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Sherman County, OR
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 Established:
Feb. 25, 1889
Population: 1,900 (2003)
Elev. at Moro: 1,807'
Area: 831 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 30.7°, July 67.9°
Assessed Value: $211,685,559
Real Market Value: $293,534,956
Annual Precipitation: 9.15"
Economy: Tourism, wheat, barley and cattle.
Incorporated Cities: Grass Valley | Moro | Rufus | Wasco
Points of Interest: Historic county courthouse, Sherman County
Museum, Gordon Ridge, John Day Dam, Sherar’s Grade, Deschutes
State Park, LePage Park, Giles French Park, Sherman County
Fairgrounds and RV Park.
General Information: Sherman County, created in 1889 from the
northeast corner of Wasco County, was named for Gen. William
Tecumseh Sherman. It was separated from Wasco County as much for
its unique geological setting as for the settlers’ desire to
have their own political process. The rolling hills are bordered
by the deep canyons of the John Day River to the east, the
Columbia River to the north and the Deschutes River and Buck
Hollow to the west and south.
The county was settled in the 1870s by stockmen; by 1881 the
homesteaders arrived, permanently changing the area by plowing
and fencing the tall grass. Since then, the county has been a
wheat-growing area with miles of waving grain on rolling hills
of wind-blown glacial silt. The total absence of timber in the
county exemplifies the true meaning of the “wide open spaces of
the West.” Its pastoral landscape has spectacular views of
canyons and rivers with mountains silhouetted in the distance.
Recreation abounds on the rivers, from the famous and scenic
fly-fishing and whitewater rafting stream of the Deschutes to
water-skiing, wind-surfing, boating, fishing and rafting on the
John Day and Columbia Rivers. Sherman County is one of Oregon’s
leaders in soil and water conservation.
County Officials: Commissioners—Steve Burnet (R) 2007, Sherry
Kaseberg (R) 2007, Judge Gary Thompson (R) 2007; Dist. Atty.
Tara Lawrence (NP) 2007; Assess. Richard Stradley (R) 2009;
Clerk Linda Cornie (NP) 2009; Justice of the Peace Ron McDermid
(NP) 2009; Sheriff Brad Lohrey (NP) 2009; Surv. Daryl Ingebo;
Treas. Marnene Benson (NP) 2007. |
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County History |
Sherman County was created in 1889 out of the northeast corner
of Wasco County. It was named for General William Techumseh
Sherman of Civil War fame. Sherman County is located in north
central Oregon and is bounded by the Columbia River on the
north, the John Day River and Gilliam County on the east, and
the Deschutes River, Buck Hollow, and Wasco County on the west
and south. The only change made to the county's borders occurred
in 1891 when the Legislative Assembly moved the county line
eighteen miles farther south. Sherman County contains 831 square
miles. The town of Wasco was designated the county seat by the
Legislative Assembly although the selection was contested
between Wasco and Moro. Moro benefited from the addition to the
southern part of the county of a portion of Wasco County and was
the eventual winner of a series of elections to select a county
seat.
The county contracted in 1892 to construct a building and vault
on the main street of Moro for use as an interim courthouse. A
permanent courthouse was built in 1899 on a hill overlooking the
town and is still in use today.
A county court has governed Sherman County since its creation.
Administrative functions for Sherman County continue to be the
responsibility of the county court consisting of the county
judge and two commissioners. Other elected officials are the
assessor, county clerk, district attorney, sheriff, and
treasurer.
The population of the county has remained fairly constant, in
1890 there were 1,792 residents and in 2000 there were 1934
residents, a 0.83% increase over 1990.
Sherman County is an agricultural county with no industry. It
has a larger percentage of its 831 square miles under
cultivation than any county in Oregon. Its farms are devoted to
growing wheat and barley. Cattle raising also contributes to the
county's economy as does recreation on the rivers bordering the
county. |
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