Gilliam County County
Gilliam County was established in 1885 from a portion of Wasco County and was named after Colonel Cornelius Gilliam, a veteran of the Cayuse Indian War. The first county seat was at Alkali, now Arlington. In 1890, voters chose to move the county seat to Condon, known then as “Summit Springs.” A brick courthouse was built in Condon in 1903 which was destroyed by fire in 1954. The present courthouse was built on the same site in 1955.
Mapped Location
Gilliam County: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Gilliam County
- Feature Type: County
- County Seat: City of Condon
- Established: Wednesday, February 25, 1885
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Gilliam County
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Gilliam County | Official |
Related Catalog Titles
A Bibliography for Gilliam County, County
An illustrated history of central Oregon, embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake and Klamath counties, state of Oregon by F. A. Shaver, Arthur P. Rose,Richard F. Steele,A. E. Adams, Western historical publishing company
Published in 1905 by the Western Historical Publishing Company, this extensive volume chronicles the early pioneer settlement and economic development of central and south-central Oregon. A keen insight drawn from the text is how the region's severe geographic isolation—cut off from the coast by the Cascade Mountains and defined by an expansive, arid high desert—forced early settlers to build an exceptionally self-reliant culture that depended heavily on massive livestock operations and fierce competition for scarce water rights. The authors provide comprehensive local histories for Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, and Klamath counties, documenting their gradual transition from rugged frontier outposts into established civic and agricultural centers. Like other regional histories of its era, the narrative ultimately serves as a vital genealogical archive by preserving hundreds of detailed biographical sketches of the resilient ranchers, merchants, and civic leaders who built these foundational communities.
xxx, 1097 pages : plates, portraits ; 31 cm
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Last updated: 2013-01-08