{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Astoria, Oregon
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Astoria-Megler.JPG
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_seal = AstoriaSeal.png
|image_map = Clatsop_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Astoria_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in [[Oregon]]
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Oregon|County]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Oregon]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Clatsop County, Oregon|Clatsop]]
|government_type =
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Willis L. Van Dusen
|established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date = [[1876]]
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi = 10.6
|area_total_km2 = 27.5
|area_land_sq_mi = 6.1
|area_land_km2 = 15.9
|area_water_sq_mi = 4.5
|area_water_km2 = 11.6
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|population_as_of = [[2006]]
|population_note =
|population_total = 9970
|population_metro =
|population_urban =
|population_density_km2 = 617.1
|population_density_sq_mi = 1597.6
|timezone = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|latd = 46 |latm = 11 |lats = 20 |latNS = N
|longd = 123 |longm = 49 |longs = 16 |longEW = W
|elevation_m = 7.01
|elevation_ft = 23
|website = [http://www.astoria.or.us www.ci.astoria.or.us]
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code = 97103
|area_code = [[Area code 503|503]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 41-03150{{GR|2}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 1117076{{GR|3}}
|footnotes =
}}
[[Image:AstoriaColumn.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Astoria Column]]]]
[[Image:Astoria - Suomi Hall - CRW 3281.jpg|right|thumb|[[Suomi Hall]], the meeting hall of [[Finnish American|Finnish]] and Scandinavian immigrants, under the [[Astoria-Megler Bridge]]]]

The [[city]] of '''Astoria''' is the [[county seat]] of [[Clatsop County, Oregon|Clatsop County]], [[Oregon]], [[United States]]. {{GR|6}} It is situated near the mouth of the [[Columbia River]], and was named after the [[United States|American]] investor (and first [[millionaire]]) [[John Jacob Astor]]. The population was 9,813 at the [[United States Census 2000|2000 census]]. A 2006 estimate raises it to 9,970 residents.<ref name="psu">[http://www.pdx.edu/media/p/r/PRC_Certified_Cities_2006.pdf PSU:Population Research Center]</ref>

== History ==
The [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] spent the winter of 1805-1806 at [[Fort Clatsop]], a small log structure south and west of modern day Astoria. The expedition had hoped a ship would come by to take them back east, but instead endured a torturous winter of rain and cold, then returned east the way they came. Today the fort has been recreated and is now a [[national monument]].

Several years later, in 1810, John Jacob Astor's [[Pacific Fur Company]] sent the [[Astor Expedition]] that founded [[Fort Astoria]] as its primary fur-trading post in the Northwest, and in fact the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast. It was an extremely important post for American exploration of the continent and was influential in establishing American claims to the land. The company failed, however, and the fort and fur trade were sold to the British in [[1813]]. The house was restored to the U.S. in [[1818]], though the fur trade would remain under British control until American pioneers following the [[Oregon Trail]] began filtering into the port town in the mid-1840s.

[[Washington Irving]], a prominent American writer with a European reputation, was approached by John Jacob Astor to mythologize the three-year reign of his Pacific Fur Company. ''Astoria'' (1835), written while Irving was Astor's guest, cemented the importance of the region in the American psyche.<ref>In his Introduction to the rambling work, Irving reports that Astor explicitly "expressed a regret that the true nature and extent of his enterprize<!--enterprize in original-->and its national character and importance had never been understood."</ref> In Irving's words, the fur traders were "Sinbads of the wilderness", and their venture was a staging point for the spread of American economic power into both the continental interior and into the Pacific.

As the [[Oregon Territory]] grew and became increasingly more settled, Astoria likewise grew as a [[port|port city]] at the mouth of the great river that provided the easiest access to the interior. The first U.S. Post Office west of the [[Rocky Mountains]] was established in Astoria in [[1847]]. In 1876, the community was legally incorporated. It attracted a host of [[Nordic countries|Scandinavia]]n settlers, and the area still holds a high concentration of descendants of these original settlers.

In [[1883]], and again in [[1922]], downtown Astoria was devastated by fire, but the city economy was strong enough in both cases to rebuild and thrive. Astoria has served as a port of entry for over a century and remains the trading center for the lower Columbia basin.

