Editing Wheeler County, Oregon

{{short description|County in Oregon, United States}}
{{distinguish|Wheeler, Tillamook County, Oregon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Wheeler County
 | state                = Oregon
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 17
 | founded year         = 1899
 | seat wl              = Fossil
 | largest city wl      = Fossil
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1715
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1715
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.5
 | area percentage      = 0.03%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 1451
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 1456 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 0.8
 | web                  = www.wheelercountyoregon.com
 | ex image             = Wheeler County Courthouse OR.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Wheeler County Courthouse (Oregon)|Wheeler County Courthouse]] in Fossil
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = {{ill|Henry H. Wheeler|qid=Q96867782}}
}}
[[File:Wheeler County.png|thumb|{{legend|#C0D8C0|U.S. Forest Service land}}
{{legend|#F8F800|Bureau of Land Management land}}
{{legend|#008000|National Park Service land}}
{{legend|#800040|Wilderness area}}
]]

'''Wheeler County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,451,<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wheelercountyoregon/PST045222 |access-date=May 20, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it Oregon's least populous county. It [[Oregon Geographic Names|is named]] in honor of Henry H. Wheeler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/706 |url=http://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Page:Centennial_History_of_Oregon_1811-1912,_Volume_1.djvu/706&action=edit&redlink=1}}</ref> an early settler who owned a farm near [[Mitchell, Oregon|Mitchell]]. The [[county seat]] is [[Fossil, Oregon|Fossil]],<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> and Wheeler County is known for having Oregon's largest deposit of [[fossil]]s.

==History==
Wheeler County was created on February 17, 1899, from parts of [[Grant County, Oregon|Grant]], [[Gilliam County, Oregon|Gilliam]], and [[Crook County, Oregon|Crook]] Counties. There have been no boundary changes since its creation. Fossil was designated the temporary county seat at the time of the county's creation. In 1900 there was an election to determine the permanent county seat between the three towns of the county, which ended with Fossil winning the election.

Henry H. Wheeler (born September 7, 1826, [[Erie County, Pennsylvania]] - died March 26, 1915, [[Mitchell, Oregon]]) arrived in Oregon in 1862, moved around, and settled near Mitchell, Oregon. He married Dorcas L. Monroe on December 19, 1875.<ref name="OGN|6th|page=898">{{OGN|6th|page=898}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1715|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1715|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi}} (0.03%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_41.txt |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Gilliam County, Oregon|Gilliam County]] - north
*[[Morrow County, Oregon|Morrow County]] - northeast
*[[Grant County, Oregon|Grant County]] - east
*[[Crook County, Oregon|Crook County]] - south
*[[Jefferson County, Oregon|Jefferson County]] - west
*[[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco County]] - northwest

===National Protected Areas===
* [[John Day Fossil Beds National Monument]] (part)
* [[Ochoco National Forest]] (part)
* [[Umatilla National Forest]] (part)

===Major highway===
*[[U.S. Route 26 in Oregon|U.S. Route 26]]
*[[Oregon Route 19]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 2443
|1910= 2484
|1920= 2791
|1930= 2799
|1940= 2974
|1950= 3313
|1960= 2722
|1970= 1849
|1980= 1513
|1990= 1396
|2000= 1547
|2010= 1441
|2020= 1451
|estyear=2024
|estimate=1456
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 1995 |editor-last=Forstall |editor-first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/or190090.txt |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2001 |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 1,441 people, 651 households, and 408 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US41069 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024327/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US41069 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|0.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 895 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US41069 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191259/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US41069 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 92.4% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.6% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 28.4% were [[Germans|German]], 24.0% were [[English people|English]], 20.0% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 8.4% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US41069 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012957/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US41069 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 651 households, 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.3% were non-families, and 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 53.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $33,403 and the median income for a family was $43,167. Males had a median income of $36,328 versus $31,792 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,598. About 9.1% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US41069 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025502/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US41069 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 1,547 people, 653 households, and 444 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 842 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.34% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.84% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.49% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.94% from two or more races. 5.11% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 20.6% were of [[German people|German]], 18.0% [[English people|English]], 13.6% [[United States|American]], 8.2% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 6.9% [[scottish people|Scottish]] ancestry.

There were 653 households, out of which 21.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 3.40% from 18 to 24, 19.30% from 25 to 44, 31.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $34,048. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $22,361 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,884. About 12.70% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 4.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Wheeler County, Oregon|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's atlas of U.S. Presidential elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 11, 2018 |website=USElectionAtlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|618|210|40|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|711|217|37|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|591|155|72|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|545|266|47|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|498|281|33|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|612|245|23|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|584|202|55|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|418|299|157|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|357|267|236|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|367|274|32|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|504|253|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|442|282|84|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|355|402|22|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|474|267|45|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|443|292|27|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|340|458|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|566|466|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|605|569|0|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|719|468|1|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|414|411|16|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|544|414|4|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|705|652|3|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|502|663|25|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|519|632|14|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|677|224|1|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|685|213|103|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|797|212|32|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|629|570|17|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|307|222|157|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|418|236|24|Oregon}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|462|161|41|Oregon}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Republican|426|243|18|Oregon}}

