Contact
Metolius River, Wizard falls Fish Hatchery (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)
County Seat: 129 SW E St., Madras 97741
Phone: 541-475-4451 (General); 541-475-3317 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-325-5018
About
Established: Dec. 12, 1914
Elev. at Madras: 2,242'
Area: 1,791 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 37.4° July 70.1°
Assessed Value: $2,380,122,378
Real Market Value: $5,485,198,395
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 10.2"
Economy: Agriculture, forest products and recreation
Related Resources
Incorporated Cities
Points of Interest
Mount Jefferson, Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Metolius River, Black Butte, Suttle Lake, Blue Lake, Santiam Summit, Lake Billy Chinook (behind Round Butte Dam), Haystack Reservoir, Priday Agate Beds
History and General Information
Jefferson County was established in 1914 from a portion of Crook County. It was named for Mount Jefferson, which was named by Americans for President Thomas Jefferson, on its western boundary. The county owes much of its agricultural prosperity to the railroad, which arrived in 1911, and to the development of irrigation projects in the late 1930s. The railroad links Madras with the Columbia River and was completed after constant feuding between two lines working on opposite sides of the Deschutes River. Madras is the county seat.
Vegetable, grass and flower seeds, garlic, mint and sugar beets are cultivated on about 60,000 irrigated acres. Jefferson County also has vast acres of rangelands and an industrial base related to forest products. With 300 days of sunshine and a low yearly rainfall, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, waterskiing and rock hunting are popular recreations.
County Officials
Commissioners: Chair Mark Wunsch (2027); Kelly Simmelink (2027), Seth Taylor (2029); Dist. Atty. Steven Leriche (2029); Assess. Jean McCloskey (2025); Clerk Kate Zemke (2027); Sheriff Jason Pollock (2027); Treas. Jeff Rasmussen (2029); Surv. Gary L. DeJarnatt