Wallowa County
Wallowa Lake. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. walD0017-1)
Contact
County Seat: Courthouse, 101 S River St., Enterprise 97828
Phone: 541-426-4543, ext. 15 (General); 541-426-4991 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-426-0582
E-mail: wcboc@co.wallowa.or.us
Web: www.co.wallowa.or.us
About
Population: 7,130
Established: Feb. 11, 1887
Elev. at Enterprise: 3,757'
Area: 3,153 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 24.2° July 63.0°
Assessed Value: $559,027,902
Real Market Value: $1,416,198,475
Annual Precipitation: 13.08"
Economy: Agriculture, art, livestock, forest products and recreation
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OECDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
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.
History and 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—Dan DeBoie (R) 2011, Mike Hayward, Chair (R) 2013, Susan Roberts (R) 2013; Dist. Atty. Mona K. Williams (NP) 2011; Assess. Gay Fregulia (NP) 2013; Clerk Dana Roberts (R) 2011; Sheriff Fred Steen (NP) 2013; Surv. Richard Shaver (R) 2011; Treas. Shonelle Dutcher (D) 2013.