| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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Four decades later, it was over US$7,500, a growth of astonishing proportions. Yet, this per capita income growth was achieved while maintaining a very low level of income disparity between the rich and the poor.
Oregon
Our sample was drawn from five communities located in the region of northeastern Oregon that is semiarid in terms of climate. Three of the communities border the Columbia River, one is located approximately 7 miles inland, and a second is located 6 miles beyond that. Historically, the area consisted of small farms with large “dry-land wheat ranches” to the north on the Washington side of the river and to the south of these communities. More recently, water has been pumped from the river to provide irrigation for large crops of alfalfa, potatoes, and corn. At the time of our research, there were three potato-processing plants in the area, processing potatoes for fast-food restaurants, flakes for mashed potatoes, and potato chips; one has since closed. There was also—and still is—an onion processing plant, a vegetable-packing plant, and a “forest-recovery” chip plant, which processes diseased logs into “chips.” Other economic activity in the area currently includes a company that builds mobile homes and a retail outlet distribution center that serves the northwestern U.S. and beyond. In addition, the Columbia River itself is an economic resource. A large dam across the river produces hydroelectric power, and there are ports at two of the communities that provide loading facilities for barge traffic up and down the river. Finally, the river also provides sport fishing for walleye, sturgeon, and salmon.
The 1990 census shows that during that time period, demographically, the area was predominately white: 85%, ranging from 97% in one community to 73% in another. Fifteen percent of the area’s population was 60 years of age or older, ranging from 20% in one community to 10% in another. Seventy percent of the area’s population 25 years of age and older had a high school education, with a range of 72% in one of the five communities to 60% in one of the other communities.