Hood River
Hood River County is centrally located at the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It extends from the majestic Mt. Hood, north to the mighty Columbia River, which is the only river in North America that flows through a major mountain range (the Cascades) at near sea level. The County is rich in natural resources with agriculture, lumber and recreation as sources of revenue and industry. Fruit grown in the fertile valley is of such exceptional quality that the County leads the world in Anjou pear production. More than 14,000 acres of commercial orchards growing pears, apples, cherries and peaches provide miles of peaceful scenic beauty. Hood River County also has two ports and two boat basins which service commercial traffic as well as recreational boating. Due to the wealth of natural resources, this smaller county attracts many tourists during the summer months, which swells its permanent population of 20,500 significantly. People come to look at Hood River real estate from all over the world.
Hood River real estate is rich in history. In 1854, Nathaniel Coe and his family became the first permanent settlers in Hood River County when they filed a land claim for the area, which is now the City of Hood River. By 1880, there were seventeen families living in the valley.
Hood River was originally part of Wasco County until 1908 when Hood River County was established. George Prather published the first newspaper in 1889 and the Historic Columbia River Highway was completed in 1922. Hood River County has long been a center for fruit and lumber products. The 1980's and 1990's saw tremendous growth in tourism, based largely on the sport of windsurfing. This started the rapid rate of appreciation for Hodd river real estate and Columbia Gorge real estate.
Livability and quality of life are priorities in Hood River County. Within an hours drive of Hood River you can find the metropolitan city of Portland, world-famous year-round skiing on Mt. Hood, fishing and camping in central and eastern Oregon, and miles of hiking trails and whitewater rafting in the Columbia River Gorge. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound in Hood River County, including scenic parks, mountain bike trails, windsurfing in the Columbia, historic tours, festivals, museums and art and civic organizations.
The climate is mild year-round and the normal annual precipitation is 30 inches. Hood River County has the attractions of fresh air, low crime, good schools and friendly communities. Also some of the real estate in Hood River has some of the most breath taking views that one could imagine.
The county's boundaries have remained unchanged throughout its existence. It is bordered by Wasco County to the east, by Clackamas and Multnomah Counties to the west, and by the Columbia River to the north. Hood River County is the second smallest county in terms of size in the state, outranking only Multnomah County, with a total area of 533 square miles.
The City of Hood River, first platted in 1881, has been the county seat since the county's creation. The first county courthouse was an old primary school building. In 1937, after failing to approve a new courthouse, the county was forced to purchase the Butler Bank Building, which housed the county government until 1954 when the present courthouse was constructed.
Initially, county officials included the county judge, two county commissioners, sheriff, clerk, treasurer, assessor, school superintendent, surveyor, and coroner. In 1964, Hood River County adopted the home rule form of government. A five-member elected board of commissioners creates ordinances and resolutions to govern the county. The commission appoints a county administrator to oversee operations of county services. Except for an elected sheriff, all county department heads are selected by and responsible to the commission. Several specialized advisory boards, committees, and commissions give the board advice and recommendations concerning various county services.
The 2000 population of Hood River County was 20,411. This represented a 20.75% increase from 1990.
The first permanent settlers in Hood River County filed a donation land claim in 1854; by 1880 seventeen families lived in the region. By the latter part of the nineteenth century farmers of Japanese, Finnish, German, and French ethnicity had settled in the valley. The Columbia River Highway was completed in 1922 from Portland to The Dalles, making the towns of Hood River County more accessible to people and commerce from throughout the Columbia River Gorge and the state.
The principal industries of Hood River include agriculture, timber, hydroelectric production, and recreation. The fertile Hood River Valley has an ideal climate for the production of apples, cherries, peaches, and pears. It also offers recreational activities such as snow skiing, yachting, and fishing which bring both people and capital to compensate for the decline in logging and hydroelectric production. The Columbia River near Hood River is a premier windsurfing area and attracts windsurfers and kiters from throughout the United States and around the world.