Eclipsed by [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] and other ports further inland along the Columbia, Astoria's economy centered around fishing, fish processing, and lumber. In 1945, about 30 canneries could be found along the Columbia; however, in 1974 [[Bumblebee Seafood]] moved its headquarters out of Astoria, and gradually reduced its presence until 1980 when the company closed its last Astoria cannery. The [[timber industry]] likewise declined; Astoria Plywood Mill, the city's largest employer, closed in 1989, and the [[Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway]] discontinued service in 1996.

In [[1966]] the [[Astoria-Megler Bridge]] was opened; it completed [[U.S. Route 101]] and linked Astoria with [[Washington]] State on the opposite shore of the Columbia.

Today, tourism, Astoria's growing art scene, and light manufacturing are the main economic activities of the city. It is a port of call for [[cruise ship]]s, with many docking in 2004, 2005, 13 in 2006, and 14 already scheduled for 2007.

In addition to the replicated Fort Clatsop, a popular point of interest is the [[Astoria Column]], a tower 125 feet high built atop the hill above the town, with an inner circular staircase allowing visitors to climb to see a breathtaking view of the town, the surrounding lands, and the mighty Columbia flowing into the Pacific. The column was built by the [[Astor family]] in 1926 to commemorate the region's early history.

Astoria is also the western terminus of the [[TransAmerica Trail]], a [[bicycle touring]] route created by the [[American Cycling Association]].

==Geography and climate==
Astoria is located above the equator (46.188825, -123.821007){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 10.6&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (27.5&nbsp;[[km²]]), of which, 6.1&nbsp;square miles (15.9&nbsp;km²) of it is land and 4.5&nbsp;square miles (11.6&nbsp;km²) of it (42.18%) is water.

===Climate===
The table below demonstrates that Astoria's [[Oceanic climate|maritime climates]] is one of the most temperate in the [[continental United States]]; normal winters are mild for Astoria's [[latitude]], generally above freezing, and wet. Summers are cool, although short heat waves can occur. Rainfall is most abundant in late fall and winter, and lightest in late summer. Snowfall is relatively rare.

{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;"|Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" | Month
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jan
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Feb
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Mar
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Apr
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | May
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jun
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jul
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Aug
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Sep
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Oct
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Nov
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Dec
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec High °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 67
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 72
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 73
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 83
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 91
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 93
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 100
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 96
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 95
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 85
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 71
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 64
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm High °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 48.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 50.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 53.3
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 56.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 60
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 63.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67.2
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 68.3
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67.5
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 61
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 53.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 48.4
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Norm Low °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 36.7
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 37.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 38.6
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 40.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 45.4
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 49.8
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 52.9
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 53.2
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 49.5
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 44.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 40.1
| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" | 37.1
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Rec Low °F
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 11
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 9
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 22
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 29
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 30
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 37
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 39
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 39
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 33
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 26
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 15
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 6
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Precip (in)
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 9.62
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 7.87
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 7.37
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 4.93
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 3.28
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 2.57
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 1.16
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 1.21
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 2.61
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 5.61
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 10.5
| style="text-align:center; background: #E8EAFA; color:#000000;" | 10.4
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|''Source: USTravelWeather.com<ref>[http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-oregon/astoria-weather.asp]</ref>''
|}

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 9,813 people, 4,235 households, and 2,469 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,597.6 people per square mile (617.1/km²). There were 4,858 housing units at an average density of 790.9/sq&nbsp;mi (305.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.08% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.52% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.94% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.67% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.46% from two or more races. 5.98% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic American]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race. 14.2% were of [[German people|German]], 11.4% [[Irish American|Irish]], 10.2% [[English people|English]], 8.3% [[United States]] or American, 6.1% [[Finnish people|Finnish]], 5.6% [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]], and 5.4% [[Scottish American|Scottish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]].

