Wallowa County, Oregon | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOregon | |
| Coordinates:45°35′N117°10′W / 45.58°N 117.17°W /45.58; -117.17 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | October 14, 1887 |
| Named after | Wallowa River |
| Seat | Enterprise |
| Largest city | Enterprise |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,152 sq mi (8,160 km2) |
| • Land | 3,146 sq mi (8,150 km2) |
| • Water | 5.5 sq mi (14 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,391 |
• Estimate (2024) | 7,522 |
| • Density | 2.2/sq mi (0.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | co |
Wallowa County (/wəˈlaʊwə/) is the northeasternmostcounty in theU.S. state ofOregon. As of the2020 census, the population was 7,391,[1] making it Oregon's fifth-least populous county. Itscounty seat isEnterprise.[2] According toOregon Geographic Names, the origins of the county's name are uncertain, with the most likely explanation being it is derived from theNez Perce term for a structure of stakes (aweir) used in fishing. An alternative explanation is thatWallowa is derived from a Nez Perce word for "winding water". The journals ofLewis and Clark Expedition record the name of theWallowa River asWil-le-wah.
Wallowa County is part of the eight-county definition ofEastern Oregon.
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In 1871, the first white settlers came to the area, crossing the mountains in search of livestock feed in the Wallowa Valley. The county was established on February 11, 1887,[3] from the eastern portion ofUnion County. Boundary changes occurred with Union County in 1890, 1900, and 1915.
In 1877, the youngerChief Joseph of theNez Perce, incensed at the government's attempt to remove his people from the Wallowa Valley, refused to relocate to the reservation innorth central Idaho. Several regiments ofU.S. Army cavalry troops were dispatched to force them onto the reservation. After numerous battles and a journey of almost two thousand miles (3,200 km), the Nez Perce fought their last battle at Bear Paw, just shy of the Canadian border, when Joseph and the other chiefs decided to stop fighting. He and some of the surviving Nez Perce were held in prison camps in Kansas andOklahoma, and those who survived that were relocated toColville Reservation in northeastWashington.[4] Approximately half of the survivors moved to the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho. Chief Joseph last visited Wallowa County in 1902,[3] and died two years later.
Wallowa County was the scene of perhaps the worst incident of violence againstChinese in Oregon, when in May 1887 a gang ofrustlers massacred 10-34 Chinese gold miners inHells Canyon. Of the seven rustlers and schoolboys believed to have been responsible, only three were brought to trial in Enterprise, where a jury found them not guilty on September 1, 1888. A proposal to commemorate this event on official maps asChinese Massacre Cove was approved in 2005 and encompasses a five-acre site.[5]
In 1896, theJoseph town bank was robbed and there was a shootout in the streets. The town has occasionally had re-enactments of that event.[6]
Wallowa County Courthouse was built in 1909–1910, using locally quarried Bowlby stone, a type of volcanictuff. It is aRomanesque Revival-style building withQueen Anne architectural elements in some exterior features. The courthouse was listed onNational Register of Historic Places in 2000. Today, it still houses Wallowa County government offices and faces west toward South River Street and is surrounded byCourthouse Square which encompasses one city block, approximately 1.3 acres (1 ha). The square is landscaped withoak,pine,maple,linden,juniper, andflowering crab apple trees. There areroses planted on the north, west, and south sides of the courthouse. The square also has several veteran memorials along with a 20-by-24-foot (6.1 by 7.3 m) wood-framedgazebo in the northeast corner of the square.[7][8][9]
United States Supreme CourtAssociate JusticeWilliam O. Douglas was one famous summer visitor to Wallowa County, building a vacation cabin on Lostine River Road in 1939. The noted, award-winning character-actorWalter A. Brennan was another famous part-time resident, with a ranch in theImnaha River canyon complex and properties inJoseph.
