Umatilla County, Oregon
Encyclopedia : U : UM : UMA : Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County (IPA: [ˈu mə ˌtɪ lə]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named for the Umatilla River, the Native American name for the river, which was first recorded as Youmalolam in the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. As of 2000, the population was 70,548. The county seat is located at Pendleton.
History
Umatilla County was created on September 27, 1862, out of a portion of Wasco County. Adjustments were made to the county's boundaries following the creation of Grant, Morrow, Union, and Wallowa Counties. This legislative act also designated Marshall Station as the temporary county seat. An 1865 election selected Umatilla City, now known as Umatilla, as the county seat. With the development of wheat farming, population shifted to the north and east parts of the county, and a subsequent election in 1868 moved the county seat again to Pendleton.The Umatilla Indian Reservation was established by the Treaty of Walla Walla in 1855. The Umatillas, Walla Wallas, and Cayuse tribes were resettled there, and is located immediately southeast of Pendleton.
EZ Wireless of Hermiston officially opened on February 4, 2004, one of the largest known Wi-Fi wide area networks in the United States, covering parts of Umatilla County, Morrow County and Benton County, Washington. Although created to facilitate communications among local police, firemen and EMT workers who immediately response to possible accidents or terrorist attacks on the Umatilla Chemical Depot, The U.S. Army currently mantains a national arsenal of nerve gas at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.
Economy
The gold rush of 1862 brought miners and stock raisers to the mountains and grasslands of Umatilla County. Another stimulus was the arrival of the railroad in 1881, opening the region to the development of dry land wheat farming. Water for irrigation has been key to economic diversification and growth, most recently in the Hermiston area, where lush watermelons and other products are grown. The annual Pendleton Round-Up rodeo held in Pendleton is an important tourist attraction.Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,369 km² (3,231 mi²). 8,327 km² (3,215 mi²) of it is land and 41 km² (16 mi²) of it (0.49%) is water.Adjacent Counties
- Walla Walla County, Washington (north; a portion is across the Columbia River)
- Columbia County, Washington (northeast)
- Wallowa County - (northeast)
- Union County - (east)
- Grant County - (south)
- Morrow County - (west)
- Benton County, Washington (north; across the Columbia River)
Cities and towns
Cities
Unincorporated communitiesDemographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 70,548 people, 25,195 households, and 17,838 families residing in the county. The population density was 8/km² (22/mi²). There were 27,676 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (9/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.00% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 3.37% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 10.67% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. 16.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 25,195 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 104.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,249, and the median income for a family was $41,850. Males had a median income of $31,479 versus $22,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,410. About 9.80% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
External links
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