Contact
A barn along Little Sheep Creek Highway near Joseph. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)
County Seat: Courthouse, 101 S River St., Enterprise 97828
Phone: 541-426-4543 ext. 15 (General); 541-426-4991 (Court Administrator)
About
Established: Feb. 11, 1887
Elev. at Enterprise: 3,757'
Area: 3,153 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 24.2° July 63.0°
Assessed Value: $1,032,227,997
Real Market Value: $2,242,767,710
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 13.08"
Economy: Agriculture, art, livestock, forest products and recreation
Related Resources
Incorporated Cities
Points of Interest
Wallowa Lake, art galleries, Mount Howard gondola, Eagle Cap Wilderness, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Minam, Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers
History and General Information
In Oregon’s northeastern corner lies Wallowa County. Land now inside the county was claimed by the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce as their hunting and fishing grounds. “Wallowa” comes from the Cayuse Nez Perce word for a tripod support used on a fish trap. In 1871 the first Euro- American colonists came to Wallowa County, crossing the mountains in search of livestock feed in the Wallowa Valley. The area had been part of Union County since 1864, but it was carved from that county in 1887 by a legislative act.
Wallowa County is home to stunning mountains, gentle valleys and deep canyons. Peaks in the Wallowa Mountains soar to almost 10,000 feet high, and the Snake River drops over 8,500 feet in elevation over its length. Hells Canyon on the eastern border is the deepest river gorge in North America.
The county’s spectacular scenery serves as a magnet for tourists. Unrivaled opportunities for outdoor recreation uphold the county’s reputation as a visitors’ paradise. Permanent residents enjoy the same recreation opportunities, adding to a high quality of life supported by traditional agriculture and forest industries, as well as art and tourism.
County Officials
Commissioners: Lisa Collier (2029), John Hillock (2027), Susan Roberts (2029); Dist. Atty. Rebecca Frolander (2027); Assess. Ashley Immoos (2029); Clerk Sandy Lathrop (2027); Sheriff Ryan Moody (2029); Treas. Ginger Goebel-Burns (2027); Surv. Richard Shaver