In December 2003, a developer announced a proposal to buy a 62-acre (0.25 km2) property nearWallowa Lake, and build 11 homes on it. This property is adjacent to the property that is home to the grave ofOld Chief Joseph, father of the younger Chief Joseph. This proposal drew opposition from a local group, as well as from the Nez Perce,Colville, andUmatilla tribes. Prior offers by theNational Park Service and theTrust for Public Land to buy the land were rejected. The County commissioners gave conditional approval for the developers to complete a finalplat of the land on February 13, 2004, but the attorney for the Nez Perce said the tribe would appeal the decision to theOregon Land Use Board of Appeals. As of 2016, the controversy was still active.[10]
Wallowa is the northeasternmost county of Oregon. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,152 square miles (8,160 km2), of which 3,146 square miles (8,150 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (0.2%) is water.[11]
Wallowa Lake and theWallowa Mountains attract tourists to this region. The lake is a natural glacial formation, held in on three sides by prominentmoraines. Themicroclimate is somewhat different from the surrounding areas and provides a cool retreat during the summer. Other geographic features include:
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 3,661 | — | |
| 1900 | 5,538 | 51.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,364 | 51.0% | |
| 1920 | 9,778 | 16.9% | |
| 1930 | 7,814 | −20.1% | |
| 1940 | 7,623 | −2.4% | |
| 1950 | 7,264 | −4.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,102 | −2.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,247 | −12.0% | |
| 1980 | 7,273 | 16.4% | |
| 1990 | 6,911 | −5.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,226 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,008 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 7,391 | 5.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,522 | [12] | 1.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15] 1990–2000[16] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[17] | Pop 1990[18] | Pop 2000[19] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,184 | 6,738 | 6,918 | 6,625 | 6,598 | 98.78% | 97.50% | 95.74% | 94.53% | 89.27% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 9 | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.03% | 0.37% | 0.12% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 24 | 31 | 48 | 38 | 50 | 0.33% | 0.45% | 0.66% | 0.54% | 0.68% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 8 | 23 | 17 | 24 | 31 | 0.11% | 0.33% | 0.24% | 0.34% | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[22] | x[23] | 3 | 6 | 4 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 54 | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.14% | 0.10% | 0.73% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[24] | x[25] | 103 | 126 | 388 | x | x | 1.43% | 1.80% | 5.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 47 | 113 | 125 | 156 | 257 | 0.65% | 1.64% | 1.73% | 2.23% | 3.48% |
| Total | 7,273 | 6,911 | 7,226 | 7,008 | 7,391 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 7,391. Of the residents, 18.6% were under the age of 18 and 31.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas and 100.0% lived in rural areas.[26][27][28]
The racial makeup of the county was 90.3% White, 0.1%Black or African American, 0.8%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 6.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.[28]
There were 3,376 households in the county, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[27]
There were 4,326 housing units, of which 22.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.4% were owner-occupied and 26.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%.[27]
As of the2010 census, there were 7,008 people, 3,133 households, and 2,024 families residing in the county.[29] The population density was 2.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.85/km2). There were 4,108 housing units at an average density of 1.3 units per square mile (0.50 units/km2).[30] The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% white, 0.6% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population.[29] In terms of ancestry, 28.4% wereGerman, 16.7% wereEnglish, 14.6% wereIrish, 7.3% wereAmerican, and 5.4% wereScotch-Irish.[31]
Of the 3,133 households, 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 30.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 50.5 years.[29]
The median income for a household in the county was $41,116 and the median family income was $49,961. Males had a median income of $35,963 versus $29,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,023. About 9.6% of families and 12.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.[32]
As of the2000 census, there were 7,226 people, 3,029 households, and 2,083 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 3,900 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km2). Theracial makup of the county was 96.50%White, 0.03%Black orAfrican American, 0.71%Native American, 0.24%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 1.73%.[33] wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 21.8% were ofGerman, 15.7%American, 12.3%English and 11.8%Irish ancestry.
Of the 3,029 households 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.10% of households were one person and 11.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85.
The age distribution was 24.30% under the age of 18, 4.90% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 30.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median household income was $32,129 and the median family income was $38,682. Males had a median income of $28,202 versus $21,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,276. About 9.80% of families and 14.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.
