Since incorporating in 1951 Brookings has grown to a population of 5,625 and covers an area of 1,750 acres and is the largest city in Curry County. Because of it's mild climate, beautiful coastline and quality of life, Brookings was "discovered" as a desirable place to retire in the late 1980s and much of the population growth has been retirees. This trend has been fed by magazine and other media recognition of Brookings as being a desirable place to retire. The latest being the August, 2000 issue of Fortune Magazine.
History
The original town of Brookings was established by John E. Brookings, cousin to Robert S. Brookings of the Brookings Institute, when he moved his lumber business from the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California in 1913. One of the first steps Brookings took was to hire a renowned architect, Bernard Maybeck, to lay out the street design for what is now the core area of the city.
Location
Located on the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast just 6 miles north of the California boarder on now US Hwy 101, the town thrived on the lumber and commercial and sports fishing industries. Farming of lily bulbs was introduced in the 1920's. Although dwindling, lumber and fishing are still strong factors in the city's economy, and the lily bulb farms, in a twelve mile area between Brookings and the town of Smith River California, produce 100% of the lily bulbs grown in North America. Because of these stable industries, Brookings is less dependent on the tourist trade than many of the cities along the Oregon coast.
Climate
Brookings has its own local micro climate that keeps the weather mild all year, resulting in the city being know as the home of winter flowers and as Oregon's banana belt. Rainfall averages between 80 and 100 inches a year with an average summer high temperature of 69-degrees and an average yearly low of 42-degrees. Winter storms move through with days of blue sky between rains. It is not at all unusual to have a day or two with temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s in January or February.
Government
Brookings has a Manager/Council non-partisan form of government. The Mayor and four Councilors are elected at large. The Council hires a City Manager who administers the day to day operations of the city through four Departments: Finance, Police, Fire, and Community Development, which is divided into four divisions - Planning, Public Works, Building, and Water/Wastewater Treatment.
Revenue
The City of Brookings derives revenue from real estate property taxes, franchise taxes, licenses, permits and fees, fines, intergovernmental revenue, miscellaneous revenue, and transfers from other funds. Portions of various taxes levied by the State of Oregon, such as a gasoline tax, and a liquor excise tax are other revenues. The real estate property taxes received from the Permanent Tax Rate are revenue to the General fund and support the programs and services budgeted in the General Fund. The property taxes received from the Debt Service Bond Levy are revenue to the Debt Service Bond fund and are used to pay the debt service payments each year. State-shared revenues are dedicated for a particular use or fund. User fees or rates support the operation of the City's utilities.
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