Sunset over Ochoco Lake from Ochoco Lake County Park. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)
County Seat: Courthouse, 300 NE Third St., Prineville 97754
Phone: 541-447-6553 (General); 541-447-6555 (Court Administrator)
About
Established: Oct. 24, 1882
Elev. at Prineville: 2,868'
Area: 2,991 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 31.8° July 64.5°
Assessed Value: $3,127,764,578
Real Market Value: $7,021,484,227
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 10.50"
Economy: Forest products, agriculture, livestock raising, recreation/tourism services, manufacturing and wholesale trade
Incorporated Cities
Points of Interest
Pine Mills, Crooked River Canyon, Ochoco Mountains, Prineville and Ochoco reservoirs, rockhound areas, old county courthouse, Steins Pillar, Wildland Firefighters Monument, geological formations
History and General Information
Crook County was formed from Wasco County in 1882 and is the geographic center of Oregon. It was named for U.S. Army Major General George Crook. The region developed slowly because the Cascade Mountains were difficult to travel. The discovery of the Santiam Pass in 1859 and the development of the Santiam Wagon Road helped spur the settlement of the Crook County area.
The county has only one incorporated population center: the city of Prineville, founded in 1868. Other communities in this sparsely settled region are Powell Butte, Post and Paulina.
Thousands of hunters, fishers, boaters, sightseers and rockhounds are annual visitors to its streams, reservoirs and the Ochoco Mountains. Rockhounds can dig for agates, limb casts, jasper and thundereggs on more than 1,000 acres of mining claims provided by the Prineville Chamber of Commerce.
County Officials
County Court: Judge Seth Crawford (2029), Brian Barney (2027), Susan Hemreck (2029); Dist. Atty. Kari Hathorn (2027); Assess. Jon Soliz (2027); Clerk Cheryl Seely (2027); Sheriff John Gautney (2029); Surv. Greg Kelso (2029); Treas. Galan Carter (2027)