The City and its Landmarks
Cannon Beach is easily recognizable because of its world famous landmark,
Haystack Rock, which majestically overlooks the beach just to the southwest
of downtown Cannon Beach. The rock is hundreds of feet tall, and is often
accessible at low tide, especially in the summertime. There is a small cave
system that penetrates the rock and can be seen from the coastline. The rock
is also protected as a marine sanctuary.
Nearby to Haystack Rock are the Needles, two tall rocks rising straight out
of the water. Together with Haystack Rock, the Needles create a magnificent
panorama that is even more brilliant during a sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Downtown Cannon Beach is filled with small businesses. Restaurants such as
Fultano's Pizza and Pig 'N Pancake are local favorites, along with specialty
shops such as Bruce's Candy Kitchen, established in the 1960s, which help
give the town its own unique flavor. Chain stores such as Safeway and
McDonalds are not allowed in Cannon Beach, in order to preserve the local
economy and small town feel.
The main drag through Cannon Beach is Hemlock Street, which runs from the
north end of town to the south, through Tolovana Park. Both ends of the
street connect to US Highway 101. The separation of the highway and the
town's main street help ensure that the highway doesn't get bogged down with
traffic and the town doesn't have to put up with dozens of trucks and RVs
trying to navigate the business district, which is often crowded with
pedestrian traffic.
Transportation
While cars are everywhere in Cannon Beach, they are not the best mode of
transportation within downtown. Parking spots can be difficult to find,
especially in the business summer months. Most of the business district is
easily accessible within walking distance of any parking spot. Biking is
also a popular way to get around, as bikes can be used on not only the beach,
but also to get around town.
A shuttle also runs from the north of Cannon Beach to the south, helping
tourists get from the business district back to their resort or vacation
rental, and vice versa.
History
The first recorded American or British journey to this area was made by
William Clark, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in
January, 1805, when a group of Native Americans invited him to view a
beached whale at the nearby beach.
The beach received its name after a cannon from the US Navy schooner Shark
washed ashore there in 1846. The schooner was wrecked while attempting to
cross the Columbia Bar, also known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific" because
of the danger of the bar. The name eventually stuck, and today the town
takes its names from that famous cannon. It can be seen alongside U.S.
Highway 101.
Cannon Beach is an affluent resort town; for a period in the 1980s, its
principal gas station had a sign made from stained glass. Although locals
and non-resident house owners have rented their houses to tourists, this
practice has been the cause of much conflict. Until 1987, it was illegal to
rent ones house for less than 14 days in the residential parts of Cannon
Beach.
When the rules were loosened, in response to the recognition that they were
being widely ignored, complaints of litter, traffic and noise over the next
five years forced the city council to once again tighten the rules, although
over 100 exceptions for short-term rentals were granted, at first for a
period of five years, but since then most have been renewed, and will not
expire until January 1, 2005. Wrangling over this practice still continues
between renting and non-renting residents.
Geography
Cannon Beach is located at 45°53'21" North, 123°57'39" West (45.889155,
-123.960738).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
3.9 km˛ (1.5 mi˛). 3.9 km˛ (1.5 mi˛) of it is land and none of the area is
covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,588 people, 710 households, and 418
families residing in the city. The population density is 411.5/km˛
(1,066.8/mi˛). There are 1,641 housing units at an average density of
425.2/km˛ (1,102.4/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 92.57% White,
0.19% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.00% Pacific
Islander, 3.27% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. 10.52%
of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 710 households out of which 20.8% have children under the age of
18 living with them, 49.0% are married couples living together, 7.3% have a
female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% are non-families.
33.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.0% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.11 and the average family size is 2.70.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18,
12.3% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100
females there are 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,271, and the median
income for a family is $45,329. Males have a median income of $31,250 versus
$21,641 for females. The per capita income for the city is $24,465. 12.0% of
the population and 8.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 16.3% are under the age of 18 and 2.1% are
65 or older.
Local Legend
A not too well known local legend in Cannon Beach is the Bandage Man, a
spirit said to haunt the highway outside of the town. The Bandage Man is
said to leap onto the backs of passing cars and kill the passengers.
He is also said to eat dogs and people say he smells of rotting flesh. No
one is quite sure where he came from but the most popular theory seems to be
that he is the spirit of a man that died in a accident in the old mill and
sucks out other people's spirit's to survive.
Most visitors to Cannon Beach have never heard of this myth, and most would
probably laugh it off as local humor.
