Sherman County County
Sherman County, created in 1889 from the northeast corner of Wasco County, was named for General William Tecumseh Sherman. It was separated from Wasco County as much for its unique geological setting as for the settlers’ desire to have their own political process.
Mapped Location
Sherman County: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Sherman County
- Feature Type: County
- County Seat: City of Moro
- Established: Monday, February 25, 1889
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Sherman County
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Sherman County | Official |
A Selected Bibliography of Sherman County, County
A compilation of essential readings detailing the history, geography, and culture of the region.
The golden land a history of Sherman County, Oregon by Giles French
Giles French’s The Golden Land chronicles the grueling agrarian transformation of Sherman County, a windswept, high-desert plateau severely isolated by the precipitous volcanic canyons of the Columbia, Deschutes, and John Day rivers. The narrative maps how the formidable topography and arid climatic realities of this rolling inland steppe initially restricted early pioneers to sparse livestock grazing, forcing them to endure an environment largely devoid of accessible surface water. By detailing the massive regional transition to mechanized dryland wheat farming, the text illustrates how the survival of the local economy was strictly dictated by the construction of localized rail spurs engineered to bridge the deep river gorges, finally connecting landlocked harvests to the Columbia River maritime highway. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that adapting to this rain-starved geography and conquering the profound physical barriers of its boundary canyons with heavy transit infrastructure were the absolute prerequisites for transforming a remote, sun-baked prairie into a lucrative, globally connected agricultural empire.
[4], 237 pages, 9 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portrait ; 25 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 ]
Sherman County
- Biggs Junction
- Boardman (historical)
- De Moss Springs
- Early (historical)
- Emigrant Springs (historical)
- Erskine
- Fargher (historical)
- City of Grass Valley
- Kent
- Klondike
- Locust Grove
- McDonald
- Monkland
- City of Moro
- City of Rufus
- Rutledge
- Sinks (historical)
- Thornberry
- City of Wasco
Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2013-01-08