Wasco County, Oregon

Wasco County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,213.[1] Its county seat is The Dalles.[2] The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who live on the south side of the Columbia River. It is near the Washington state line.

Not to be confused with Wasco, Oregon.
Wasco County
U.S. county
Wasco County Courthouse in The Dalles
Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°10′N 121°10′W
Country United States
State Oregon
FoundedJanuary 11, 1854
Named forWasco people
SeatThe Dalles
Largest cityThe Dalles
Area
 • Total2,395 sq mi (6,200 km2)
 • Land2,382 sq mi (6,170 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total25,213
 • Estimate 
(2019)
26,682
 • Density11/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteco.wasco.or.us

Wasco County comprises The Dalles Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Celilo Falls on the Columbia River served as a gathering place and major trading center for the local Native Americans, including the Wasco, Paiute, and Warm Springs tribes, for thousands of years. These rapids came to be named Les Grandes Dalles de la Columbia or "The Great Falls of the Columbia" by the French Canadian fur traders.

The Dalles initially served as a way station on the Oregon Trail as it approached the Willamette Valley. The construction of the Barlow Road over the Cascade Range in 1845, and the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 encouraged families to settle in the area. Over the following years, Wasco County was a major transportation hub for both river and inland traffic.

The Oregon Territorial Legislature created Wasco County on January 11, 1854, from the parts of Clackamas, Lane, Linn and Marion counties, that were east of the Cascade Range. At the time of its creation, it was the largest county in the United States, consisting of 130,000 square miles (340,000 km2) that stretched clear to the Rocky Mountains. Its northern border was the Washington Territory line (the Columbia River). When Dakota Territory (including present-day Wyoming) was created in 1861, Idaho Territory in 1863, and Montana Territory in 1864, the parts of Wasco County east of the present Oregon boundaries were ceded to those territories. Other Oregon counties were split away, and Wasco was reduced to its current size.

Oregon Territory is shown in blue. Everything east of the Cascades was part of the original Wasco County.
Dates of Secession of Other Eastern Oregon Counties
CountySecession Date
Baker1862
Umatilla1862
Grant1864
Lake1874
Crook1882
Morrow1884
Gilliam1885
Sherman1889
Hood River1908

The Dalles was designated the county seat with the creation of the county, and has been its only location.

The river traffic on the Columbia River was profoundly affected in 1935 by the building of Bonneville Dam in Multnomah County and by The Dalles Dam in 1957 in Wasco County (which submerged Celilo Falls).

Wasco County attracted international attention in the 1980s, when Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh established the Rajneeshpuram movement at a marginal ranch originally called "The Big Muddy". Disagreements with the county government and other residents over zoning rules and building codes escalated, while his followers, known as Rajneeshees, settled en bloc in Antelope, Oregon and were able to elect a majority of the town councillors. When the Rajneeshees subsequently recruited homeless people from across the United States to settle at Rajneeshpuram, it was widely seen as an attempt to use the ballot box to seize control of the county. An intentional outbreak of salmonella in salad bars at ten restaurants in The Dalles in 1984 was traced to the acts of Rajneeshees.

Rajneesh was arrested as he was fleeing the U.S. in 1985 and he was subsequently indicted along with seven followers for immigration crimes by a federal grand jury. A separate grand jury in Wasco County charged three Rajneeshees of attempted murder, while Rajneesh entered an Alford plea and was given a suspended sentence on condition that he leave the country.

The former Rajneesh ranch is now known as "Washington Family Ranch". It is owned and operated by Young Life Ministries, a Christian organization providing camp services for youth.

Geography
An aerial view of the county

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,395 square miles (6,200 km2), of which 2,382 square miles (6,170 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3] The northern boundary with Washington is the Columbia River (the state line).

