Sherman County, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherman County
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Sherman County Courthouse in Moro
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Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
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 Oregon's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oregon |
| Founded | February 25, 1889 |
| Seat | Moro |
| Largest city | Wasco |
| Area | |
| • Total | 831 sq mi (2,150 km2) |
| • Land | 824 sq mi (2,130 km2) |
| • Water | 7.5 sq mi (19 km2) 0.9%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,870 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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1,907  |
| • Density | 2.1/sq mi (0.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Sherman County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,870, making it the second-least populous county in Oregon after nearby Wheeler. The county seat is Moro, and the largest city is Wasco. The county is named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union general in the American Civil War.
Contents
History
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As the pioneers felt crowded in the new settlements of western Oregon, they turned east to the Columbia Plateau for new opportunities. The county's first white settler was William Graham, who located at the mouth of the Deschutes River in 1858. Homesteaders, eager for land, arrived in the 1880s by steamboat, stagecoach and wagon. Soon farmers received government patents.
As the population grew, so did the sentiment for independence from Wasco County. Sherman County was created on February 25, 1889, out of the northeast corner of Wasco County. The county's borders have been changed only once, in 1891, when the Legislative Assembly moved the county line 18 miles (29 km) farther south into Wasco County.
The town of Wasco was designated the county seat by the Legislative Assembly although this designation was contested between Wasco and Moro. Following the addition of a portion of Wasco County, Moro became the eventual winner.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 831 square miles (2,150 km2), of which 824 square miles (2,130 km2) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Wasco County - southwest
- Gilliam County - east
- Klickitat County, Washington - north
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,792 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,477 | 94.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,242 | 22.0% | |
| 1920 | 3,826 | −9.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,978 | −22.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,321 | −22.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,271 | −2.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,446 | 7.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,139 | −12.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,172 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,918 | −11.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,934 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,765 | −8.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,870 | 5.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,907 | 8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 1,765 people, 777 households, and 492 families living in the county. The population density was 2.1 inhabitants per square mile (0.81/km2). There were 918 housing units at an average density of 1.1 per square mile (0.42/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 1.6% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.6% were German, 16.5% were English, 13.0% were Irish, and 4.9% were American.
Of the 777 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.7% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 48.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,354 and the median income for a family was $52,361. Males had a median income of $42,768 versus $32,386 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,688. About 13.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Grass Valley
- Moro (county seat)
- Rufus
- Wasco
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
Economy
Sherman County is predominantly an agricultural county, its economy receiving some aid from ranching and tourism. Its farms primarily produce wheat and barley. It is also home to the Biglow Canyon Wind Farm, the largest project of its kind in Oregon.
