Sherman County, Oregon

Sherman County
Sherman County
County
	Sherman County Courthouse in Moro
	Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
	Oregon's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 45°25′N 120°41′W / 45.41°N 120.69°W
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Founded	February 25, 1889
Named for	William T. Sherman
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)
• Total	1,870
• Estimate (2023)	1,951
• Density	2.1/sq mi (0.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	co.sherman.or.us

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,^[1] making it the second-least populous county in Oregon after nearby Wheeler. The county seat is Moro,^[2] and the largest city is Wasco. The county is named for William Tecumseh Sherman, a Union general in the American Civil War.

History

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.^[3] 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.^[3] 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

Sherman County is located in the central northern part of Oregon, east of the Cascade Range. It lies between the John Day River to the east and the Deschutes River to the west, which defines the borders of the county. On the northern border of the county is the Columbia River. Sherman County is mostly flat, being part of the Columbia Plateau; its highest point is at an unknown location at 3,004 feet (916m).^[4]

According to the United States 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.^[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2023 (est.)	1,951	^[6]	4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790–1960^[8] 1900–1990^[9] 1990–2000^[10] 2010–2020^[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,765 people, 777 households, and 492 families living in the county.^[11] 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).^[12] 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.^[11] In terms of ancestry, 22.6% were German, 16.5% were English, 13.0% were Irish, and 4.9% were American.^[13]

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.^[11]

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.^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,934 people, 797 households, and 545 families living in the county. The population density was 2 (2,3) people per square mile (1/km²). There were 935 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 1.40% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 2.79% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 4.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.5% were of German, 17.3% American, 11.7% English, 8.7% Irish and 5.3% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 797 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,142, and the median income for a family was $42,563. Males had a median income of $31,207 versus $21,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,448. About 12.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility (Norcor), a short-term jail, serves Sherman, Gilliam, Hood River, and Wasco counties.^[15] Although Sherman County is located in Central Oregon, its politics are more-aligned with the eastern parts of the state with most of its voters being affiliated with the Republican Party. No Democrat has carried this county in a presidential election since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The last time a Democrat had won over 400 votes here was in 1996 with Bill Clinton, who lost the county to Bob Dole by a margin of 32 votes.

United States presidential election results for Sherman County, Oregon^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	890	76.53%	233	20.03%	40	3.44%
2020	921	76.24%	260	21.52%	27	2.24%
2016	732	71.98%	202	19.86%	83	8.16%
2012	678	66.08%	319	31.09%	29	2.83%
2008	634	60.55%	385	36.77%	28	2.67%
2004	694	62.86%	390	35.33%	20	1.81%
2000	679	63.94%	326	30.70%	57	5.37%
1996	476	44.61%	444	41.61%	147	13.78%
1992	424	37.99%	362	32.44%	330	29.57%
1988	555	54.63%	435	42.81%	26	2.56%
1984	828	67.48%	398	32.44%	1	0.08%
1980	677	57.86%	389	33.25%	104	8.89%
1976	567	51.13%	491	44.27%	51	4.60%
1972	677	64.91%	330	31.64%	36	3.45%
1968	646	59.32%	384	35.26%	59	5.42%
1964	494	36.51%	859	63.49%	0	0.00%
1960	659	56.57%	506	43.43%	0	0.00%
1956	671	61.50%	420	38.50%	0	0.00%
1952	747	67.48%	355	32.07%	5	0.45%
1948	532	53.20%	454	45.40%	14	1.40%
1944	475	47.69%	518	52.01%	3	0.30%
1940	575	46.07%	670	53.69%	3	0.24%
1936	337	27.78%	823	67.85%	53	4.37%
1932	423	38.04%	665	59.80%	24	2.16%
1928	759	66.35%	375	32.78%	10	0.87%
1924	756	55.92%	367	27.14%	229	16.94%
1920	893	65.57%	423	31.06%	46	3.38%
1916	717	46.86%	747	48.82%	66	4.31%
1912	244	34.86%	232	33.14%	224	32.00%
1908	437	58.27%	252	33.60%	61	8.13%
1904	701	71.10%	163	16.53%	122	12.37%

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.^[17]