Malheur County, Oregon

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

• Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Malheur National Forest (part)
• Whitman National Forest (part)

Highways

• I-84
• US 20
• US 26
• US 30
• 
  US 30 Bus.
• US 95
• OR 52
• OR 78
• OR 201

Railroads

The main railroad in Malheur County is the Oregon Eastern Railroad. This line goes from Ontario to the Celatom Plant in Vale.^[6][7] This railroad is all that remains of the Wyoming Colorado Railroad, a short line between Colorado, Wyoming and Oregon.

Time zones

As with many cities, Malheur County's cities had functioned with both city time and railroad time. This changed by order of the Interstate Commerce Commission on May, 13th 1923 with cities adopting train time.^[8][9] Malheur County is still one of the few counties in the United States with two time zones. Most of the county is in the Mountain Time Zone, but a small portion in the south is in the Pacific Time Zone, indicative of that area's proximity to its main service town, Winnemucca, Nevada.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 31,571. Of the residents, 24.5% were under the age of 18 and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females there were 119.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 124.6 males. 41.1% of residents lived in urban areas and 58.9% lived in rural areas.^[24][25][26]

The racial makeup of the county was 68.5% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 16.6% from some other race, and 10.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 32.7% of the population.^[26]

There were 10,505 households in the county, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[25]

There were 11,615 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.2% were owner-occupied and 38.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.^[25]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 31,313 people, 10,411 households, and 7,149 families living in the county.^[27] The population density was 3.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km²). There were 11,692 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46 units/km²).^[28] The racial makeup of the county was 77.5% white, 1.7% Asian, 1.2% American Indian, 1.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.5% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 31.5% of the population.^[27] In terms of ancestry, 16.2% were German, 11.9% were English, 10.3% were Irish, and 9.9% were American.^[29]

Of the 10,411 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.24. The median age was 36.2 years.^[27]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,144 and the median income for a family was $46,136. Males had a median income of $33,234 versus $27,883 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,335. About 15.2% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.^[30]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 31,615 people, 10,221 households, and 7,348 families living in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). There were 11,233 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was:

• 75.78% White
• 1.22% Black or African American
• 1.02% Native American
• 1.96% Asian
• 0.08% Pacific Islander
• 17.38% from other races
• 2.56% from two or more races

25.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.2% were of German, 10.5% English, 8.4% American and 6.9% Irish ancestry. 79.4% spoke English and 19.4% spoke Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,221 households, out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,241, and the median income for a family was $35,672. Males had a median income of $25,489 versus $21,764 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,895. About 14.60% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.

Malheur County is the poorest county in Oregon.^[31] As of 2008, 21% of its residents live in poverty.^[32]

Cities

• Adrian
• Jordan Valley
• Nyssa
• Ontario
• Vale (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Annex
• Brogan
• Harper
• Juntura

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

• Inskip Station
• Jonesboro
• Leslie Gulch
• Malheur City
• Payette Junction
• Wildhorse

K-12 schools

School districts include:^[40]

There is a charter school in Ontario, Four Rivers Community School (4RCC).^[43][44]

Private schools, both in Ontario, include:

• Treasure Valley Christian School
• St. Peter Catholic School of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker^[45]

Eldorado School, the first school in the county, was established in 1869.^[46]

Previously Crane Union High School in Harney County served sections of Malheur County.^[47] As of 2009^[update] Juntura area students could choose from multiple high schools, including Crane, Harper, Ontario High, and Vale High.^[48] Formerly there were the Vale Union High School District, Vale Elementary School District, Willowcreek School District, and the Brogan School District, with the latter three being elementary school districts. A referendum was held in 1992, with the unofficial vote count pointing to an approval of the merger of those four districts into a single K-12 school district.^[49]

Previously there was a separate Brogan School District 1,^[50] and a Rockville School District 2.^[51]

Tertiary education

Treasure Valley Community College is in Ontario.

A portion of the county is in the TVCC district. The remainder is not in any community college district.^[52]

Public libraries

Vale has the Emma Humphrey Library.^[53] Ontario Community Library of the Ontario Library District is in Ontario.^[54]