Moving to Baker City, Oregon

by btobers · Published June 27, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Baker City, Oregon is located in the northeastern corner of the state, near the Idaho border. It is situated in a high-desert valley surrounded by mountains and rivers. The climate of Baker City is semi-arid, with warm summers and cold winters. Snowfall is common during winter months, but not overly abundant.

The history of Baker City dates back to the mid-1800s when it was incorporated as a city in 1862. The city quickly became an important hub for regional commerce due to its convenient location along major transportation routes. During this time period, many early settlers flocked to the area to seek their fortune or start new businesses. In recent years, Baker City has seen a resurgence in population growth due to its attractive small-town charm and strong economy.

Politically, Baker City leans conservatively with most citizens voting Republican at local and state levels. At the federal level however, citizens are more divided between Democratic and Republican voting preferences.

Baker City’s economy is primarily based on agriculture and tourism due to its close proximity to recreational areas such as Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and Wallowa Lake State Park. The city also benefits from having several large employers such as Walmart Distribution Center, Boise Cascade Wood Products Division, and Union Pacific Railroad Company that provide jobs for residents of the area.

Education in Baker City is provided by three public school districts: North Baker School District 5J; South Baker School District 5R; and Central East Oregon School District 4J1. There are also several private schools located within city limits that offer students alternative educational options such as Montessori or Christian education programs.

Finally, some of the major landmarks in Baker City include Geiser Grand Hotel which was built in 1889; Sumpter Valley Railway which provides scenic tours through historic sites; National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center which offers education about America’s westward expansion; Hells Canyon Visitor Center which provides information about one of North America’s deepest river gorges; Quail Ridge Golf Course which showcases stunning views of Elkhorn Mountains; and Eagle Cap Wilderness Area which offers over 500 miles of trails for hikers or horseback riders alike.

Population: 9,860. Estimated population in July 2024: 9,703 (-1.6% change)
Males: 4,753 (48.2%), Females: 5,107 (51.8%)

Baker County

Zip code: 97814

Demographics

Median resident age: 40.6 years
Median household income: $29,020
Median house value: $81,500

Population by Race

Races in Baker City:

White Non-Hispanic (94.0%)
Hispanic (2.5%)
American Indian (2.0%)
Two or more races (1.8%)
Other race (1.0%)

Ancestries: German (16.9%), English (15.6%), Irish (11.7%), United States (6.8%), French (3.8%), Scotch-Irish (2.9%).

Elevation: 3443 feet

Land area: 6.9 square miles

Population by Education

Baker City, Oregon is a small city with a population of approximately 9,828 as of 2019. It is located in Baker County and is the county seat. The city has a diverse population with people from all walks of life living in the area. Most of the population is white (87%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7%), Native American (2%), Asian (1%) and African American (1%). The median age in Baker City is 38, which is slightly higher than the state median age of 37. The median household income in Baker City is $42,917 which is lower than the state average of $62,606. Education levels are slightly lower than other parts of Oregon with only 19% having a college degree or higher compared to 34% statewide. The unemployment rate in Baker City was 7.4% as of 2019 which was slightly higher than the national average at that time. Despite these figures, there are plenty of job opportunities available for those willing to look for them and many businesses are thriving in the area. With its unique charm and friendly atmosphere, it’s no surprise that so many people choose to call Baker City home.

For population 25 years and over in Baker City

High school or higher: 76.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.9%
Unemployed: 9.5%
Mean travel time to work: 14.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Baker City city

Never married: 15.9%
Now married: 58.5%
Separated: 1.2%
Widowed: 10.7%
Divorced: 13.7%

1.8% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +599 (+6.5%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Baker City:

ST ELIZABETH HEALTH SERVICES, INC (3325 POCAHONTAS ROAD)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Baker City:

GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL (about 42 miles; LA GRANDE, OR)
WALLOWA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 66 miles; ENTERPRISE, OR)
WEISER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 70 miles; WEISER, ID)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Baker City:

EASTERN OREGON REGIONAL AT PENDLETON (about 94 miles; PENDLETON, OR; Abbreviation: PDT)
WALLA WALLA REGIONAL (about 96 miles; WALLA WALLA, WA; Abbreviation: ALW)
LEWISTON-NEZ PERCE COUNTY (about 124 miles; LEWISTON, ID; Abbreviation: LWS)

Other public-use airports nearest to Baker City:

BAKER CITY MUNICIPAL (about 5 miles; BAKER CITY, OR; Abbreviation: BKE)
LA GRANDE/UNION COUNTY (about 37 miles; LA GRANDE, OR; Abbreviation: LGD)
JOSEPH STATE (about 57 miles; JOSEPH, OR; Abbreviation: 4S3)

Amtrak station:
BAKER CITY (515 CAMPBELL ST.) – Bus Station. Services: public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Baker City:

EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (about 42 miles; LA GRANDE, OR; Full-time enrollment: 2,192)
WALLA WALLA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 96 miles; WALLA WALLA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,812)
LEWIS-CLARK STATE COLLEGE (about 126 miles; LEWISTON, ID; Full-time enrollment: 2,213)
COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE (about 135 miles; PASCO, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,529)
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (about 143 miles; PULLMAN, WA; Full-time enrollment: 18,110)
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 143 miles; BOISE, ID; Full-time enrollment: 12,033)
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO (about 163 miles; MOSCOW, ID; Full-time enrollment: 9,823)

Schools

Public high school in Baker City:

BAKER HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 679; Location: 2500 E ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Baker City:

SOUTH BAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 336; Location: 1285 THIRD ST; Grades: KG – 06)
NORTH BAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 336; Location: 2725 SEVENTH ST; Grades: KG – 06)
BROOKLYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 328; Location: 1350 WASHINGTON ST; Grades: KG – 06)
BAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 327; Location: 2320 WASHINGTON AVE; Grades: 07 – 08)
HAINES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 77; Grades: PK – 06)
KEATING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 17; Grades: KG – 08)

Private primary/middle school in Baker City:

BAKER VLY CHSN EL-HS (Students: 33; Location: 3720 BIRCH ST; Grades: KG – 11)

Libraries

Library in Baker City:

BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT (Operating income: $543,089; Location: 2400 RESORT ST.; 106,019 books; 2,268 audio materials; 2,991 video materials; 311 serial subscriptions)