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,689—
18702,50948.5%
188011,120343.2%
18909,183−17.4%
190013,19943.7%
191016,33623.8%
192013,648−16.5%
193012,646−7.3%
194013,0693.3%
195015,55219.0%
196020,20529.9%
197020,133−0.4%
198021,7327.9%
199021,683−0.2%
200023,7919.7%
201025,2136.0%
2019 (est.)26,682[4]5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 23,791 people, 9,401 households, and 6,505 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 10,651 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.58% White, 3.81% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 0.30% Black or African American, 5.65% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 9.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of German, 11.8% English, 9.8% American, 9.5% Irish and 5.0% Norwegian ancestry.[9] Of the 9,401 households 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.10% of households were one person and 11.50% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median household income was $35,959 and the median family income was $42,412. Males had a median income of $36,051 versus $21,575 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,195. About 10.30% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 25,213 people, 10,031 households, and 6,540 families living in the county.[10] The population density was 10.6 inhabitants per square mile (4.1/km2). There were 11,487 housing units at an average density of 4.8 per square mile (1.9/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 86.1% white, 4.4% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Pacific islander, 0.4% black or African American, 5.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.8% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 19.8% were German, 14.0% were English, 10.6% were Irish, 6.4% were American, and 5.0% were Swedish.[12]

Of the 10,031 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.8% were non-families, and 28.8% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.7 years.[10]

The median household income was $42,133 and the median family income was $50,279. Males had a median income of $40,658 versus $27,996 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,922. About 11.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Government and infrastructure

The Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility (Norcor), a short-term jail, serves Wasco, Gilliam, Hood River, and Sherman counties.[14]

Politically, Wasco is a swing county. No presidential candidate has won more than 55% of the county's vote since Ronald Reagan in 1984, and none has won an absolute majority since Barack Obama in 2008. From 1972 to 2008, it voted for the election's national winner every time except the drought and farm crisis-influenced 1988 election; Obama lost here by just 18 votes or 0.2% of the popular vote in 2012.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 49.8% 7,035 46.7% 6,604 3.5% 491
2016 48.8% 5,833 40.0% 4,781 11.3% 1,350
2012 48.1% 5,229 47.9% 5,211 4.0% 433
2008 44.8% 5,103 51.9% 5,906 3.3% 371
2004 51.0% 6,119 47.4% 5,691 1.6% 192
2000 50.2% 5,356 43.3% 4,616 6.5% 692
1996 36.8% 3,662 49.9% 4,967 13.3% 1,323
1992 29.6% 3,242 42.5% 4,663 28.0% 3,068
1988 45.4% 4,462 52.3% 5,141 2.4% 231
1984 55.4% 6,905 44.3% 5,526 0.3% 41
1980 46.0% 4,703 42.4% 4,336 11.7% 1,196
1976 46.1% 4,258 49.4% 4,560 4.6% 422
1972 51.7% 4,537 42.7% 3,749 5.6% 489
1968 46.3% 3,842 47.2% 3,918 6.6% 546
1964 31.4% 2,695 68.5% 5,890 0.1% 12
1960 49.6% 4,355 50.4% 4,426 0.0% 3
1956 51.0% 4,332 49.0% 4,165 0.0% 0
1952 63.1% 4,362 36.4% 2,517 0.5% 35
1948 51.7% 2,740 46.0% 2,438 2.2% 118
1944 50.8% 2,429 48.3% 2,313 0.9% 44
1940 45.8% 2,553 53.8% 3,001 0.4% 22
1936 24.7% 1,278 68.9% 3,573 6.4% 333
1932 37.3% 1,740 59.5% 2,776 3.2% 148
1928 60.9% 2,746 37.7% 1,699 1.5% 68
1924 51.5% 2,409 25.3% 1,185 23.2% 1,087
1920 62.3% 2,698 33.1% 1,434 4.7% 202
1916 47.5% 2,243 48.5% 2,287 4.0% 189
1912 29.9% 775 35.8% 929 34.3% 890
1908 57.1% 1,309 33.4% 764 9.5% 218
1904 67.3% 2,092 17.3% 536 15.4% 479

Economy
Boyd Loop Road grain elevator on Fifteenmile Creek, Wasco County

The county's economy is based upon agriculture (orchards, wheat farming, livestock ranching), lumber, manufacturing, electric power, transportation, and tourism. Aluminum production was previously a major support of the local economy, but electrical price fluctuations and a slump in global aluminum prices has forced the closing of a number of local aluminum foundries.

Communities

Incorporated cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  14. "Norcor Home Archived November 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.

Further reading

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