Sherman County, Oregon

Sherman County, Oregon
Sherman County Courthouse in Moro
Location in the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 25, 1889
Seat	Moro
Largest city	Wasco
Area
• Total	831 sq mi (2,152 km2)
• Land	824 sq mi (2,134 km2)
• Water	7.5 sq mi (19 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	1,710
• Density	2.1/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website	www.sherman-county.com

Sherman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,765, making it the second-least populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Moro, and the largest city is Wasco. The county is named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union general in the American Civil War.

History

A grain elevator along Gordon Ridge Road, Sherman County.

Old grain elevator in Kent.

A grain elevator at Highway 97 and Rosebush Lane, Sherman County.

As the pioneers felt crowded in the new settlements of western Oregon, they turned east to the Columbia Plateau for new opportunities. The county's first white settler was William Graham, who located at the mouth of the Deschutes River in 1858. Homesteaders, eager for land, arrived in the 1880s by steamboat, stagecoach and wagon. Soon farmers received government patents.

As the population grew, so did the sentiment for independence from Wasco County. Sherman County was created on February 25, 1889 out of the northeast corner of Wasco County. The county's borders have been changed only once, in 1891, when the Legislative Assembly moved the county line 18 miles (29 km) farther south into Wasco County.

The town of Wasco was designated the county seat by the Legislative Assembly although this designation was contested between Wasco and Moro. Following the addition of a portion of Wasco County, Moro became the eventual winner.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 831 square miles (2,150 km²), of which 824 square miles (2,130 km²) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km²) (0.9%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Wasco County - southwest
• Gilliam County - east
• Klickitat County, Washington - north

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,792		—
1900	3,477		94.0%
1910	4,242		22.0%
1920	3,826		−9.8%
1930	2,978		−22.2%
1940	2,321		−22.1%
1950	2,271		−2.2%
1960	2,446		7.7%
1970	2,139		−12.6%
1980	2,172		1.5%
1990	1,918		−11.7%
2000	1,934		0.8%
2010	1,765		−8.7%
Est. 2014	1,710		−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

From 2000 to 2007, Sherman County lost 4.1% of its population, the second-lowest growth rate in the state.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,934 people, 797 households, and 545 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 935 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 1.40% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 2.79% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 4.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.5% were of German, 17.3% American, 11.7% English, 8.7% Irish and 5.3% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 797 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,142, and the median income for a family was $42,563. Males had a median income of $31,207 versus $21,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,448. About 12.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

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

Economy

Sherman County is predominantly an agricultural county, its economy receiving some aid from ranching and tourism. Its farms primarily produce wheat and barley. It is also home to the Biglow Canyon Wind Farm, the largest project of its kind in Oregon.

Communities

Cities

• Grass Valley
• Moro (county seat)
• Rufus
• Wasco

Census-designated place

• Biggs Junction

Unincorporated communities and CDPs

• De Moss Springs
• Erskine
• Harmony
• Kent
• Klondike
• Locust Grove
• McDonald
• Monkland
• Rutledge

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sherman County, Oregon