 Morrow
County was created in 1885 from the western
portion of Umatilla County and a small portion of eastern Wasco County.
It was named after Jackson Lee Morrow an early settler in the area
and member of the Legislative Assembly when the county was created.
Morrow
County is located in the north central part of the state and east
of the Cascade Mountains. The county is bounded by the Columbia
River on the north, Umatilla County on the east, Grant County on
the south, and Gilliam County on the west. The county contains 2,049
square miles.
Heppner
was designated the temporary county seat at the time the county
was created and narrowly defeated Lexington in the election held
in 1886 to determine the permanent county seat. Heppner was originally
called Standsbury Flat for George W. Standsbury, one of the first
white settlers in the area. The settlement's name was changed to
Heppner in 1873, in honor of Henry Heppner who in partnership with
Jackson Morrow had established a store in the town a year earlier.
The
first courthouse was a frame structure completed shortly after Heppner
was confirmed as the county seat. In 1902, the wooden courthouse
was torn down and replaced the following year by the present courthouse,
which is constructed of native bluestone with sandstone trim.
Morrow
County government consists of a county judge, two county commissioners,
district attorney, assessor, clerk, sheriff, surveyor, justice of
the peace, and treasurer-tax collector.
The
Morrow Port District, situated on the Columbia River near the town
of Boardman, was established in 1958.
Early
cattlemen found an abundance of rye grass along the creek bottoms
of the region and drove their herds into the area to forage on these
natural pastures. They established cattle camps and from them grew
the county's first settlements. Stock raising was the primary economic
force in the county for many years. Increased settlement, the enclosure
of the free grazing lands and diminished pastures due to overgrazing,
resulted in the decline of ranching during this century. Farming
and other agricultural pursuits became predominant. The completion
of rail lines into the county in 1883 increased access to markets
and encouraged wheat production in the area. The principal industries
in the county today include agriculture, food processing, utilities
(there is a coal fired generating plant located in Boardman), lumber,
livestock, and recreation.
Heppner
was almost destroyed by a flood on June 14, 1903. The flood was
precipitated by a sudden cloudburst and accompanying hail that caused
a dam collapse and flash flooding. A wall of water and debris swept
down the creeks and canyons and through the town. It has been estimated
that 247 people were drowned. Property damage was reported at nearly
$1,000,000. The nearby towns of Ione and Lexington also sustained
significant damage.
Morrow
County experienced steady growth in population reaching a peak in
1920 with 5,617 people. The county's population declined in the
following years and did not surpass the 5,000 mark again until 1978.
However, the 2000 population of 10,995 represented an increase of
44.20% over 1990.
|
|
 |
Bar
M Ranch -
in Adams
The ultimate destination for a fun, relaxing and
memorable western vacation. The peace, quiet,
and beauty of the ranch makes it an ideal location
for weddings, corporate retreats and group events.
|
 |
Tapadera
Inn
105
SE Court Avenue
Pendleton, Oregon
541-276- 3231
877-722-8277
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 While
certainly not a "fun" fact, it is worth noting
that in 1903 Heppner was devastated by the most deadly
natural disaster in the Oregon's recorded history. A
very strong thunderstorm precipitated a severe flash
flood along Willow Creek, normally a quiet stream running
through the town. The storm caused a 40 foot wall of
water to sweep away much of the town in just a few minutes.
The disaster left 247 people dead and one third of the
town's structures destroyed.
Leslie
Matlock, a Heppner resident who was able to escape the
flood, heroically jumped on a horse and raced ahead
of the rampaging waters to the neighboring town of Lexington,
nine miles to the northwest. His warnings to the town's
500 residents to "head for the hills" saved
them. By the time the flood passed, only two houses
in Lexington were still standing.
|
|
|
