Stayton, Oregon

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Stayton is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. The population was 7,644 at the 2010 census.

The city of Stayton is located southeast of Salem along Highway 22, near the banks of the North Santiam River in Marion County, Stayton is a charming mix of old and new. In the midst of a downtown renaissance, the historic district and surrounding neighborhoods offer a lovely walk into the past. A fine example of this is the beautiful Stayton/Jordan Covered Bridge, located in Pioneer Park. Stroll along the many waterways and enjoy the variety of antique, gift, jewelry, clothing, music, restaurants, and collectible shops.

Stayton is named after Drury Smith Stayton, one of the town’s first settlers, who built a sawmill around 1866 to 1870 and a carding mill on part of the 41 acres he purchased. Four years later, the town of Stayton had a chair factory, mill, cabinet shop, sash and blind factory, wagon marker, blacksmith, saddle and boot maker, and gunsmith. The original portion of Stayton was platted by Drury Stayton in 1872 and the city was later legally incorporated in 1891. Sources note Stayton’s population in 1897 was 300.

Through the early 20th century, Stayton transitioned to more of an agricultural town, becoming known as the “bean capitol of the valley” and featuring a “Bean Festival” each summer. The Stayton Canning Co. Cooperative was established in about 1924 and its processing plant, to this day, remains the largest single employer in Stayton. The Stayton plant remains the flagship of the cooperative, now known as Norpac Foods, Inc.

Also, due to its proximity to the western Cascade foothills, Stayton benefited from the timber industry in the Santiam Canyon. Two notable companies with close ties to Stayton are the Freres Lumber Co. and the Frank Lumber Co. Initially difficult, a decline in the timber industry during the 1980’s pushed Stayton toward becoming the diverse economy and community that it is today.

Website: www.staytonoregon.gov/