Umatilla County, Oregon

Infobox U.S. County
county = Umatilla County
state = Oregon




map size = 225
founded = September 27, 1862
seat = Pendleton | area_total_sq_mi =3231
area_land_sq_mi =3215
area_water_sq_mi =16
area percentage = 0.49%
census yr = 2000
pop = 70548
density_km2 =8
web = www.co.umatilla.or.us
|

Umatilla County (pronEng|ˌjuːməˈtɪlə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2000, its population was 70,548. The county seat is Pendleton.

Umatilla County is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Umatilla County was created on September 27, 1862, out of a portion of Wasco County. Adjustments were made to the county's boundaries following the creation of Grant, Morrow, Union, and Wallowa Counties. This legislative act also designated Marshall Station as the temporary county seat. An 1865 election selected Umatilla City, now known as Umatilla, as the county seat. With the development of wheat farming, population shifted to the north and east parts of the county, and a subsequent election in 1868 moved the county seat again to Pendleton.

The Umatilla Indian Reservation was established by the Treaty of Walla Walla in 1855. The Umatillas, Walla Wallas, and Cayuse tribes were resettled there, and is located immediately southeast of Pendleton.

EZ Wireless of Hermiston officially opened on February 4, 2004, one of the largest known Wi-Fi wide area networks in the United States, covering parts of Umatilla County, Morrow County and Benton County, Washington. Although created to facilitate communications among local police, firemen and EMT workers who immediately response to possible accidents or terrorist attacks on the Umatilla Chemical Depot, where the U.S. Army currently maintains a national arsenal of nerve gas, the network can be accessed in some places by the public for free. Cite web
url=http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,69234-0.html
title=Wi-Fi Cloud Covers Rural Oregon
accessdate=2006-12-10
publisher=CondéNet Inc.
date=October 162005
author=Associated Press
work=Wired News ]

Economy

The gold rush of 1862 brought miners and stock raisers to the mountains and grasslands of Umatilla County. Another stimulus was the arrival of the railroad in 1881, opening the region to the development of dry land wheat farming. Water for irrigation has been key to economic diversification and growth, most recently in the Hermiston area, where lush watermelons and other products are grown. The annual Pendleton Round-Up rodeo held in Pendleton is an important tourist attraction.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,231 square miles (8,369 km²), of which, 3,215 square miles (8,327 km²) of it is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) of it (0.49%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Benton County, Washington (north; across the Columbia River)
*Walla Walla County, Washington (north; a portion is across the Columbia River)
*Columbia County, Washington (northeast)
*Wallowa County - (northeast)
*Union County - (east)
*Grant County - (south)
*Morrow County - (west)

Communities

Incorporated cities

Unincorporated communities and CDPs

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 70,548 people, 25,195 households, and 17,838 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 27,676 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.00% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 3.37% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 10.67% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. 16.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.1% were of German, 13.0% American, 9.8% English and 6.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 84.4% spoke English and 14.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 25,195 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 104.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,249, and the median income for a family was $41,850. Males had a median income of $31,479 versus $22,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,410. About 9.80% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.co.umatilla.or.us/ Umatilla County]