Jefferson County, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson County
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Jefferson County Courthouse in Madras
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Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
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 Oregon's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | December 12, 1914 |
| Named for | Mount Jefferson |
| Seat | Madras |
| Largest city | Madras |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,791 sq mi (4,640 km2) |
| • Land | 1,781 sq mi (4,610 km2) |
| • Water | 10 sq mi (30 km2) 0.6% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,502 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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25,454  |
| • Density | 12/sq mi (5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 5th |
Jefferson County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. At the 2020 census, the population was 24,502. The county seat is Madras. The county is named after Mount Jefferson, the second tallest mountain in Oregon.
Contents
History
Jefferson County was created on December 12, 1914, from a portion of Crook County. The county owes much of its agricultural prosperity to the railroad, which links Madras with the Columbia River, and was completed in 1911, and to the development of irrigation projects in the late 1930s. The railroad was completed despite constant feuds and battles between two lines working on opposite sides of the Deschutes River.
Madras was incorporated in 1911, and has been the permanent county seat since a general election in 1916. The first (temporary) county seat was Culver, which was selected by a three-man commission appointed by the governor. Due to repeated tie votes over several days (with one vote each cast for Culver, Metolius and Madras). The deadlock was eventually broken by allowing the Metolius Commissioner to post the tie-breaker, by voting for Culver.
Rapid development in adjacent Deschutes County during the 1990s had farmers in Jefferson County concerned that they might be priced out of their own farmlands, which could be replaced by destination resorts, golf courses and other amenities for recent arrivals.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,791 square miles (4,640 km2), of which 1,781 square miles (4,610 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Marion County (northwest)
- Wasco County (north)
- Wheeler County (east)
- Crook County (south)
- Deschutes County (south)
- Linn County (west)
National protected areas
- Crooked River National Grassland
- Deschutes National Forest (part)
- Mount Hood National Forest (part)
- Willamette National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 3,211 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,291 | −28.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,042 | −10.9% | |
| 1950 | 5,536 | 171.1% | |
| 1960 | 7,130 | 28.8% | |
| 1970 | 8,548 | 19.9% | |
| 1980 | 11,599 | 35.7% | |
| 1990 | 13,676 | 17.9% | |
| 2000 | 19,009 | 39.0% | |
| 2010 | 21,720 | 14.3% | |
| 2020 | 24,502 | 12.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 25,454 | 17.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 21,720 people, 7,790 households and 5,646 families living in the county. The population density was 12.2 per square mile (4.7/km2). There were 9,815 housing units at an average density of 5.5 per square mile (2.1/km2). The racial make-up was 69.0% white, 16.9% American Indian, 0.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.1% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 19.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.0% were German, 9.4% were Irish, 8.3% were English, and 4.9% were American.
Of the 7,790 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.5% were non-families, and 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 39.6 years.
The median household income was $41,425 and the median family income was $48,818. Males had a median income of $37,370 and females $30,047. The per capita income was $20,009. About 13.5% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
- Camp Sherman
- Crooked River Ranch
- Warm Springs
Unincorporated communities
- Ashwood
- Kilts
- Gateway
- Geneva
- Grandview
- Grizzly
- Horse Heaven
- Opal City
- Willowdale
Economy
Agriculture is the predominant source of income in the county, with vegetable, grass and flower seeds, garlic, mint and sugar beets cultivated on some 60,000 acres (240 km2) of irrigated land. Jefferson County also has vast rangelands and until 2016 had an industrial base related to forest products. The Warm Springs Forest Products Industry, a multimillion-dollar complex owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs — partially located in the northwestern corner of the county — was the single biggest industry. With 300 days of sunshine and a low yearly rainfall, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, water-skiing and rock hunting are major tourist activities.
The major landowners in the county are the Forest Service, which manages National Forest System Lands the comprise 24% of the lands within the county boundaries, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs-Warm Springs Reservation, which owns and manages 21% of the lands within the county boundaries.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Oregón) para niños
