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Karen Raminha |
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WALLOWA COUNTY INFORMATION
Lifestyle and Culture
We wish to welcome you to Wallowa County. We are tucked away in the Northeast corner of Oregon and have a handful of small towns and villages, surrounded by the rugged Wallowa Mountains, deep canyons, plateau's, and rolling prairies of native grasses. Sometimes referred to as the "Alps of America", Wallowa County is the gateway to the Hell's Canyon Recreation Area, Eagle Cap Wilderness, and Wallowa Lake, which was formed during the ice-age by massive glaciers and is world renown for its geological significance.
Historically, the county has been dependant upon its natural resources as its primary economic base, however, visitors from around the world are drawn to the area's natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. In recent years, the county has developed a reputation for attracting professional and amateur artist's and hence has prospered as an art enclave with bronze foundries and galleries galore.
Description of Wallowa County
Wallowa County is in the Northeast corner of Oregon. It consists of 3,153 square miles and populations just over 7,000. There are only seven towns in the county, the largest consisting of 2,020 people. Of the 7,000 people, at least half of them live in town.
The 3,153 square miles is close to 2,017,920 acres. Around 59% of the county are publicly owned. Tax lots in the timber-grazing (T/G) zone are mostly 240 acres or more, the timber-commercial (T-C) zone is almost all 240 acres or more and the exclusive farm use (EFU) zone is mostly 160 acres or more- often significantly more.
Timber-Commercial (T-C) is mostly federal land and takes up approximately 52% of the county. The lands owned by the city, county, or state take up about 7% of the county. Residential zoning is less than 2%. That leaves about 40% to private lands zoned timber-grazing (T/G) and exclusive farm use (EFU).
Here is a break down of the figures:
| Wallowa County: Total = 3,153 square miles (2,017,920 acres)
Zones: EFU = 332,522 acres T/G = 546,569 acres T-C = 1,048,840 acres Total = 1,927,931 acres or 95% of the total acres
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The remaining acres, 87,593, are other zones and are the high and medium density areas. With a few exceptions for outlying older subdivisions, they are in or around the seven towns and Wallowa Lake.
High-density areas include the four towns and the Wallowa Lake area. Medium-density includes the unincorporated communities and older subdivisions. The low-density areas in this county have, by far, the greatest number of acres. A majority of the county is broken into tax lots of 80, 160, and 240 acres or more.
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Cultural Activities
Wallowa County is host to a variety of diverse activities enjoyed by residents as well as visitors year-round. From theatrical, musical, and literary events such as the Columbine Players' summer stock, the Bronze Blues & Brews Fest, and the Fishtrap Writers workshops to the celebration of local culture with the Nez Perce TamKaLiks Celebration, Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, and Hells Canyon Mule Days as well as a myriad of other events, Wallowa County stays pretty entertained.
Additionally, county organizations sponsor events such as the annual Chief Joseph Summer Camp, where local kids participate in a week-long skills and craft work shops presented by county volunteers, the Wallowa County Arts Festival & Youth Art's Festival, the Handcrafter's Guild Show, Lostine Flea market, and the autumn shops, etcetera happenings at any time.
Where We Are
Wallowa County is located in the furthermost northeast corner of Oregon, sharing borders with both Idaho and Washington states. The county itself is cradled within a portion of Oregon's Blue Mountain range. The county encompasses an area of 3,153 square miles and ranks 9th in size among 22 Eastern Oregon counties. It is 3.3% of the total area of Oregon.
