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Malheur County, OR
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 Established:
Feb. 17, 1887
Population: 32,000 (2003)
Elev. at Vale: 2,243'
Area: 9,926 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 28.7°, July 75.6°
Assessed Value: $1,299,216,979
Real Market Value: $1,905,394,520
Annual Precipitation: 9.64"
Economy: Agriculture, livestock, food processing and recreation.
Incorporated Cities: Adrian | Jordan Valley | Nyssa | Ontario |
Vale
Points of Interest: Oregon Trail, Keeney Pass, Owyhee Lake,
Succor Creek State Park, Leslie Gulch Canyon, Jordan Craters,
grave of trapper John Baptist Charbonneau, Nyssa Agricultural
Museum, Vale Oregon Trail Murals, Jordan Valley Basque Pelota
Court, the Four Rivers Cultural Center.
General Information: Malheur County was created in 1887 from
Baker County. Malheur County derives its name from the “Riviere
au Malheur” or “Unfortunate River” (later changed to “Malheur
River”), named by French trappers whose property and furs were
stolen from their river encampment.
Malheur County is a place filled with fascinating history,
diverse landscape and friendly people. The landscape is
enchanting and provides for a wide variety of excellent
recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, rock
hounding, boating and water skiing. The county is 94 percent
rangeland. Basques, primarily shepherds, settled in Jordan
Valley in the 1890s. Irrigated fields in the county’s northeast
corner, known as Western Treasure Valley, are the center of
intensive and diversified farming.
County Officials: Commissioners—Judge Dan Joyce (R) 2010, Jim
Nakano (R) 2006, Lewis Wettstein (R) 2008; Dist. Atty. Dan
Norris (NP) 2008; Assess. Sharon Clark (NP) 2008; Clerk Deborah
DeLong (NP) 2006; Justice of the Peace Terry Thompson (NP) 2010;
Sheriff Andrew Bentz (NP) 2008; Surv. Jim Kimberling (NP);
Treas. Jennifer Forsyth (NP) 2006; Co. Admin. Janice Belnap
(NP). |
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County History |
Malheur County was created February 17, 1887 from the
southern portion of Baker County. The county was named after the
Malheur River that flowed through the area. Peter Skene Ogden, a
Hudson's Bay Company trader, referred to this river in his
journal as "Riviere au Malheur" which translates as "unfortunate
river." It was given this name because during an expedition into
the Snake River country in 1825-1826, property and furs hidden
in the area were discovered and stolen.
Malheur County is located in the southeast corner of Oregon. It
is bordered by Baker County on the north, the State of Idaho on
the east, the State of Nevada on the south, and Harney and Grant
Counties on the west. Malheur County is the second largest
county in the state with 9,874 square miles.
The county seat is Vale. The first county courthouse was built
in 1887 at a cost of $1,400. The second courthouse was built in
1902 after several years of rivalry between localities
contending for the honor of being named the county seat. A third
courthouse was built in 1958.
Malheur County held its first general election in 1888 to elect
a judge, sheriff, clerk, two commissioners, treasurer, assessor,
superintendent of schools, and coroner.
Malheur County was first settled by miners and stockmen in the
early 1860s. The discovery of gold in 1863 created an interest
in this area which resulted in the establishment of settlements
and stock ranches. Basques settled in the region in the 1890s
and were mainly engaged in sheep raising. The principal
industries of Malheur County are agriculture, livestock, food
processing, and tourism. The Western Treasure Valley located in
the northeast corner of the county is the center of diversified
and intensified farming.
The population of Malheur County steadily increased from 1890
through 1980. From 1980 to the 1990 there was a 36% decline
partially due to weak agricultural seasons between 1982 and
1986. However, the 2000 population reached 31,615, which
represented an increase of 21.42% from 1990. Over half of the
county's population is within the cities of Ontario, Vale, and
Nyssa in the Western Treasure Valley. A large number of the
county's rural residents live in unincorporated areas on farms
and ranches in the same valley. |
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