In 1913, Oregon Short Line Railroad built a branch into this part of Malheur County. There was a post office called Riverview on the east side of the Snake River and because the railroad did not want a station of the same name on the west side, the name Adrian was suggested by Reuben McCreary, who platted the townsite. The name was chosen to honor his birthplace, Adrian, Illinois. Riverview post office was established in 1911, but moved across the river in 1915 and the name changed to Adrian in 1919. It was previously thought that the city was named for James Adrian, a sheep rancher, but he did not arrive in the area until 1916. Adrian is located on the Southern Alternate route of the Oregon Trail, a longer route that eliminated the need to cross the Snake River.
As of the census of 2010, there were 177 people, 70 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 78 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 89.8% White, 0.6% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 2.8% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.1% of the population. There were 70 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couplesliving together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.7% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age in the city was 44.4 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 147 people, 59 households, and 38 families residing in the city. The population density was 597.0 people per square mile. There were 66 housing units at an average density of 268.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 85.03% White, 0.68% Native American, 10.88% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.97% of the population. There were 59 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.21. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $26,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,740. There were 17.8% of families and 8.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 3.1% of under eighteens and 22.5% of those over 64.