There were 4,235 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,011, and the median income for a family was $41,446. Males had a median income of $29,813 versus $22,121 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,759. About 11.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[Image:astor.jpg|thumb|right|John Jacob Astor Elementary]]
The [[Astoria School District]] has five schools, each of which serves a different age group of students:

*Captain Robert Gray Elementary School
*John Jacob Astor Elementary School
*Lewis & Clark Elementary School
*Astoria Middle School
*[[Astoria High School]]

==Media==
*''[[The Daily Astorian]]''
*''[[KMUN]]''

==Astoria in popular culture==

Astoria was the setting of the [[1985]] hit movie ''[[The Goonies]]'', which was filmed on location. Other movies filmed in Astoria include ''[[Overboard (1987 film)|Overboard]]'', ''[[Short Circuit]]'', ''[[The Black Stallion (film)|The Black Stallion]]'', ''[[Kindergarten Cop]]'', ''[[Free Willy]]'', ''[[Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home]]'', ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III]]'', ''[[Benji the Hunted]]'', ''[[The Ring (2002 film)|The Ring]]'',<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298130/locations]</ref> and ''[[The Ring Two]]''.

The early 1960s television series [[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]] filmed the episode entitled "One Tiger to a Hill" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0690475/] in Astoria; it was broadcast on [[September 21]][[1962]].

An album by the rock band [[The Ataris]], ''[[So Long, Astoria]]'', has cover art and a title song depicting the city.

Astoria is mentioned in [[Neal Stephenson]]'s novel ''[[Snow Crash]]'' as the best place at that point in the novel to get to the [[USS Enterprise (CVN 65)|USS Enterprise]].

Astoria was also mentioned in the movie ''[[Eight Below]]''; it was the current hometown of character Jerry Shepherd. Most recently it was mentioned in the movie about the Coast Guard "The Guardian" with Kevin Costner.

==Other points of interest==
*[[Columbia River Maritime Museum]]
*[[Peter Iredale (ship)|Peter Iredale shipwreck]]
*[http://www.astoriascanfest.com/ Scandinavian Festival]
*[[Astoria Regional Airport]]
*[[Clatsop Spit]]

==Sister city==
Astoria has one [[Town twinning|sister city]]<ref>[http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/OR]</ref>, as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:

*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Walldorf]], [[Germany]]

==Notable residents==
* [[Jona Bechtolt]], musician
* [[Brian Bruney]], New York Yankees reliever
* [[Ranald MacDonald]], first man to teach the English language in Japan
*[[Holly Madison]], [[Hugh Hefner]]'s girlfriend
* [[Donald Malarkey]], member of the [[506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] of the [[US 101st Airborne Division]] during [[World War II]], portrayed in the [[HBO]] series ''[[Band of Brothers]]''
* [[Maila Nurmi]],{{Fact|date=December 2007}} aka "Vampira", actress and TV's first horror movie host

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=MacGibbon, Elma|title=[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=63 Leaves of knowledge]|publisher=Shaw & Borden Co|year=1904}} Elma MacGibbons reminiscences about her travels in the United States starting in 1898, which were mainly in Oregon and Washington. Includes chapter "Astoria and the Columbia River."

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Astoria, Oregon}}
*[http://www.astoria.or.us/ City of Astoria] - official site
*[http://www.oldoregon.com/ Old Oregon.com] - Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce - official site
*[http://www.astoriadowntown.com/ Astoria Downtown.com] historic district association's website
*[http://bluebook.state.or.us/local/cities/ad/astoria.htm Oregon Blue Book] - Astoria
*[http://www.astoria-usa.com Astoria USA.com]
{{Geolinks-US-cityscale|46.188825|-123.821007}}

{{Clatsop County, Oregon}}
{{Oregon}}

[[Category:Astoria, Oregon| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Oregon]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in the United States]]
[[Category:County seats in Oregon]]
[[Category:Clatsop County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Oregon Coast]]
[[Category:Astor family]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1810]]

[[ar:أستوريا، أوريغون]]
[[bg:Астория (Орегон)]]
[[cs:Astoria (Oregon)]]
[[de:Astoria (Oregon)]]
[[gl:Astoria]]
[[io:Astoria, Oregon]]
[[nl:Astoria (Oregon)]]
[[pt:Astoria (Oregon)]]
[[simple:Astoria, Oregon]]
[[sv:Astoria, Oregon]]
[[th:แอสโตเรีย]]
[[vi:Astoria, Oregon]]
[[vo:Astoria (Oregon)]]