Keizer, population 36,278 (2010 Census) is a Marion County city located immediately north of Oregon's capital, Salem. It is named for Thomas Dove Keizur and his brother John Brooks Keizur, two Oregon pioneers who arrived in 1843 and settled donation land claims in the area. At some point, the Keizur brothers' name was misspelled Keizer in official records, which led to the spelling of the city's name.
Keizer's most popular event is the Iris Festival, founded by Shreiner's Iris Gardens and held each spring since 1987. The event features a beer garden, a run, vintage car show, parade and food vendors. Another notable event is the Christmas light display on houses in the Gubser neighborhood. Donation opportunities allow visitor to the even to donate canned foods to the Marion County Food Bank.
The city is host to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, a Class A minor league baseball team that plays in the Northwest League. Keizer's High School, McNary High School, has had a strong football program, winning state "big school" championships in 1997 and 2001.
Near the center of town, there is a monument to Keizer's location on the 45th parallel.
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