Milton-Freewater, Oregon

2025-09-14T19:25:33Z

2600:6C54:67F0:1000:30C0:2656:53AD:3B02: /* Education */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Milton-Freewater, Oregon
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| nickname = Muddy Frogwater Country
| motto =
| image_skyline = 55-20230521McLoughlinHSAerial.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| image_caption = Looking southeast over the city from Milton-Freewater Golf Course
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_map = Umatilla_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Milton-Freewater_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location in [[Oregon]]
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Oregon]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Umatilla County, Oregon|Umatilla]]
| government_type =
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Mike Odman
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date = 1950
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_sq_mi = 2.03
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='41'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 5.26
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.03
| area_land_km2 = 5.26
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_urban_sq_mi =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_metro_km2 =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note =
| population_total = 7151
| population_metro =
| population_urban =
| population_density_km2 = 1360.67
| population_density_sq_mi = 3524.40
| timezone = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset = -8
| timezone_DST = Pacific
| utc_offset_DST = -7
| coordinates = {{coord|45|56|02|N|118|23|27|W|type:city_region:US-OR|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 1037
| website = [https://www.mfcity.com www.mfcity.com]
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 97862
| area_codes = [[Area codes 541 and 458|458 and 541]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 41-48600<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2411115<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411115}}</ref>
| footnotes =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_est =
}}
'''Milton-Freewater''' is a city in [[Umatilla County, Oregon|Umatilla County]], [[Oregon]], United States. The city received its current name in 1951 when neighboring rival cities of '''Milton''' and '''Freewater''' voted to merge. The population was 7,151 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is part of the [[Pendleton, Oregon|Pendleton]]–[[Hermiston, Oregon|Hermiston]] [[Pendleton-Hermiston micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. Milton-Freewater is home to a growing wine industry.

==History==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2007}}
First settled in 1868, the community was incorporated as Milton by 1873. It is uncertain how the name was chosen; perhaps in hopes of building a mill, or perhaps in honor of English poet [[John Milton]].

Freewater received its name from the offer of free residential water rights to attract new settlers. Before that name was chosen other proposed names had been New Walla Walla and Wallaette. The town was located to the north of and directly adjacent to Milton.

In 1936, a magnitude 6.1 [[1936 State Line earthquake|earthquake]] centered {{convert|6|mi|km}} to the northwest caused significant damage in and around Milton-Freewater. This earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks and had a temporary effect on the water table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.pnsn.org/HIST_CAT/1936.html |title=WA/OR - United States Earthquakes, 1936 |access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref>

In the 1960s, Milton-Freewater billed itself as the [[pea]] capital of the world. There were several pea canneries in town. It held an annual festival and parade in May, known as the "Pea Festival." In the late 1970s, agricultural practices and crop prices changed the dynamics of the local economy, and peas were no longer grown as abundantly as they previously had been. One by one the canneries closed down. The town dropped the title and the festival. At the time, Milton-Freewater had a popular August event called the "Corn Roast" and the decision was made to increase the festival to a weekend-long celebration which, in 1981, became known as the Muddy Frogwater Festival (the city had sometimes been referred to as Muddy-Frogwater). The festival is now a three-day event held the third weekend in August each year. Festival activities have included frog-jumping contests, concerts, karaoke competitions, the corn roast, and a dance. The Friends of the Library have held a large outdoor book sale at the festival each year since 1993. On the Sunday morning of the festival there is an outdoor interdenominational church service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfcity.com/news/Frog+Statues.html|title=News | City of Milton-Freewater Oregon|website=www.mfcity.com}}</ref> The city also has sponsored the creation of more than 50 [[chainsaw sculpture]] frogs at local businesses to help market itself as a "fun town" with a quirky nickname.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.99|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

