Crook County
An old homestead on Paulina Highway at Camp Creek Road. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. croD0103)
Contact
County Seat: Courthouse, 300 NE 3rd, Room 23, Prineville 97754
Phone: 541-447-6553 (General); 541-447-6555 (Court Administrator)
Fax: 541-416-2145
E-mail: dee.berman@co.crook.or.us
Web: www.co.crook.or.us
About
Population (2009): 27,185
Established: Oct. 24, 1882
Elev. at Prineville: 2,868'
Area: 2,991 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 31.8° July 64.5°
Assessed Value: $1,638,541,593
Real Market Value: $2,046,232,956
Annual Precipitation: 10.50"
Economy: Livestock, forest products, recreation, agriculture, manufacturing and wholesale trade
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OBDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Prineville
Points of interest
Pine Mills, Crooked River Canyon, Ochoco Mountains, Prineville and Ochoco Reservoirs, rockhound areas, county courthouse, Steins Pillar, Wildland Fire Fighter’s Monument and geological formations
History and general information
Crook County was formed from Wasco County in 1882 and named for Maj. Gen. George Crook, U.S. Army. Geographically, the county is in the center of Oregon. It is unique in that it has only one incorporated population center, the city of Prineville, founded in 1868. Prineville’s colorful past was the scene of Indian raids, range wars between sheep and cattle ranchers, and vigilante justice. Other communities in this sparsely settled region are Powell Butte, Post and Paulina.
Forest products, agriculture, livestock raising and recreation/tourism services constitute most of Crook County’s economy. Thousands of hunters, fishers, boaters, sightseers and rockhounds are annual visitors to its streams, reservoirs and the Ochoco Mountains. Rockhounds can dig for agates, limb casts, jasper and thundereggs on more than 1,000 acres of mining claims provided by the Prineville Chamber of Commerce. Major annual events include the Prineville Rockhound Powwow, Crooked River Roundup, Crook County Fair, Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, High Desert Celtic Festival and the Lord’s Acre Sale.
County officials
Commissioners—Judge Mike McCabe, chair 2013, Ken Fahlgren 2013, Seth Crawford 2015; Dist. Atty. Daina Vitolins 2013; Assess. Tom Green 2015; Clerk Deanna (Dee) Berman 2015; Sheriff Jim Hensley 2015; Surv. David Armstrong 2013; Treas. Kathy Gray 2013