Numbers, development appear to favor Woodburn

Portland State University Population Research Center cited Woodburn as the fastest growing city in Oregon among those with a population of more than 10,000.

Woodburn Mayor Frank Lonergan shared that information recently when he delivered his state of the city address as part of the Woodburn Area Chamber greeters earlier this month. The PSU current population estimates places Woodburn at 28,485, topping nearby burgs such as Wilsonville, Tualatin, West Linn, Happy Valley.

When sharing the recently adjusted population estimate earlier this year, City Administrator Scott Derickson was bittersweet with the information, acknowledging that he felt the number was still too conservative.

Lonergan agreed.

“In reality, I think we are probably closer to 34 or 35 thousand now,” Lonergan said.

Regardless of the precise number, Lonergan said Woodburn’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, housing and job creation has been a lynchpin to ensuring the city’s stability.

“I can report that the state of Woodburn is strong and that Woodburn’s future is bright,” the mayor said.

Some insights he shared to that end included a 28 percent growth in Woodburn-based employment since 2010, and an anticipated growth of more than 50 percent on top of that over the next two decades.

Some of the more conspicuous current projects he cited include a 167,000 square-foot Do It Best expansion, which is expected to generate 30 new jobs; redevelopment of the historic downtown city hall as a residential care facility; the Specht Properties development on Parr Road and Evergreen, with a 500,000 square-foot industrial building planned; another large industrial building going in on the east side of Front St., across from the high school; improvements to Salud Medical Center; remodeling of La Quinta Inn, into a Holiday Inn Express; Metropolitan building expansion downtown; a Chick-fil-A plans to open by the freeway.

“I’m especially proud of the significant expansion that longtime Woodburn business La Morenita is undertaken with their impressive new facility out on Hwy. 99,” Lonergan said. “They are moving from downtown on 2nd St. all of their production out to the highway. They will still be selling downtown.”

Lonergan described the new tortilla making location as a huge enterprise and said it will be opening soon. Moreover, the new Amazon building is preparing to begin operations.

All of which helps explain this statement shared by Lonergan: “Last year about 9% of all growth occurred here in Woodburn; 9% of all growth occurring here in Oregon, occurred here in Woodburn — that’s something to be proud of.”