The Dalles is a city in Oregon, United States. It's an important inland port and the biggest city in Wasco County. In 2020, about 16,010 people lived there. The Dalles is the largest city along the Columbia River in Oregon, outside of the Portland Metropolitan Area. It is located about 75 miles (121 km) east of Portland. The city is part of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

History of The Dalles
Geography and Climate
- The Dalles Climate
Economy and Jobs
- Major Employers in The Dalles
Education in The Dalles
Arts and Culture
- Yearly Events
- Places to Visit
Media
Notable People from The Dalles
Sister City
See also

History of The Dalles

The area around The Dalles has a very long history. Native Americans used it as a trading center for as long as 10,000 years ago. This makes it one of the oldest places where people have lived in North America.

Why is it Called The Dalles?

The city's name comes from a French word, dalle. This word can mean "sluice" or "flagstone." It refers to the columnar basalt rocks that the Columbia River has carved. French-Canadian travelers used the word to describe the fast-moving water, or rapids, in the river. "Les dalles" in French means "the slabs." When a river flows over flat, hard rocks, it creates shallow, fast-moving water.

Early Fur Trade and Exploration

An early drawing of The Dalles, possibly by Joseph Drayton

The first time the name "Dalles" was written down was in 1814. Fur traders like Gabriel Franchère used it to describe the big rapids in the river. In the 1810s, American and European fur traders passed through this area. They worked for companies like the Pacific Fur Company or the North West Company.

David Thompson was an explorer who traveled the Columbia River. The rapids at The Dalles were a major challenge for fur traders. Boats had to unload their goods and carry them around the rapids. Sometimes, during high water, brave traders would try to "shoot the rapids," but it was very dangerous.

The Dalles in the 1880s

Second Street around 1880

The Umatilla House hotel around 1880

E. B. McFarland House around 1881

Missions and Forts

In 1838, a mission called Wascopam Mission was set up near Celilo Falls. It was named after the local Wasco Native American people. Later, in 1850, the U.S. Army built a small base there, which became Fort Dalles. This fort was the beginning of the town of The Dalles. In 1855, Native Americans living near The Dalles were moved to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

American Settlers Arrive

In the early 1840s, many American settlers arrived. They traveled on the Oregon Trail, which ended at The Dalles. Wagons could not go further west because of steep cliffs. Before the Barlow Road was built in 1846, people had to raft down the river to reach the Willamette Valley.

The Dalles got its first post office in 1851. It became an official city in 1857. Since then, it has been a major trading hub between Portland and Pendleton. The city was first called "Dalles," then "Wascopum," and finally "The Dalles" in 1860.

In 1864, the U.S. government planned to build a mint in The Dalles. This mint would make coins from gold found nearby. However, the gold supply decreased, and other problems stopped the project. The building was later used for other purposes and is now a brewery.

The Dalles City Hall

The Dalles in Recent Times

In 1957, The Dalles Dam was built. This dam caused the Long Narrows and Celilo Falls to be covered by water.

In 1982, a special kitten was born in The Dalles. This kitten and its babies helped create a new type of cat called the LaPerm. This cat breed is now popular around the world.

In 1984, The Dalles was the site of a unique event. A group caused many people to get sick by spreading bacteria in restaurants. This was the first known bioterrorism attack in the United States. About 751 people became ill.

Geography and Climate

The Dalles and the Columbia River with the surrounding landscape

Major highways like I-84, US 30, and US 197 all meet in The Dalles.

The city has a total area of about 6.94 square miles (17.98 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

The Dalles Climate

The Dalles has a climate that is often called "semiarid." This means it's usually dry. However, it also has some features of the wetter climate found west of the Cascade Mountains. The city's location in the Columbia River Gorge means the weather can change a lot even within a few miles.

Summers in The Dalles are warm, from mid-June to early September. There's usually very little rain during this time. The warm, dry summers are perfect for the many Bing cherry orchards in the area.