Altitude
County elevations range from 1,500 to 10,000:
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Enterprise - 3,575
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Distance From Enterprise
| Flora - 45 Imnaha - 41 Joseph - 6 Lostine - 10 Minam - 31 Promise - 38 Troy - 49 Wallowa - 18
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Bend, OR - 351 La Grande, OR - 62 Pendleton, OR - 111 Portland, OR - 325 Boise, ID - 239 Lewiston, ID - 85 Seattle, WA - 386 Spokane, WA - 192
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Weather
Weather in Wallowa County is full of contrasts. The majestic Blue Mountains protects the valley from the more serve aspects of the majority of storms. These same mountains intercept a substantial portion of precipitation. Thunderstorms, which are occasionally accompanied by hail, spread out over the valley generating a sizable portion of the rainfall. Heavy snows at the higher elevations produce snow packs the linger year round, supplying the valley with abundant watershed for agriculture. Residents experience light snowfall beginning in the autumn months and continuing intermittently through late spring. Occasionally the valley will experience storm winds, but destruction from them is quite minimal. Fog is a rarity, with the lower elevations in the county getting the majority of it. Different areas within the county may experience weather at various levels determined by elevation and surrounding topography.
TEMPERATURE
| Month January April July October |
Average Max. 34 59 84 62 |
Average Min. 14 29 42 30 |
PRECIPITATION (Inches/Year)
Max. 60 inches recorded in South Mountains
Min. 7.65 inches recorded in Enterprise
Averages:
| Wallowa County Enterprise Wallowa |
18.85 13.26 22.44 |
POPULATION
Wallowa County : 7250
| Enterprise Joseph Wallowa Lostine Imnaha Flora Troy |
2020 1255 755 235 144 72 49 |
TRANSPORTATION
Wallowa County offers a variety of ways to get from here to there. Aside from standard automobile transport, the county maintains air service by way of Enterprise Municipal Airport at 3,900 foot elevation with a well lit 2,800 foot runway, as well as Joseph State Airport at 4,150 foot elevation with a lighted 60 foot wide, 5,200 foot newly paved runway. The airport in Enterprise has charter air ambulance service, flight instruction, a mechanic on duty, tie-down areas, 100 and 180 octane fuel supply, plus can provide courtesy car service, and toll-free calling to Walla Walla Flight Service. For more information call owner Joe Spence at 541-426-3562. Joe also provides air taxi and charter service.
National air service for both passengers and freight are available at Pendleton, Oregon and Lewiston, Idaho.
The area has its own bus service with Moffitt Transportation which also supplies the county with its own Monday through Saturday (except Holiday's) Wallowa County "Stage" service between all major communities and La Grande. UPS and Federal Express provide shipping services to area residents and rail service is available for freight purposes in La Grande.
MEDICAL FACILITIES & SERVICES
Wallowa County is served by our own hospital, Wallowa County Health Care, located in Enterprise, which also houses Wallowa Valley Care Center. The counties host to a variety of health care professionals from general practitioners to specialists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, dentists, optometrists, and several assisted care living facilities for seniors and folks needing other kinds of assistance. Additionally, there is the Wallowa County Mental Health Center and a variety of family and individual therapy services available. Wallowa County also offers several county wide support groups and organizations.
EDUCATION
There are four school districts in Wallowa County including Enterprise, Joseph, Wallowa, Troy, as well as the county Education Service District (ESD), which coordinates specialty services such as the county's two Head Start Centers, Early Intervention/ Early Childhood Special Education, and alternative learning centers. There are several pre-school programs throughout the county as well. Additionally, there are private schools for grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.
For those who wish to continue their education at the college level, there are classes offered on campus at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, distance learning through Blue Mountain Community College out of Pendleton as well as classes offered by various accredited institutions in Oregon and other states. There is also EdNet and classes offered by valley residents featuring a variety of things such as pine needle basketry, furniture construction, yaga, and art.
THE MEDIA
Wallowa County is served by our local Crestview Cable TV which provides 32 channels and local weather/time/music. There are 5 TV channels available through the Wallowa Valley TV Association. KWVR is the county's own radio station broadcasting at 1340 AM and 92.1 FM. There are several publications with the Wallowa County Chieftain being the most prominent.
UTILITIES
Electric service is provided to the county by Pacific Power & Light, and is available for industrial expansion. Heating oil is provided through Wallowa County Grain Growers, Henderson's Fuel, and Byrnes Oil Company. Garbage disposal is provided county wide by Rahn Sanitary Service although residents may choose to transport their refuse to one of the county dump sites themselves. Each city provides residents with water and sewer service. Propane may be purchased in bulk through Grain Growers, Amerigas, Liquid Gas, and Cenex Land O'Lakes. Recycling is offered at the County Recycling site on Fish Hatchery Road in Enterprise as well as the Blue Mountain Recycling in La Grande.
