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Arrow Keys: Use these to navigate the map. You may need to click and drag or down your cursor to see the pictures or read their captions
People Icons: Meet some of the different people that make up Monument
Blue Icons: Explore some of Monument's street scenes.
Red Icons: See some of the important locations in Monument.
Think Out Loud is visiting different towns to learn about the issues, locations and people that make a place more than a location on a map.
After exploring explosive growth in Camas, Washington, the rich history of Astoria, the show heads east to Monument — a town with a population between 95 and 150 (depending who you ask).
Think Out Loud is taping the show at the Monument Senior Center on Thursday, January 26th. The broadcast is free and open to the public. If you're in the area, we'd love to have you join us. Please arrive at 6:30.
Monument, Oregon
As part of the "Our Town" series, we're traveling to Monument. According to the 2010 census, this southeastern Oregon town on the John Day River has a population of 128. That doesn't include people who live in outlying areas and are also part of the community. Ranching is the primary source of employment for people in Monument. This website, devoted to the town, describes it as a place where wildlife is plentiful:
Rocky mountain elk and mule deer are well know for coming down from the mountains and feeding in the local alfalfa fields and hay stacks. Steelhead spawn in the small creeks that feed into the John Day River, along with small mouth bass and trout. Occasionally, beavers, bald eagles, ospreys, badgers, rock chucks, geese, whooping cranes, antelopes, bobcats, cougars, coyotes and even a rattlesnake can be seen.
Unlike many other towns of its size, Monument has its own school. Residents describe the school as the heart of their community. Because of its size, there are some noticeable differences between the Monument school and schools in more populated areas. For example, the superintendent is also the track coach and the substitute bus driver. The agriculture teacher says he depends on high school students to help him teach the younger grades, especially in the springtime when there's so much to do in the greenhouse and outdoors.
People make all kinds of accommodations to live in a town like Monument. The closest doctor's office is 60 miles away in John Day. There's a small convenience store in town, but people do most of their grocery shopping elsewhere. One resident told us she drives to Bend — three or four hours away, depending on what route she takes — to shop at Costco once a month.
Our Town - Monument
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Views of Monument
Check out a collection of photos showing the diversity of locations throughout Monument.
People of Monument
Check out some of the individuals that make up Monument. Make sure to click the "show info" button at the right of the slideshow to read about their back stories.
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