Umatilla County, Oregon

Umatilla County, Oregon is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon, bordered by the Columbia River to the north, Grant County, Oregon to the south, Morrow County, Oregon to the west, and the state of Washington to the east, near Walla Walla, Washington. The county is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area and is home to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The county seat, Pendleton, Oregon, is known for its annual Pendleton Round-Up and is situated near the Blue Mountains (Oregon). The city is also close to the Umatilla National Forest and the Walla Walla River.

Geography

Umatilla County is situated in northeastern Oregon, near the Idaho border, and is bordered by the Columbia River to the north, which forms the border with the state of Washington. The county's terrain is characterized by the Blue Mountains (Oregon), which cover a significant portion of the county, and the Umatilla National Forest, which offers opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as hiking and camping, near Athena, Oregon and Adams, Oregon. The Walla Walla River and the Umatilla River flow through the county, providing water for irrigation and other uses, and are near the cities of Milton-Freewater, Oregon and Stanfield, Oregon. The county's geography is also influenced by the Columbia Plateau, a region of flat to gently sloping terrain that covers much of eastern Washington and Oregon, including the Hermiston, Oregon area.

History

The area that is now Umatilla County has been inhabited for thousands of years by various Native American tribes, including the Cayuse people, Umatilla people, and Wallawalla people, who were later relocated to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The county was established on September 27, 1862, and was named after the Umatilla River, which was in turn named after the Umatilla people. The county's early history was marked by the establishment of fur trading posts, such as Fort Walla Walla, and the construction of the Oregon Trail, which passed through the county near Echo, Oregon and Pendleton, Oregon. The county was also home to several missionaries, including Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman, who established the Whitman Mission near Walla Walla, Washington.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Umatilla County was 75,889, with a population density of 23 people per square mile. The county's population is diverse, with a mix of European Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Native Americans, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The county's largest city, Pendleton, Oregon, has a population of over 16,000, while other significant cities include Hermiston, Oregon, Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and Stanfield, Oregon. The county is also home to several smaller communities, including Athena, Oregon, Adams, Oregon, and Echo, Oregon, which are near the Umatilla National Forest and the Walla Walla River.

Economy

The economy of Umatilla County is diverse, with major industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The county is known for its production of wheat, barley, and alfalfa, and is home to several major farms and ranches, including those near Hermiston, Oregon and Milton-Freewater, Oregon. The county is also home to several major manufacturing facilities, including those producing food processing and wood products, such as Pendleton Woolen Mills, which is located in Pendleton, Oregon. Tourism is also a significant contributor to the county's economy, with visitors drawn to the county's natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and cultural attractions, such as the Pendleton Round-Up and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, which is located near the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Government

Umatilla County is governed by a board of commissioners, which is responsible for overseeing the county's government and providing services to residents, including those in Pendleton, Oregon, Hermiston, Oregon, and Milton-Freewater, Oregon. The county is also home to several other government agencies, including the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office and the Umatilla County District Attorney's Office, which serve the cities of Stanfield, Oregon, Athena, Oregon, and Adams, Oregon. The county is part of Oregon's 2nd congressional district and is represented in the Oregon State Senate by Oregon State Senate and in the Oregon House of Representatives by Oregon House of Representatives, which also represent the surrounding areas, including Walla Walla, Washington and Grant County, Oregon.

Communities

Umatilla County is home to several communities, including the cities of Pendleton, Oregon, Hermiston, Oregon, Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and Stanfield, Oregon, as well as the smaller communities of Athena, Oregon, Adams, Oregon, and Echo, Oregon. The county is also home to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which is a federally recognized tribe and has its own government and services, including the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute and the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, which are located near the Umatilla National Forest and the Walla Walla River. Other notable communities in the county include Ukiah, Oregon, Pilot Rock, Oregon, and Riverside, Oregon, which are near the Blue Mountains (Oregon) and the Columbia River.