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Klamath County (IPA: ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named for the tribe of Native Americans living in the area at the time the first white explorers entered the region, the Klamaths. As of 2000, the population is 63,775. The county seat is located at Klamath Falls.
Economy
Historically, Klamath County's economy was based on timber and agriculture, and although these natural resource industries now contribute only a small fraction to the region's current economic activity and employment, their legacy lives on in local politics, community identity, and landscape. Euro-American settlement in the area was spurred in the early 1900s with the coming of the railroad and the heavily taxpayer-subsidized creation of a federal reclamation project. The Klamath Irrigation Project drained much of the 128 square mile (331 km²) Lower Klamath Lake and Tule Lake to convert 188,000 acres (761 km²) of former lakebed and wetland into irrigated farmland.
Merle West Medical Center is the largest employer in the area, followed by Klamath Public School District and Jeld-Wen, a manufacturer of doors and windows. The area is currently experiencing a boom in housing construction as its proximity to California brings waves of retirees from population centers to the south. Outdoor recreation, such as hiking, hunting, and world-class trout fishing, as well as the stunning beauty of Oregon's only national park at Crater Lake all contribute to the economy and quality of life in the area. A complex of six National Wildlife Refuges -- Tule Lake, Lower Klamath, Upper Klamath, Bear Valley, and Klamath Marsh -- seasonally draw some of the largest concentrations of waterfowl in North America. The area is world renown as a birdwatcher's paradise. Natural geothermal hot wells provide heat for many homes, businesses, and the Oregon Institute of Technology campus. The full potential of this energy resource continues to be studied.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 15,892 km² (6,136 mi²). 15,395 km² (5,944 mi²) of it is land and 496 km² (192 mi²) of it (3.12%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
- Jackson County, Oregon - (west)
- Douglas County, Oregon - (northwest)
- Lane County, Oregon - (northwest)
- Deschutes County, Oregon - (north)
- Lake County, Oregon - (east)
- Siskiyou County, California - (south)
- Modoc County, California - (south)
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 63,775 people, 25,205 households, and 17,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 4/km² (11/mi²). There were 28,883 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (5/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.33% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 4.19% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. 7.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 25,205 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,537, and the median income for a family was $38,171. Males had a median income of $32,052 versus $22,382 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,719. About 12.00% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
History
The Klamath or "Clamitte" tribe of Indians, for which Klamath County was named, has had a presence for 10,000 years. White settlement began in 1846 along the Applegate Immigrant Trail, which precipitated clashes between the two cultures, and led to the Modoc War of 1872. The Legislative Assembly created Klamath County on October 17, 1882, from the western part of Lake County. Linkville, later known as Klamath Falls, was named county seat.
A treaty was signed with the Klamaths on October 14, 1864, which led to the establishment of the Klamath Reservation. At various times over the next 40 years, different individuals of the Modoc tribe were settled within the reservation. Because of the extensive tracts of forest, the Klamaths were very well off as a people until the termination of the reservation by the U.S. government in 1954. As a result, much of the money received as a result of the termination was lost due to squandering, theft or criminal deception, resulting in increased poverty and loss of tribal identity.
A few of the Klamath refused to accept the buyout money, most notably Edison Choloquin (1924 - 2003). Instead of the cash, he insisted on receiving the title to ancestral land along the Sprague River where he lived. On December 5, 1980, the Chiloquin Act was signed into law, giving him title to the properties he wanted.
Cities and towns
Sources
Klamath Falls Community Profile
"Klamath County, Oregon"