Praying for Oregon Counties: Lane

View from Mt. Pisgah in Lane County

Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Isaiah 60:18

The thought of Lane County automatically leads to thoughts of Eugene, one of the population centers of Oregon. It rivals Salem in population, so is either the second or third largest city in the state, depending on your source of information. The county itself has about 77 people per square mile, and is the fourth most populated county in Oregon. It was established in 1851 and carved, like many of Oregon counties, out of parts of others - in this case Benton and Umpqua. It was named after Oregon Territory’s first governor, Joseph Lane. Over the years there have a been a dizzying number of changes to the county’s borders. Basically, the changes made it much smaller – it once went all the way to the California border – but also extended it to the Pacific Ocean. Therefore it has a definite urban/rural divide as it includes farmland outside of Eugene, as well as the coast range and towns, like Florence, along the coast.

And yes, I have family connections there. My grandmother spent her retirement years there near an aunt and uncle. And my daughter and son-in-law lived there, so am well acquainted with Eugene, Springfield, Junction City and Harrisburg - and Florence, out on the coast and about an hour away from Eugene. 

Eugene is the county seat and was named after Eugene Skinner, who built the first cabin there (on Skinner’s Butte). The cabin was a trading post and later the post office when the settlement, named Eugene after Mr. Skinner, became a town. It was incorporated in 1862. 

The University of Oregon opened to students in 1876. Eugene has a reputation for progressive, alternative thought and protests over various issues centering around the University. The 1960’s were noted for protests and even acts of violence against military establishments in the area, such as the firebombing of the Eugene Armory on September 30, 1968. A little research reveals that this climate of violent disagreements goes back before the University. Eugene got a taste of both academia and strife just before the Civil War when there was a lot of political controversy all over the country. Columbia College was founded in Eugene in 1856, the founder and original leaders being abolitionists. By 1860 the abolitionists had been pushed out by a pro-slavery group, the position of college president being taken by a pro-slavery southerner. The college folded in 1860 when this same college president was arrested for attempting to shoot the editor of an abolitionist newspaper. (He jumped bail and skipped town.)

Eugene has much to recommend it: It isn’t all fire-bombings and shootouts. It is a community that supports arts and creativity. It also had men like Eugene C. Sanderson who established Eugene Divinity School in 1895 (later Northwest Christian College). He also established several churches and a hospital in Eugene.

Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon

Lane County is more than Eugene, however. A trip straight west from the city takes you through miles of farms and orchards, across the timbered coast range to the coastal town of Florence. From Florence such things as the Sea Lion Caves and the Heceta Head Lighthouse are within easy access. 

How to pray for Lane County?

Since 1962 Lane County has operated under a home-rule charter. There are five non-partisan elected commissioners, as well as an elected Sheriff, Tax Assessor, and District Attorney. Each of the five commissioners is over a geographical section of the county.

Praying for the state house and senate representatives is a bit complicated. The county is in parts of several senate and house districts. Currently Florence, in house district 9, is represented by Democrat Caddy McKeown, and in senate district 5, Democrat Arnie Robian. Eugene is in house district 14, represented by Democrat Julie Fehey, and senate district 7 Democrat James I. Manning. If you live in Lane County and want to know who your representative is, check here.

In praying for Eugene, pray for solutions to the drug use, crime and homelessness. Pray for unity in the county as a whole, a healing of the divide between urban and rural.

Lane County: Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60: 1-2

 Margaret