[[File:Wheelervoters.gif|thumb|left|Wheeler County voters<ref name="sos.oregon.gov" />]]
Though Wheeler County is located in central Oregon, it politically falls in line with the eastern side of the state. The majority of registered voters who are part of a [[political party]] in Wheeler County, as well as most counties in eastern Oregon, are members of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. The county has only voted Democratic in four presidential elections following its formation.<ref name="sos.oregon.gov">{{Cite report |url=https://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6813011 |title=Voter registration comparison by county |date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424231529/https://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6813011 |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |url-status=dead |website=records.sos.state.or.us}}</ref> The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]. No Democrat has won over 40 percent of the vote in Wheeler County since 1988, with that election having been heavily influenced by drought.

In the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], 61.33% of Wheeler County voters voted for Republican [[John McCain]], while 34.61% voted for Democrat [[Barack Obama]] and 4.06% of voters either voted for a [[Third party (United States)|third-party]] candidate or [[write-in candidate|wrote in a candidate]].<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2008&fips=41069&f=0&off=0&elect=0 |title=Wheeler County in 2008 |access-date=April 20, 2009 |series=Presidential election |website=USElectionAtlas.org}}</ref> In the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]], 69.5% of Wheeler Country voters voted for [[George W. Bush]], while 27.8% voted for [[John Kerry]], and 2.7% of voters either voted for a third-party candidate or wrote in a candidate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wheeler County, OR |url=http://www.city-data.com/county/Wheeler_County-OR.html |access-date=April 21, 2009 |website=city-data.com}}</ref>

In the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]], 72.25 percent of voters went for Republican [[Donald Trump]], 18.95 percent for Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]], 5.62 percent for Libertarian [[Gary Johnson (Wisconsin politician)|Gary Johnson]], and the remainder were either write-ins or voted for other candidates.<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2016&fips=41069&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=Wheeler County in 2016 |series=Presidential election |website=USElectionAtlas.org}}</ref> In the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]], 63.52 percent of voters went for [[Mitt Romney]], 31.00 percent for Obama and 5.48 percent for other candidates.

==Economy==
Principal industries in this county are agriculture, livestock, and lumber.

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Fossil, Oregon|Fossil]] (county seat)
*[[Mitchell, Oregon|Mitchell]]
*[[Spray, Oregon|Spray]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Clarno, Oregon|Clarno]]
*[[Richmond, Oregon|Richmond]]
*[[Service Creek, Oregon|Service Creek]]
*{{ill|Spoos Mill|hu}}
*[[Twickenham, Oregon|Twickenham]]
*[[Waterman, Oregon|Waterman]]
*City of Wheeler (had a post office Aug 1890-Sept 1895)<ref name="OGN|6th|page=898" />
*[[Winlock, Oregon|Winlock]]
{{div col end}}

===Former communities===
*[[Antone, Oregon|Antone]]
*[[Kinzua, Oregon|Kinzua]]
*[[Wetmore, Oregon|Wetmore]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wheeler County, OR |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41069_wheeler/DC20SD_C41069.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41069_wheeler/DC20SD_C41069.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
* [[Condon School District 25J]]
* [[Dayville School District 16J]]
* [[Fossil School District 21J]]
* [[Mitchell School District 55]]
* [[Spray School District 1]]

The county is not a part of a [[community college]] district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts |url=https://www.clatsopcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02-2-OR-CC-color-map.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001051322/https://www.clatsopcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02-2-OR-CC-color-map.pdf |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |publisher=[[Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon#Wheeler County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Wheeler County, Oregon]]
*[[Winlock W. Steiwer]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Fitzgerald |first=Mary |title=An Independent Folk: A history of early Wheeler County, Oregon |publisher=self‑pub |year=2011 |location=Mitchell, OR}}
* {{Cite book |title=Glimpses of Wheeler County's Past: An early history of North Central Oregon |publisher=Binford and Mort |year=1975 |editor-last=Fussner |editor-first=F. Smith |location=Portland, OR}}
* {{Cite book |last=Stinchfield |first=Janet L. |title=The History of Wheeler County, Oregon |last2=Stinchfield |first2=McLaren E. |publisher=Times-Journal |year=1983}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhist00shav |title=An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, and Klamath Counties, State of Oregon |publisher=Western Historical Publishing Co. |year=1905 |location=Spokane, WA |format=PDF |via=Internet Archive (archive.org)}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.wheelercountyoregon.com/index.html Wheeler County Oregon] (official website)
*[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/local/counties/wheeler.aspx Wheeler County listing] in the ''[[Oregon Blue Book]]''

{{Wheeler County, Oregon}}
{{Oregon}}

{{coord|44.73|-120.02|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OR_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Wheeler County, Oregon| ]]
[[Category:1899 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1899]]