Washington County
A prize-winning Bugatti moves across the stage at the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance on the campus of Pacific University. (Photo No. washDA0048)
Contact
County Seat: 155 N 1st Ave., Suite 300, Hillsboro 97124
Phone: 503-846-8685 (General); 503-846-8888 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 503-846-4545
E-mail: elections@co.washington.or.us
Web: www.co.washington.or.us
About
Population: 511,075
Established: July 5, 1843
Elev. at Hillsboro: 196'
Area: 727 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 39.9° July 66.6°
Assessed Value: $41,696,683,430
Real Market Value: $76,917,264,156
Annual Precipitation: 37.71"
Economy: Agriculture, horticulture, forest products, food processing, high tech, sports equipment and apparel
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
Banks | Beaverton | Cornelius | Durham | Forest
Grove | Gaston | Hillsboro | King City | North Plains | Portland | Rivergrove | Sherwood | Tigard | Tualatin | Wilsonville
Points of interest
Tualatin Valley orchards and vineyards, Pacific University, Wilson River Highway, Sunset Highway, Hagg Lake, Old Scotch Church.
History and general information
The original four counties created by the Provisional Government of Oregon were: Twality, Clackamas, Yamhill and Champoick. Twality was changed to Washington in honor of President George Washington by the Territorial Legislature on September 3, 1849. The actual organization of Washington County government came in 1854.
Now one of the state’s fastest developing areas, the fertile Tualatin Valley was once filled with beaver and a favorite hunting ground for Hudson’s Bay Company trappers. The first white settlers arrived around 1840, lured by rich soil. Despite its rapid urbanization, the valley still contains prime agricultural land. Many small towns rich in history dot the area. Pacific University, founded as Tualatin Academy in 1849, is one of the oldest colleges in the West. Washington County operates under a home rule charter approved by voters in 1962. The Northwest’s largest enclosed shopping center, Washington Square, is located south of Beaverton.
County officials
Commissioners—Tom Brian, Chair (NP) 2011, Desari Strader (NP) 2011, Andy Duyck (NP) 2011, Roy Rogers (NP) 2013, Dick Schouten (NP) 2013; Dist. Atty. Robert Hermann (NP) 2011; Assess./Clerk Richard Hobernicht; Justice of the Peace James Shartel (NP) 2011; Sheriff Rob Gordon Jr. (NP) 2013; Surv. James Elam; Aud. Alan Percell; Co. Admin. Robert Davis.