Autumn, from late September to early November, sees temperatures drop quickly. It becomes cloudy and wet. Winters are the wettest season. Snowfall happens almost every year, but the amount of snow can be very different from one year to the next. Temperatures rarely drop below 0°F (-18°C).

Spring, from late February to early June, gets warmer and drier. The landscape turns green. This is the windiest season, with strong west winds most afternoons.

The growing season for plants is usually about 200 days long. It generally lasts from early April to most of October.

Economy and Jobs

In 2006, Google started building a large data center in The Dalles. It's called "Project 02" by locals. Google chose this area because of its reliable hydroelectric power and good internet connections. This project created many construction jobs and about 150 permanent jobs.

Major Employers in The Dalles

Many different businesses and organizations provide jobs in The Dalles. Here are some of the biggest employers:

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge (a hospital)
North Wasco County School District (local schools)
Oregon Cherry Growers (a company that grows cherries)
State of Oregon (state government jobs)
Fred Meyer (a large store)
Oregon Veteran's Home (a home for veterans)
Columbia Gorge Community College
Wasco County (county government jobs)
Google
Safeway (a grocery store)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
City of The Dalles (city government jobs)
Home Depot (a home improvement store)
Cousin's Country Inn (a hotel)
Orchard View Farms (a farm)

Education in The Dalles

The Dalles is part of Oregon School District 21. This district has three elementary schools: Colonel Wright Elementary, Chenoweth Elementary, and Dry Hollow Elementary. It also includes Innovations Academy, The Dalles Middle School, and The Dalles High School.

There are also private schools like St Mary's Academy (a K-8 Catholic school) and Columbia Lutheran School (a Christian elementary school).

Columbia Gorge Community College has its main campus in The Dalles. It started in 1977 and is known for teaching about renewable energy technology.

Arts and Culture

The former Carnegie library, now The Dalles Art Center

Yearly Events

The Northwest Cherry Festival is a popular event held in The Dalles every April. It celebrates the region's cherry harvest.

Places to Visit

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum: This is the official center for learning about the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Fort Dalles Museum: Oregon's oldest history museum. It's located in the Surgeon's Quarters, built in 1856 at Fort Dalles.
Pulpit Rock: A place where Methodist missionaries used to preach to Native Americans.
North Wasco County Aquatic Center: A local swimming pool, previously known as the "Natatorium."
The river front trail: A path along the Columbia River from the Discovery Center to the boat marina.
Sorosis Park: A large 45-acre park with a memorial rose garden and the Vogt Fountain.

Media

The Dalles has several local radio stations:

KACI 1300/103.9 FM
KODL 1440AM/99.1 FM
KMSW 92.7/102.9 FM
KACI-FM 93.5 FM
KCGB-FM 105.5/96.9 FM
KJYV 101.5 FM

Local TV channels include:

K34KE-D (a translator for KGW Portland, an NBC channel)
K23OV-D (a translator for KOIN Portland, a CBS channel)

Newspapers and online news:

Columbia Gorge News
Columbia Community Connection Digital, Bilingual and Local News for the Mid-Columbia Region

Notable People from The Dalles

Many interesting people have connections to The Dalles, including:

Homer D. Angell: A U.S. congressman.
Lefty Bertrand: A Major League Baseball player.
John Callahan: A famous cartoonist.
H. L. Davis: An author who won a Pulitzer Prize.
Ken Dayley: A Major League Baseball player.
Alan Embree: A Major League Baseball player.
Shemia Fagan: A former Oregon Secretary of State.
Jacob Glanville: A scientist and businessperson.
Jennifer Lyon: A contestant on the TV show Survivor: Palau.
Todd Nelson: A professional tennis player.
Wilma Roberts: A local photographer.
Greg Walden: A U.S. congressman.
Philip Whalen: A poet connected to the Beat Generation.

Sister City

The Dalles has one sister city, which helps build friendships between different countries:

Miyoshi City, Japan

The Dalles, Oregon facts for kids

Contents