Klamath County
The view from the Cleetwood Trail leading to the water at Crater Lake National Park. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. klaD0116)
Contact
County Seat: 305 Main St., Klamath Falls 97601-6391
Phone: 541-883-5134 (General); 541-883-5503 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-885-6757
E-mail: lsmith@co.klamath.or.us
Web: www.co.klamath.or.us
About
Population: 65,815
Established: Oct. 17, 1882
Elev. at Klamath Falls: 4,105'
Area: 6,135 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 29.8° July 68.0°
Assessed Value: $4,869,847,107
Real Market Value: $9,592,511,328
Annual Precipitation: 14.31"
Economy: Forest products, agriculture, tourism and recreation
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OECDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Bonanza | Chiloquin | Klamath Falls | Malin | Merrill
Points of interest
Crater Lake National Park, Collier Memorial State Park and Logging Museum, Klamath Lake (largest lake in Oregon), seven National Wildlife Refuges, Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT), Klamath County Museum, Favell Museum of Western Art, Ross Ragland Performing Arts Theatre.
History and general information
The Klamath or “Clamitte” Native Americans, for which Klamath County was named, has had a presence for 10,000 years. White settlement began in 1846 along the Applegate Immigrant Trail, which precipitated clashes between the two cultures and led to the Modoc Indian War of 1872. The Oregon Legislature created Klamath County by dividing Lake County in 1882. Linkville was named county seat and its name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1893.
Klamath County’s present-day position as a great lumber, agriculture and distribution center was assured in the early 1900s with the coming of the railroad and the start of one of the most successful of all federal reclamation projects—the Klamath Project, which drained much of the 128 square mile Lower Klamath Lake to provide 188,000 acres of irrigable land.
Natural geothermal hot wells provide heat for many homes, businesses and the OIT campus. The full potential of this energy resource continues to be studied. Klamath is recognized for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, abundant waterfowl and diverse landscape.
County officials
Commissioners—John Elliot (R) 2011, Cheryl Hukill (R) 2013, Al Switzer (R) 2013; Dist. Atty. Edwin I. Caleb (NP) 2011; Assess. Reg LeQuieu (R) 2011; Clerk Linda Smith (NP) 2011; Justice of the Peace Karen Oakes; Sheriff Tim Evinger (NP) 2013; Surv. Mike Markus (NP) 2011; Treas. Michael R. Long (R) 2011.