PROPERTY TAX STRUCTURE
| TOWN Enterprise Joseph Lostine Wallowa |
BEFORE COMPRESSION $19.88 per $1,000 $17.42 per $1,000 $16.66 per $1,000 $20.08 per $1,000 |
AFTER COMPRESSION $13.95 per $1,000 $12.19 per $1,000 $11.16 per $1,000 $14.58 per $1,000 |
RECREATION
Wallowa County residents, and visitors to our area, enjoy a vast array of recreational activities involving the natural resources found in the county. Activities include backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing, cross country and downhill skiing, boating, swimming and other water sports, camping, white water float trips, horse back riding, pack trips into the Eagle Cap wilderness, golfing, photography, snowmobiling, site-seeing, touring of the local museums, art galleries, and foundries, as well as shopping in the numerous shops, gift stores, and galleries. The county also offers the steepest gondola ride in the United States.
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
The county's primary source of economic trade involves the 7,200 year round residents and more than 40,000 part-time residents and tourists that visit the county annually. County highways and roads are in good condition so as not to prohibit travel among the towns and villages. Residents enjoy a full line of retail and service oriented businesses within county boarders and the local Economic Development Council is active in promoting and supporting existing and new county business endeavors. The strategic plan developed by the Wallowa County Court, Economic Development Council, and Wallowa Valley Chamber of Commerce recognizes the county's key industries as being agricultural, timber, art, and tourism. The county has a variety of available industrial zoned land for future entrepreneurs.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
(Based On Full-timed Employment)
| School Districts Wallowa Memorial Hospital US Forest Service Wallowa County Court Joseph Timber Valley & Parks Bronze Foundries Safeway Wallowa Forest Products Oregon Fish & Wildlife Wallowa County Grain Growers Community Bank Moffitt Brothers Transportation |
173 140 120 119 75 81 55 50 42 42 30 30 |
AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES
(By Industry)
| Lumber & Wood Manufacturing Transport, Communications, Utilities Government Other Manufacturing Finance, Insurance, Real Estate Wholesale Trade Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing |
$27,679 $24,082 $23,106 $19,616 $19,008 $17,581 $17,396 |
COUNTY EVENTS CALENDAR
FEBRUARY:
Winter Fishtrap Writer's Conference
Wallowa County Chamber Banquet
APRIL:
Chief Joseph Days Coronation Dance
MAY:
Joseph Junior Rodeo
Youth Arts Festival
JUNE:
Old Timber Fiddlers Contest
Wallowa Mountain Quilt Show
Wallowa Mountain Cruise
Enterprise Summer Fest
Wallowa Valley Arts Festival
JULY:
Lostine River Run
Great Joseph Bank Robbery
Fireworks At The Lake
Lostine Flea Market
Summer Fishtrap
Crazy Daze
TamKaLiks Celebration (Nez Perce Pow Wow & Friendship Feast)
Columbine Players
Wallowa City Wide Yard Sale
Chief Joseph Rodeo & Nez Perce Encampment
Exceptional Rodeo
Model Airplane Fun Fly
Chief Joseph Summer Camp
Wallowa Handcrafter's Guild Show & Sale
AUGUST:
Wallowa County Fair
Sheep Dog Trails
Outhouse Festival
Flora Open house
Bronze Blues & Brews
Historic Barn Tour
Historic Barn Slide Show
Wallowa Lake Chamber Music Concert
SEPTEMBER:
Hells Canyon Mule Days
Wallowa Gun Show
Annual Manuel Celebration & Tournament Of Bronzes
Alpenfest
Nez Perce Art Show & Auction
NOVEMBER:
Wallowa Memorial Hospital Foundation Auction
DECEMBER:
Handcrafter's Guild Christmas Bazaar