| |
Wallowa County, OR
|
|
|
 Established:
Feb. 11, 1887
Population: 7,150 (2003)
Elev. at Enterprise: 3,757'
Area: 3,153 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 24.2°, July 63.0°
Assessed Value: $502,795,609
Real Market Value: $898,599,219
Annual Precipitation: 13.08"
Economy: Agriculture, art, livestock, forest products and
recreation.
Incorporated Cities:Enterprise | Joseph | Lostine | Wallowa
Points of Interest: Wallowa Lake, art galleries, Mt. Howard
gondola, Eagle Cap Wilderness, Hells Canyon National Recreation
Area, Minam, Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers.
General Information: This rather isolated area was claimed by
the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce as its hunting and
fishing grounds. The Nez Perce used the word “wallowa” to
designate a tripod of poles used to support fish nets. In 1871,
the first white settlers came to Wallowa County, crossing the
mountains in search of livestock feed in the Wallowa Valley. The
area had been part of Union County since 1864 but it was carved
from that county in 1887 by a legislative act.
Wallowa County is a land of rugged mountains, gentle valleys and
deep canyons. Peaks in the Wallowa Mountains soar to almost
10,000 feet in elevation and the Snake River dips to about 1,000
feet above sea level. Hells Canyon, carved by the Snake, is the
nation’s deepest gorge, averaging 5,500 feet from rim to river.
The scenery in the county is spectacular and serves as a magnet
for tourists. Unrivaled opportunities for outdoor recreation
create the county’s reputation as a visitors’ paradise.
Permanent residents enjoy the same recreation opportunities,
adding to a high quality of life supported by traditional farm
and forest industries as well as art and tourism.
County Officials: Commissioners—Benjamin M. Boswell (R) 2009,
Dan DeBoie (R) 2007, Mike Hayward, chair (R) 2009; Dist. Atty.
Daniel Ousley (NP) 2009; Assess. Gay Fregulia (NP) 2009; Clerk
Charlotte McIver (D) 2009; Sheriff Fred Steen (NP) 2009; Surv.
Jack W. Burris (R) 2009; Treas. Ernestine Kilgore (D) 2009. |
|
|
|
County History |
Wallowa County was established on February 11, 1887, out
of the eastern portion of Union County. It is the northeastern
most county of Oregon. Subsequent boundary changes occurred in
1890, 1900, and 1915 when land was acquired from or transferred
to Union County. Wallowa County is now bounded on the north by
the State of Washington, on the east by the Snake River which is
the boundary with the State of Idaho, on the south by Baker
County, and on the west by Union County. The county's area is
3,153 square miles. Its 2000 population of 7,226 was an increase
of 4.56% over 1990.
In 1877 the younger Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, incensed at
the government's attempt to deprive his people of the Wallowa
Valley, refused to be moved to an Idaho reservation. Several
regiments of United States troops were dispatched to force him
onto the reservation. After a number of battles and a
thousand-mile retreat, Chief Joseph was compelled to surrender.
He and the remnants of his band were removed to Oklahoma and
later were relocated to a reservation in Washington State.
The Wallowa Mountains are an important geographical feature of
the county. They are unlike other mountain ranges in the state
due to their granitic rather than volcanic origin. They take
their name from the Wallowa River that is formed by the
confluence of the east and west forks about a mile south of
Wallowa Lake and eventually flows into the Grande Ronde River.
Wallowa is a Nez Perce word for "fish trap."
The City of Enterprise serves as the county seat. The City of
Joseph was named the interim county seat until a general
election chose Enterprise as the county seat in 1888. A
proposition to contribute to the building of a county courthouse
by sixty citizens was turned down by the county court in 1899.
It was not until 1909 that a courthouse was built. Constructed
of native stone the building continues to house county offices.
Enterprise, in addition to being the county seat, is the Wallowa
Valley's trade center for ranchers and has local offices for the
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
County government consists of a county court made up of a county
judge and two commissioners. Other offices include clerk,
sheriff, assessor, treasurer, and surveyor.
Principal industries in Wallowa County are agriculture,
livestock, lumber, tourism, and recreation. |
|
|
|
