feet (660 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.17 square miles (13.39 km²), all land.

Health and wellness are paramount in Ontario, with access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by institutions such as Saint Alphonsus Medical Center playing a crucial role in the community. Start your wellness journey at the Body Shop Fitness Centers, which offers a variety of fitness classes and modern gym facilities. For a more relaxed environment, visit the Basin Health Clinic and Columbia River Health Clinic which provide acupuncture and holistic health treatments. Ontario Recreation District organizes outdoor activities, fitness programs, and sports leagues for community members. Yoga lovers can find peace and flexibility at The Yoga Space and Glow Yoga.

Top Sites in Ontario, OR are Four Rivers Cultural Center, Beck-Kiwanis Park, and Lake Owyhee State Park.

Population: 11,723 (2022). ZIP Code: 97914. Area code: 541. Elevation: 2,150 ft (655 m). Area: 5.17 sq mi (13.38 km²).

FAQs

What is Ontario, OR known for?

Ontario is the gateway to arid desert beauty, stunning river canyons, and towering mountain ranges. For centuries, the Snake, Malheur, Owyhee, and Payette Rivers have supported life in this area along the Oregon-Idaho border, attracting people from all points of the compass. Named for these waterways, the Four Rivers Cultural Center represents the constant flow of people of varied ancestries — American Indian, Basque, European, Hispanic, Japanese — who call this area home.

Is Ontario, OR a good place to live?

Living in Ontario, Oregon, you'll find it a pretty safe place. Property crime rates in Ontario are lower than the national average, and violent crime rates are significantly lower than the national average. NeighborhoodScout.com states Ontario has a crime rate lower than 60% of all US cities. Ontario, Oregon, residents should feel relatively safe in their daily lives

What are the demographics in Ontario, OR?

Ontario, OR is home to a population of 11.6k people, of which 91.9% are citizens. As of 2022, 10.9% of Ontario, OR residents were born outside of the country (1.27k people). In 2022, there were 2.04 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (5.75k people) in Ontario, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.82k White (Hispanic) and 1.74k Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Ontario

Travel Oregon

Living in Oregon

Data USA

Four Rivers Cultural Center

Beck-Kiwanis Park

Lake Owyhee State Park

Saint Alphonsus Medical Center

Body Shop Fitness Centers

Basin Health Clinic

Columbia River Health Clinic

Ontario Recreation District

The Yoga

Space 

Glow Yoga

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.