Association of Oregon Counties

06/03/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Curry County Government!

Curry County, established in 1855, offers a spectacular blend of rugged coastline, ancient redwood forests, and wild rivers. Its economy has long been shaped by timber, myrtle wood craftsmanship, agriculture, commercial fishing, and tourism. The region is also known as the Easter lily capital of the world, producing the vast majority of Easter lilies grown within the United States.

Top attractions include exploring the dramatic sea-stack viewpoints at Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, walking among redwoods, and taking jet boat tours along the lower Rogue River. The area is a recreational haven for fishing, clamming, crabbing, and beachcombing along the southernmost Oregon coastline.

that the Brookings-Harbor area is home to the "Chetco Effect," a unique microclimate that can make the area up to 20°F warmer than nearby towns, allowing the northernmost Redwood groves to flourish? Locals have coined it the “Banana Belt” of Oregon.

What’s your favorite spot in Curry County?



Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

05/28/2026

Counties are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, providing public services that save lives and support recovery. Find resources at NACo's Opioid Solutions Center, including the newest Opioid Solutions Quick Guide, and join their webinar on June 8, "Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Housing Supports: Strategies for Counties."

Opioid Solutions Quick Guide: https://bit.ly/4o2ScNP
Webinar Registration: https://buff.ly/1F5Cd10

The Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation are nationally recognized guidance for states, counties and cities receiving money from the lawsuits against entities that contributed to the opioid epidemic.

05/27/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Wasco County!

Wasco County, established in 1854, was once the largest county in America, stretching from the Cascades to the Rockies before being divided into 17 other counties in eastern Oregon. The Dalles, its county seat, gained fame as the town at the end of the Oregon Trail and now serves as the trading hub of north-central Oregon. Its economy is based on agriculture (orchards, wheat farming, and livestock ranching), lumber, manufacturing, electric and solar power, transportation, and tourism.

Wasco County’s diverse terrain offers extensive opportunities for hiking, cycling, camping, whitewater rafting, windsurfing, and fishing. As a premier destination for history and adventure, its popular attractions include exploring the Rowena loops and the Mosier Twin Tunnels Trail along the Historic Columbia River Highway and visiting the original Wasco County Courthouse and the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center.

Wasco County attracted international attention in the 1980s, when Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh established the Rajneeshpuram movement at a marginal ranch originally called "The Big Muddy"?

What’s your favorite spot in Wasco County?



Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

05/25/2026

Today we honor and remember the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

📸 Clatskanie Veterans Memorial. Photo by Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

05/21/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Multnomah County, Oregon!

Established in 1854, Multnomah County is Oregon’s smallest and most populous county. While over half of its residents live in Portland, the county’s reach extends from Sauvie Island in the west to the Bonneville Dam in the east.

The county’s principal industries are manufacturing, transportation, wholesale and retail trade, and tourism. The food and beverage industry is also a major economic driver, with a vibrant food cart scene and over 100 craft breweries across the Portland metropolitan area.

Multnomah County offers a mix of urban culture and scenic natural beauty, headlined by the iconic 620-foot Multnomah Falls — one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the country and the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. Popular attractions include Washington Park, the Japanese Garden, Powell's Books, the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, and the historic Vista House.

Multnomah County is home to the smallest park and one of the largest urban forested natural areas in the nation? Mill Ends Park consists of one tree and measures a mere 452 square inches, while Forest Park covers over 5,000 acres of urban land and has over 80 miles of trails!

What is your favorite spot in Multnomah County?



Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

05/18/2026

Your voice matters! Oregon counties are working hard to conduct a safe and fair election. Make sure your ballot is counted by dropping it off by tomorrow, May 19! Find official drop sites here: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/drop-box-locator.aspx.

TOMORROW is your LAST DAY to turn in your ballot. It's due by 8 p.m. on May 19th!

Returning your ballot is convenient and easy: use a secure, official drop box near you - find one at oregonvotes.gov/dropbox.

You can also take your ballot directly to your county elections office or, if you have to mail it, request a manual postmark at the Post Office.

05/13/2026

Shout out to Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot on being elected First Vice President of the National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region (WIR)!

Oregon county leaders recently joined the 2026 WIR Conference to share solutions to regional challenges like wildfire recovery, water policy, public lands, and drought resilience.

Congratulations, Commissioner DeGroot, and thank you for your continued efforts at the federal level to champion the interests of counties across the West.

05/11/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Columbia County!

Established in 1854, Columbia County boasts Oregon's longest stretch of the Columbia River — featuring 62 miles of riverfront, deep-water ports, and premium industrial property. The county's history was heavily shaped by timber and commercial fishing — once home to the state's largest lumber manufacturer, the Oregon-American Lumber Company in Vernonia. Today, its economy has diversified to include shipbuilding, manufacturing, mining, wood products, dairy, and horticulture.

From riverfront parks with boat launches to secluded forested campgrounds, Columbia County offers a wealth of recreational opportunities for cyclists, kayakers, birders, anglers, trail hikers, and horse campers alike. The county’s premier attractions blend historic landmarks with outdoor adventure, from visiting the Old Mill Fuel Building to exploring the Banks-Vernonia and Crown Z trails, kayaking through Scappoose Bay, or fishing at Vernonia Lake.

the Scappoose Peace Candle of the World once held a Guinness World Record for the biggest candle? The famous roadside attraction, standing 50 feet tall and 18 feet in diameter, was initially coated with 45,000 pounds of multicolored wax and topped with a wick when built in 1971.

What’s your favorite spot in Columbia County?



Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

05/07/2026

Business Oregon is accepting nomination applications for Oregon’s Opportunity Zone 2.0 program until May 22. Counties are encouraged to review Oregon’s eligible tract list to determine if census tracts in your community could benefit from the program. Support is available by attending Opportunity Zone Office Hours to ask general questions and receive guidance on the nomination process from Business Oregon staff. The next office hour event is May 14, at 2 p.m. Learn more: https://buff.ly/O9awDoF