==Climate==
Milton-Freewater has a [[steppe climate]] (BSk) according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Milton-Freewater, Oregon (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1928–present)
| Jan record high F = 70
| Feb record high F = 78
| Mar record high F = 81
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 99
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 109
| Aug record high F = 111
| Sep record high F = 103
| Oct record high F = 92
| Nov record high F = 82
| Dec record high F = 71
| year record high F =
| Jan high F = 44.2
| Feb high F = 48.6
| Mar high F = 57.5
| Apr high F = 64.7
| May high F = 73.6
| Jun high F = 80.5
| Jul high F = 90.4
| Aug high F = 89.3
| Sep high F = 79.6
| Oct high F = 65.8
| Nov high F = 51.7
| Dec high F = 43.5
| year high F = 65.8
| Jan mean F = 37.2
| Feb mean F = 40.7
| Mar mean F = 48.1
| Apr mean F = 54.2
| May mean F = 62.0
| Jun mean F = 68.3
| Jul mean F = 76.7
| Aug mean F = 75.8
| Sep mean F = 67.1
| Oct mean F = 55.0
| Nov mean F = 43.6
| Dec mean F = 36.8
| year mean F = 55.5
| Jan low F = 30.3
| Feb low F = 32.8
| Mar low F = 38.7
| Apr low F = 43.7
| May low F = 50.4
| Jun low F = 56.0
| Jul low F = 63.1
| Aug low F = 62.3
| Sep low F = 54.6
| Oct low F = 44.3
| Nov low F = 35.6
| Dec low F = 30.1
| year low F = 45.2
| Jan record low F = -17
| Feb record low F = -17
| Mar record low F = 6
| Apr record low F = 15
| May record low F = 25
| Jun record low F = 38
| Jul record low F = 39
| Aug record low F = 40
| Sep record low F = 28
| Oct record low F = 13
| Nov record low F = -12
| Dec record low F = -24
| year record low F =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.75
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.52
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.70
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.62
| May precipitation inch = 1.77
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.25
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.34
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.39
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.61
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.22
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.92
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.06
| year precipitation inch = 16.15
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.2
| Feb precipitation days = 9.1
| Mar precipitation days = 9.6
| Apr precipitation days = 8.6
| May precipitation days = 7.5
| Jun precipitation days = 5.6
| Jul precipitation days = 1.7
| Aug precipitation days = 1.6
| Sep precipitation days = 3.0
| Oct precipitation days = 6.3
| Nov precipitation days = 10.0
| Dec precipitation days = 10.2
| year precipitation days = 83.4
| Jan snow inch = 2.4
| Feb snow inch = 1.3
| Mar snow inch = 0.1
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.3
| Dec snow inch = 3.1
| year snow inch = 7.2
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 1.1
| Feb snow days = 0.4
| Mar snow days = 0.2
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.4
| Dec snow days = 0.8
| year snow days = 2.9
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00355593&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 10, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 4110
|1970= 4105
|1980= 5086
|1990= 5533
|2000= 6470
|2010= 7050
|2020= 7151
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
At the 2010 [[census]], there were 7,050 people, 2,479 households and 1,689 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3542.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,742 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1377.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 70.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 24.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 43.1% of the population.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref>

There were 2,479 households, of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.42.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

The median age was 31.5 years. 30.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 11% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 21.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.1% were 65 years of age or older. The population was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>

==The Rocks AVA==
{{main|The Rocks AVA}}
The Milton-Freewater area is renowned for its wine. Until February 2015, it was part of the [[Walla Walla Valley AVA]], when [[The Rocks AVA|The Rocks District of Milton–Freewater American Viticultural Area]] (The Rocks AVA) was established.

[[File:Milton-Freewater Chamber.jpg|thumb|Milton-Freewater area Chamber of Commerce, downtown]]

==Education==
Schools in Milton-Freewater are under the jurisdiction of the [[Milton-Freewater Unified School District]] and include [[McLoughlin High School]], Central Middle School, Freewater Elementary, Ferndale Elementary School, Gib Olinger Elementary.

==Notable people==

*[[George Flower]], actor, writer and producer
*[[Oscar Harstad]], former major league baseball pitcher

==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Waimate|Waimate, New Zealand]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/North-America/United-States.php |title=United States of America - Country Information Paper - NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |website=www.mfat.govt.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211003652/http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/North-America/United-States.php |archive-date=2007-02-11}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/cities/l-r/milton-freewater.aspx Entry for Milton-Freewater] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''

{{Umatilla County, Oregon}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1950 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Cities in Umatilla County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1950]]

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Milton-Freewater, Oregon