Contact
Flowers at Parker Creek Falls on Marys Peak. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)
County Seat: 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis, 97333
Phone: 541-766-6800 (General); 541-766-6859 (Trial Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-766-6893
About
Established: Dec. 23, 1847
Elev. at Corvallis: 224'
Area: 679 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 39.3° July 65.6°
Assessed Value: $9,990,463,607
Real Market Value: $19,714,966,474
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 42.71"
Economy: Agriculture, forest products, research and development, electronics and wineries
Related Resources
Incorporated Cities
Points of Interest
Benton County Courthouse, Oregon State University (OSU) Campus, Benton County Museum (Philomath), Alsea Falls, Mary’s Peak, William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Peavy Arboretum, McDonald Forest, Jackson-Frazier Wetland, Beazell Memorial Forest & Education Center
History and General Information
Benton County was created from Polk County by an act of the Provisional Government of Oregon in 1847. It is one of seven counties in the United States to be named after Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, a longtime advocate of the development of the Oregon Territory. The county is located in an area originally inhabited by the Klickitat Tribe, who rented the area from the Kalapuya Tribe for use as hunting grounds. At that time, the boundaries began at the intersection of Polk County and the Willamette River, ran as far south as the California border and as far west as the Pacific Ocean. Later, portions of Benton County were taken to form Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane and Lincoln Counties, leaving it in its present form with 679 square miles of land area.
A substantial portion of the nation’s research in forestry, agriculture, engineering, education and the sciences takes place at OSU located at the county seat in Corvallis.
County Officials
Commissioners— Chair Nancy Wyse 2025; Xanthippe (Xan) Augerot 2025, Pat Malone 2027; Dist. Atty. John Haroldson 2025; Assess. Tami Tracy; Clerk James Morales; Sheriff Jefri Van Arsdall 2027; Surv. Joe Mardis; Tax Collector Mary Otley; Public Information Officer Alyssa Rash