Wallowa County is located inOregon State House District 58 which is currently represented byBobby Levy. It is also located inOregon State Senate District 29, represented byBill Hansell. Both Levy and Hansell are registeredRepublicans.[34]
Wallowa County is represented and governed by threeCounty Commissioners. The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners is currently made up of Susan Roberts, Todd Nash and John Hillock.[35] Susan Roberts is a formerMayor ofEnterprise and was elected onto the Board of Commissioners in 2008.[36] Todd Nash was elected in 2016. John Hillock was elected in 2019. The seats are nonpartisan, although all three commissioners are registeredRepublicans.[36][37]
Like most counties in eastern Oregon, the majority of registered voters who are part of apolitical party in Wallowa County are members of theRepublican Party. In the2008 presidential election, 63.52% of Wallowa County voters voted for RepublicanJohn McCain, while 33.42% voted forDemocratBarack Obama and 3.06% of voters either voted for aThird Party candidate orwrote in a candidate.[38] These numbers have changed slightly from the2004 presidential election, in which 69.3% voted forGeorge W. Bush, while 28.1% voted forJohn Kerry, and 2.6% of voters either voted for a Third Party candidate orwrote in a candidate.[39]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 714 | 64.32% | 255 | 22.97% | 141 | 12.70% |
| 1908 | 905 | 58.69% | 506 | 32.81% | 131 | 8.50% |
| 1912 | 353 | 19.27% | 610 | 33.30% | 869 | 47.43% |
| 1916 | 1,198 | 35.75% | 1,960 | 58.49% | 193 | 5.76% |
| 1920 | 1,612 | 60.28% | 896 | 33.51% | 166 | 6.21% |
| 1924 | 1,253 | 46.29% | 973 | 35.94% | 481 | 17.77% |
| 1928 | 1,326 | 56.86% | 935 | 40.09% | 71 | 3.04% |
| 1932 | 772 | 29.11% | 1,790 | 67.50% | 90 | 3.39% |
| 1936 | 811 | 25.89% | 2,000 | 63.86% | 321 | 10.25% |
| 1940 | 1,319 | 39.84% | 1,974 | 59.62% | 18 | 0.54% |
| 1944 | 1,152 | 42.34% | 1,544 | 56.74% | 25 | 0.92% |
| 1948 | 1,196 | 44.71% | 1,408 | 52.64% | 71 | 2.65% |
| 1952 | 1,891 | 59.41% | 1,271 | 39.93% | 21 | 0.66% |
| 1956 | 1,604 | 48.21% | 1,723 | 51.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,440 | 46.08% | 1,682 | 53.82% | 3 | 0.10% |
| 1964 | 1,055 | 37.04% | 1,790 | 62.85% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 1,527 | 55.69% | 1,006 | 36.69% | 209 | 7.62% |
| 1972 | 1,909 | 62.28% | 899 | 29.33% | 257 | 8.38% |
| 1976 | 1,693 | 53.76% | 1,310 | 41.60% | 146 | 4.64% |
| 1980 | 2,485 | 65.53% | 995 | 26.24% | 312 | 8.23% |
| 1984 | 2,619 | 68.36% | 1,204 | 31.43% | 8 | 0.21% |
| 1988 | 1,993 | 56.89% | 1,425 | 40.68% | 85 | 2.43% |
| 1992 | 1,630 | 40.01% | 1,203 | 29.53% | 1,241 | 30.46% |
| 1996 | 2,379 | 55.36% | 1,321 | 30.74% | 597 | 13.89% |
| 2000 | 3,279 | 76.36% | 836 | 19.47% | 179 | 4.17% |
| 2004 | 3,132 | 69.28% | 1,269 | 28.07% | 120 | 2.65% |
| 2008 | 2,836 | 63.52% | 1,492 | 33.42% | 137 | 3.07% |
| 2012 | 2,804 | 66.68% | 1,253 | 29.80% | 148 | 3.52% |
| 2016 | 2,848 | 65.23% | 1,116 | 25.56% | 402 | 9.21% |
| 2020 | 3,404 | 66.11% | 1,625 | 31.56% | 120 | 2.33% |
| 2024 | 3,366 | 65.90% | 1,573 | 30.79% | 169 | 3.31% |
The principal industries in Wallowa County are agriculture, ranching, lumber, and tourism.[citation needed] Since 1985, threebronzefoundries and a number of related businesses specializing in statue-making have opened inJoseph andEnterprise, helping to stabilize the local economy.[citation needed] TheForest Service is the largest landlord in the county, owning 56% of the land.[citation needed]
–Oregon Route 3 – north toWashington, becomes
Route 129
–Oregon Route 82 – west toLa Grande, the junction with
Interstate 84| |
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Municipalities and communities ofWallowa County, Oregon,United States | ||
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