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The County is located in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon approximately 45 miles south of Portland. The
<br />largest city is Salem which is both the County seat and the state capital. T'he County encompasses approximately
<br />1,194 square miles with boundaries defined in part by the Willamette River on the north and west, the Santiam
<br />River on the south, and the summit of the Cascade Range on the east.
<br />Salem and Keizer, which aze contiguous, form a metropolitan area of more than 153,000 (July 1997). Woodburn,
<br />the third largest city with more than 16,000 residents, lies in north Marion County. There are a total of 20
<br />incorporated cities and 37 unincorporated rural communities.
<br />Economy
<br />As the home of the state capital, the County has a steady economic base in government. Willamette University is
<br />located in Salem and Chemeketa Community College has both its main campus and a subsidiary campus in the
<br />County. Manufacturing has increased significantly in recent years. Agricultural processing and farm work are strong
<br />seasonal components of the economy.
<br />With wineries, the Willamette River, Silver Falls State Pazk, Detroit Lake recreational azea and portions of the
<br />Willamette National Forest within its boundazies, tourism is a growing source of income. Tourism is expected to
<br />increase in the County after the opening of the Oregon Garden near Silverton in 2000.
<br />Government
<br />Thirty-eight of the largest State agencies are located in the City of Salem. State institutions located in Salem include
<br />the men's and women's penitentiaries, mental hospital, schools for the blind and for the deaf, and other correctional
<br />and rehabilitative facilities. State highway central shops and laboratories and the Oregon State Fairgrounds are also
<br />~ located in Salem. State government provides a stable base underlying the economy of the City and assures its
<br />position as a leading community in the state. Supplementing Salem's role as the State capital is its function as the
<br />county seat of the County. In all, approximately 33,100 aze employed in the Salem metropolitan area in various
<br />levels of government from federal to local agencies, according to 1997 estimates by the State of Oregon
<br />Employment Division.
<br />Agriculture
<br />Agriculture in the region is highly diversified, with 100 different products grown for market. The County leads the
<br />State in the output of farm commodities, gross farm sales, and fann income. The most important gmups of
<br />agricultural commodities produced in the County are vegetable crops, specialty products such as horticultural
<br />supplies and bulbs, grass seed and field crops. The County enjoys a mild climate (average temperature 39 degrees
<br />Fahrenheit in winter and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in summer), an average growing season of 195 days and an average
<br />annual rainfall of 41 inches, which for many crops is supplemented by sprinkler irrigation These factors, combined
<br />with the fertile soil of the Willamette River Valley, have created one of the largest food production centers in the
<br />United States. The following tables show relevant farm data for the County.
<br />TABLE 17 - MARION COUNTY GROSS FARM SALES
<br /> Livestock and
<br />Year Acres Harvested Crops Animal Products Total
<br />1997 181,687 $361,040,000 $76,045,000 $437,085,000
<br />1996 181,880 355,051,000 77,535,000 432,586,000
<br />1995 185,231 334,058,000 75,576,000 409,634,000
<br />1994 188,160 312,347,000 74,367,000 386,714,000
<br />1993 186,040 286,141,000 73,856,000 359,997,000
<br />1992 191,245 278,882,000 72,929,000 351,811,000
<br />1991 191,546 269,281,000 65,910,000 335,191,000
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