Cascade Locks, Oregon

For other uses, see Cascade Locks and Canal.
Cascade Locks, Oregon
City
Former locks on the Columbia River, with the modern Bridge of the Gods in the background
Former locks on the Columbia River, with the modern Bridge of the Gods in the background
Location in Oregon
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°40′21″N 121°52′25″W / 45.67250°N 121.87361°W / 45.67250; -121.87361
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyHood River
Incorporated1935
Government
 • MayorCathy Fallon
Area
[1]
 • Total3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2)
 • Land2.08 sq mi (5.40 km2)
 • Water0.95 sq mi (2.46 km2)
Elevation
[2]
151 ft (46 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total1,530
 • Density661.39/sq mi (255.42/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code
97014
Area code(s)541 and 458
FIPS code41-11600[4]
GNIS feature ID2409403[2]
Websitecascade-locks.or.us
Sternwheeler J.N. Teal in Cascade Locks, 1911 Note the Brass Era cars on foredeck.

Cascade Locks is a city in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. The city got its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. The U.S. federal government approved the plan for the locks in 1875, construction began in 1878, and the locks were completed on November 5, 1896. The locks were subsequently submerged in 1938, replaced by Bonneville Lock and Dam, although the city did not lose land from the expansion of Lake Bonneville behind the dam some 4 miles (6 km) downstream of the city. The city population was 1,144 at the 2010 census.[5]

City hall
Post office in Cascade Locks, with the Columbia River in the background

Cascade Locks is just upstream from the Bridge of the Gods, a toll bridge that spans the Columbia River. It is the only bridge across the Columbia between Portland and Hood River. Cascade Locks is a few miles upstream of Eagle Creek Gorge, a popular scenic area that doubles as an alternate route for the Pacific Crest Trail. Cascade Locks is used frequently by hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to cross the Columbia River. Cascade Locks is the lowest point along the trail, which runs from the Mexico–US border in California to the Canada–US border in Washington, and the largest city directly on the trail.[6]

Since 1999 the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have been pursuing an off-reservation casino to be sited in Cascade Locks.[7] Since 2008 city officials have been pursuing an arrangement that would allow them to trade city well water for state-owned spring water and to sell it to Nestlé for bottling. In May 2016, Hood River County voters voted over 68% in favor to stop the project permanently.[8][9][10]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cascade Locks, Oregon
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference wwwcensusgov was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Cascade Locks city, Oregon". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Richard, Terry (August 30, 2015). "The softer, gentler approach to Pacific Crest Trail". The Oregonian. p. R4. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Partlow, Joshua (March 11, 2008). "Gamble in the Gorge?". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon.
  8. ^ "Cascade Locks considers action after Nestle plant voted down". Archived from the original on November 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "Anti-Nestle ballot measure: Bid to block Cascade Locks water plant succeeds (Election results)". May 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Voters pass measure to keep Nestle out of Cascade Locks". Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2016.