The Linn County portion of Mill City is part of the Albany–Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Marion County portion is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[citation needed] In September 2020, Mill City suffered extensive damage from the Santiam Fire.

[6] The Mill City Logue was published by Al and Arlene Van Dahl from 1926 to 1933.

)[citation needed] The Mill City Enterprise was the longest-running local newspaper serving the canyon from 1949 through 1998.

The Enterprise was owned and operated by George and Norma Long for 30 years from 1968 to their retirement in 1998 at which point the paper was sold and subsequently renamed.

[7] From 1998 until 2014, the Mill City Independent Press (formerly known as the Enterprise) covered local news.

[8] The area is currently served by The Canyon Weekly, started in 2010 by Karen & Tim Widmer and Michelle Gates.

[9] Mill City is located at 837 feet (255 m)[2] above sea level in the Santiam Canyon and considered part of the foothills of the Cascade Range.

Shaped by the North Santiam River, the canyon is a result of seasonal glacier melts from the southern face of Mt.

The looming canyon walls are the most noticeable feature in passing from Highway 22; however, look more like tall hills on the north and south sides of Mill City.

[citation needed] Mill City is surrounded by forests of evergreen trees.

The forests are primarily dominated by Douglas fir, but junipers and maple trees are also scattered throughout.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.83 square miles (2.15 km2), all land.

[citation needed] Prior to 2000, Mill City, Gates, Detroit, and Idanha were served by separate schools and districts; however, Mill City eventually became the education center for the Santiam Canyon with the closing of Gates Elementary School in 2012.