Gervais

History

The city is named for settler Joseph Gervais who was one of the first settlers on French Prairie. On October 6, 1902, the business district of the city burned and losses were estimated at $100,000. The local fire department's power was insufficient to handle the fire so Portland and Salem were called upon to help. Unfortunately they were unable to respond in time to help. In little over an hour all but two of the businesses in the town had burned to the ground. In the late 1960s, Russian Old Believers established a small colony between Gervais and Mt. Angel. As of 2002, Oregon had the highest population of Old Believers in the United States.

Geography

Gervais is in northern Marion County, south of Woodburn and north of Salem, the state capital and county seat. Oregon Route 99E runs along the southeastern border of the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Gervais has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  9,886
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  9,452
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  7,724
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  7,579
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  7,252
• Dark-eyed Junco

  Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,054
• Northern Flicker

  Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,922
• Spotted Towhee

  Pipilo maculatus Swainson, 1827 · Aves
  6,801

Largest nearby schools

• McNary High School
  High · Keizer · 2,081 students · 23.9:1 ratio
• Silverton High School
  High · Silverton · 1,238 students · 19:1 ratio
• Stephens Middle School
  Middle · Salem · 1,024 students · 19.7:1 ratio
• Whiteaker Middle School
  Middle · Keizer · 682 students · 22:1 ratio
• Valor Middle School
  Middle · Woodburn · 630 students · 22.5:1 ratio
• Heritage Elementary
  Elementary · Woodburn · 618 students · 18.2:1 ratio
• North Marion High School
  High · Aurora · 603 students · 17.7:1 ratio
• French Prairie Middle School
  Middle · Woodburn · 587 students · 19.6:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.61 — 2026-07-10
  3 km SE of Rose Lodge, Oregon
• M 3.18 — 2025-11-23
  5 km SE of Amity, Oregon
• M 2.66 — 2024-08-30
  14 km ESE of Molalla, Oregon
• M 3.09 — 2023-11-24
  4 km WSW of Deer Island, Oregon
• M 2.68 — 2023-07-02
  11 km W of Deer Island, Oregon
• M 2.56 — 2023-06-06
  Washington-Oregon border region