Lake County County
Lake County was created from Jackson and Wasco Counties by the 1874 Legislature. It then included the present Klamath County and all of the present Lake County except Warner Valley. In 1882, Klamath was removed and, in 1885, the Warner area from Grant County was added.
Mapped Location
Lake County: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Lake County
- Feature Type: County
- County Seat: Town of Lakeview
- Established: Saturday, October 24, 1874
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Lake County
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lake County | Official |
A Selected Bibliography of Lake County, County
A compilation of essential readings detailing the history, geography, and culture of the region.
Lake County history the first 100 years, 1876-1976 by Lake County Historical Society (Or)
The Lake County Historical Society’s Lake County history the first 100 years, 1876-1976 explores the enduring pioneer settlement and collaborative agricultural development within the expansive, arid expanses of Oregon’s high desert. The narrative illustrates how the profound environmental realities of this remote Basin and Range topography—defined by vast alkaline lakes, the sheer basalt cliffs of Abert Rim, and the demanding, highly variable climate of the "Oregon Outback"—required immense physical resilience and thoughtful agrarian adaptation from early homesteaders and ranchers. By detailing the gradual transition from isolated, vulnerable cattle and sheep operations to the cooperative establishment of enduring civic centers like Lakeview and the shared management of the region's vital timber and water resources, the text highlights how the county's prosperity relied heavily on community-driven responses to its challenging geography. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that cooperatively navigating the extreme seasonal shifts of the high desert and patiently cultivating a shared, neighborly identity were essential steps in transforming a rugged, isolated frontier into a cohesive, deeply rooted civic heartland of south-central Oregon.
History of Lake County, Oregon from 1876-1976, compiled by the local historical society. Includes black and white historical photographs.
viii, 250 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm
Non-circulating [ 1 ]
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
ONLINE Circulation [ 1 ]
Lake County
- Adel
- Blaisdell
- Chewaucan (historical)
- Christmas Valley
- Drews Valley (historical)
- Five Corners
- Fort Rock
- Hot Springs (historical)
- Town of Lakeview
- New Pine Creek
- City of Paisley
- Plush
- Quartz Mountain
- Silver Lake
- Summer Lake
- Valley Falls
- Vistillas (historical)
- West Side
- Yocum (historical)
Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2025-09-23