Contact
The beach at Seven Devils State Park. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)
County Seat: Courthouse, 250 N Baxter, Coquille 97423
Phone: 541-396-7500 (General)
About
Established: Dec. 22, 1853
Elev. at Coquille: 40'
Area: 1,629 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 44.2° July 60.9°
Assessed Value: $6,682,436,779
Real Market Value: $13,485,298,441
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 56.8"
Economy: Forest products, tourism, fishing, agriculture, boating, dairy farming, myrtlewood manufacturing, shipbuilding and repair, agriculture specialty products, including cranberries
Incorporated Cities
Points of Interest
Lumber port, myrtlewood groves, Shore Acres State Park and Botanical Gardens, beaches, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, museums, fishing fleets, boat basins, scenic golf courses
History and General Information
The Territorial Legislature created Coos County from parts of Umpqua and Jackson counties in 1853, and it included Curry County until 1855. The name comes from the Coos people, who lived around present-day North Bend. The county seat was Empire City until 1896, when it was moved to Coquille. Although trappers were in the area a quarter century earlier, members of the Coos Bay Company established the first permanent settlement in present-day Coos County at Empire City (now part of Coos Bay) in 1853.
The county has several port districts: Port of Coos Bay (founded in 1909), Port of Coquille River (1912) and Port of Bandon (1913). The International Port of Coos Bay is considered the best natural harbor between Puget Sound and San Francisco. The port hosts a large commercial fishing fleet based at the Charleston Marina and a U.S. Coast Guard installation. It also serves as a connection point for logs, lumber and woodchips produced by regional mills.
County Officials
Commissioners: Chair John Sweet (2027); Rod Taylor (2027), Drew Farmer (2029); Dist. Atty. Jody Newby (2029); Assess. Jason Corbus (2029); Clerk Julie Brecke (2027); Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio (2027); Surv. Michael Dado (2029); Treas. Megan Simms (2029)