Union County is a county in Oregon, United States, in the state’s northeastern corner along the Grande Ronde Valley. It had a population of 26,196 at the 2020 census and covers 2,037 square miles (5,275 km2) of land, centred near 45°20′N 118°6′W.
La Grande is the county seat, and its postal code is 97850. The county has eight incorporated cities and roughly nine unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Pacific time zone.
Towns & Villages in Union County
Union County has eight incorporated cities, all clustered in the Grande Ronde Valley and along Interstate 84, plus a scatter of unincorporated communities in the surrounding forest and rangeland. Unincorporated places below are listed as Unincorp. because none holds Census Designated Place status.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Grande | City · seat | 13,026 | 97850 |
| Union | City | — | 97883 |
| Elgin | City | — | 97827 |
| Island City | City | — | 97850 |
| Cove | City | — | 97824 |
| North Powder | City | — | 97867 |
| Imbler | City | — | 97841 |
| Summerville | City | — | 97876 |
| Alicel | Unincorp. | — | 97850 |
| Camp Elkanah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hilgard | Unincorp. | — | 97850 |
| Hot Lake | Unincorp. | — | 97850 |
| Kamela | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Medical Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Perry | Unincorp. | — | 97850 |
| Starkey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Telocaset | Unincorp. | — | — |
Island City sits immediately west of La Grande and shares its 97850 ZIP; Alicel, Hilgard, Hot Lake, and Perry are small unincorporated crossroads scattered around the same valley and also draw mail through La Grande’s post office.
ZIP Codes
- 97850 — La Grande (also serves Island City, Alicel, Hilgard, Hot Lake, and Perry)
- 97883 — Union
- 97827 — Elgin
- 97824 — Cove
- 97876 — Summerville
- 97867 — North Powder
- 97841 — Imbler
Camp Elkanah, Kamela, Medical Springs, Starkey, and Telocaset are remote enough that no single ZIP code is reliably documented for them; mail there generally routes through the nearest incorporated post office.
Geography
Union County lies in the Grande Ronde Valley, a broad basin ringed by the Blue Mountains to the west and the Wallowa Mountains to the east. The Grande Ronde River runs north through the valley past La Grande, Island City, and Imbler on its way toward the Snake River. About 47% of the county’s land is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, mostly in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest that covers the surrounding highlands.
Union County borders Umatilla County to the northwest, Wallowa County to the northeast, Baker County to the southeast, and Grant County to the southwest.
Demographics
Union County had 26,196 residents at the 2020 census. La Grande, with 13,026 people, is home to just under half the county’s population; Union, its second-largest city, is a distant second. Median household income in the county runs below the Oregon median of $80,160, reflecting the area’s reliance on farming, ranching, and timber rather than higher-wage urban work. Population density is roughly 13 people per square mile, low even by rural Oregon standards outside the Grande Ronde Valley floor.
Economy & Local Life
Union County’s economy centers on natural resources: wheat, fruit, vegetables, mint, and grass seed on the valley floor; cattle and sheep ranching on the surrounding range; and timber from the national forest land that rings the county. Eastern Oregon University, based in La Grande, is the county’s largest single employer outside government and anchors the city’s economy with roughly 2,800 students. Wind energy has become a growing sector, with the Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm operating in the county and the Antelope Ridge Wind Farm proposed nearby.
History
Union County was organized on October 14, 1864, carved from Baker County territory as settlement spread through the Grande Ronde Valley. The county takes its name from the city of Union, which itself was named for the Union side in the Civil War. The county seat was contested between Union and La Grande for decades before it came to rest permanently in La Grande in 1905. The county’s population roughly doubled between 1880 and 1890 as ranching and the arrival of the railroad drew settlers into the valley.
Getting There
Interstate 84 runs the length of the county through La Grande, Island City, and Imbler, linking Union County to Pendleton and Portland to the west and Baker City and Boise to the east. Oregon Route 82 branches northeast from La Grande to Elgin and on toward Wallowa County.
- Pendleton — 50 miles northwest
- Baker City — 45 miles southeast
- Enterprise — 60 miles northeast
- Boise, Idaho — 165 miles southeast
La Grande/Union County Airport offers general-aviation service; the nearest commercial airline service is at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union County, Oregon?
It is in northeastern Oregon, along the Grande Ronde Valley between the Blue Mountains and the Wallowa Mountains.
What is the population of Union County?
26,196 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Union County?
2,037 square miles (5,275 km2) of land, plus a small amount of water.
What is the county seat of Union County?
La Grande is the county seat.
How many towns are in Union County?
Eight incorporated cities — La Grande, Island City, Union, Elgin, Cove, Imbler, North Powder, and Summerville — plus about nine unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Union County?
97850 (La Grande), 97883 (Union), 97827 (Elgin), 97824 (Cove), 97876 (Summerville), 97867 (North Powder), and 97841 (Imbler).
What university is in Union County?
Eastern Oregon University, in La Grande, is the county’s only four-year college.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.