Sherman County, Oregon

Population: 1,934 (2000); 1,918 (1990)
Land area: 823 square miles.
County seat: Moro

Sherman County, created in 1889, is bounded by the Columbia River on the north, the John Day River and Gilliam County on the east, and the Deschutes River, Buck Hollow and Wasco County on the west and south. The only change made to the county's borders occurred in 1891 when the Legislative Assembly moved the county line eighteen miles farther south. Sherman County contains 831 square miles.

Today, cattle and wheat-growing enterprises continue the agricultural history begun by the settlers of the north central Oregon plains. Source: USGenWeb

History

Sherman County was created in 1889 out of the northeast corner of Wasco County. It was named for General William Techumseh Sherman of Civil War fame. The town of Wasco was designated the county seat by the Legislative Assembly although the selection was contested between Wasco and Moro. Moro benefited from the addition to the southern part of the county of a portion of Wasco County in 1891 and was the eventual winner of a series of elections to select a county seat. The county contracted in 1892 to build a vault and building on the main street of Moro for use as an interim courthouse. A permanent courthouse was built in 1899 on a hill overlooking the town and is still in use today.

The county was settled in the 1870s by stockmen; by 1881 the homesteaders arrived, permanently changing the area by plowing and fencing the tall grass. Since then, the county has been a wheat-growing area with miles of waving grain on rolling hills of wind-blown glacial silt. The total absence of timber in the county exemplifies the true meaning of the "wide open spaces of the West." Its pastoral landscape has spectacular views of canyons and rivers with mountains silhouetted in the distance. Recreation abounds on the rivers, from the famous and scenic fly-fishing and whitewater rafting stream of the Deschutes to water-skiing, wind-surfing, boating, fishing and rafting on the John Day and Columbia Rivers. Sherman County is one of Oregon's leaders in soil and water conservation. Source: Oregon Blue Book

Sherman County Incorporated Towns
Grass Valley	Moro
Rufus	Wasco

Population

Sherman County's population has remained remarkably steady at just under 2,000 residents for over 100 years. In 1890 there were 1,792 residents and in 2000 there were 1934 residents, a 0.83% increase over 1990. Incorporated town populations are: Grass Valley - 146; Moro - 266; Rufus - 304; Wasco - 353.
Sources: http://216.247.65.101/gw/citylist.asp?state=or&list=41055 and http://www.capitolimpact.com

Native Americans traveled through the area to reach the famed trading center at Celilo Falls to the west. Lewis and Clark passed through anticipating the Pacific Ocean ahead. Travelers on the Oregon Trail went through to The Dalles or Barlow Pass. Stage, mail, and freight routes began to cross in the 1860s, while the railroad steamed through the area in 1881. Source: Sherman County Historical Society and Museum

Agriculture

Sherman County is an agricultural county with no industry. It has a larger percentage of its 831 square miles under cultivation than any county in Oregon. Its farms are devoted to growing wheat and barley. Cattle raising also contributes to the county's economy as does recreation on the rivers bordering the county.

Farming during the pioneer days wasn't for everyone. This excerpt is from the Autobiography of John Ball:
"And with the aid of my neighbors and their teams I broke up quite a large field of rich prairie lands. Drew out fencing stuff with my own, to enclose the same, and sowed and planted my farm... A rather primitive lonely life I found it and not seeing when it was likely to be less so, and having seen something of the country and experienced its climate, and the Hudson Bay people having entire control of the country, and no emigrants arriving, I began to think I might as well leave could I have the opportunity."

County Officials: Commissioners
The citizens of Sherman County have been served by a county court form of government ever since its creation. Administrative functions for Sherman County continue to be the responsibility of the county court consisting of the county judge and two commissioners. Other elected officials are the assessor, county clerk, district attorney, sheriff, and treasurer.

Sherry Kaseberg (R) 2007
Judge Gary Thompson (R)
Commissioner Steven Bernet (R)
Dist. Atty. Tara Lawrence (NP) 2007
Surv. Daryl Ingebo
Assess. Richard Stradley (R) 2005
Clerk Linda Cornie (NP) 2005
Justice of the Peace Ron McDermid (NP) 2005
Sheriff Brad Lohrey (NP) 2005
Treas. Marnene Benson (NP) 2007.

County Seat
Sherman County Clerk's Office
500 Court Street
Moro, OR 97039
541-565-3606
Fax: 541-565-3312
Hours: 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. Closed Holidays

FREE Sherman County E-News Newsletter
To subscribe, email your request to: sherryk@gorge.net

Sherman County Economic Development
Sherman County Businesses
http://www.shermcty.biz link

Sherman County School District:
District Superintendent: Angela Thompson

North Sherman Elementary School

Sherman High School 65912 High School Loop Moro, Oregon 97039 Phone: 541-565-3500 Fax: 541-565-3319 Sherman High School Events Sherman High School Weekly Calendar

Other Sherman County area School Districts:
South Sherman School Dist 17j - Grass Valley
Wasco School District 007 - Wasco

Transportation

Three Rivers Transit, Inc.
541-565-3211
Three Rivers Transit, Inc. is Sherman County's public transportation contractor. Preference is given to seniors and the disabled. 24-hour notice for all rides. Rides will be cancelled if weather is bad.

•    Pickup time 9 a.m. in Moro.
•    Monday: The Dalles
•    Tuesday: Wal-Mart in Hood River on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month
•    Thursday: The Dalles
•    Special trips as announced

Cost per round trip:
The Dalles $5
Hood River $10
Portland $40 ($20 one way)

Sherman County History and Websites of Interest:

Sherman County GenWeb -- genealogical, historical information and queries
(if this link doesn't work, try the USGenWeb national site).
Cemeteries of Sherman County
Capital Impact: Sherman County -- officials, addresses, and political, economic, education data
Fedstats/Mapstats: Sherman County -- data on agriculture, population, immigration, business, crime, environment