Oregon County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the south-central Ozarks along the Arkansas state line. It had a population of 8,635 at the 2020 census and covers 792 square miles (2,050 km2) centred near 36°41′N 91°24′W.
Alton is the county seat, and its postal code is 65606. The county has one city (Thayer), two incorporated villages (Alton and Koshkonong), and dozens of unincorporated communities. Oregon County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Oregon County
Most of Oregon County’s named places are unincorporated crossroads and mill communities; only Thayer, Alton, and Koshkonong hold formal municipal status. CDP = Census-Designated Place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no local government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thayer | City | — | 65791 |
| Alton | Village · seat | — | 65606 |
| Koshkonong | Village | — | 65692 |
| Myrtle | Unincorp. | — | 65778 |
| Couch | Unincorp. | — | 65690 |
| Thomasville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rover | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hollis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilderness | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Garfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Griswold | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Guiteau | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huddleston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hunter Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jeff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jobe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lulu | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Liberty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Royal Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shelby | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Simpson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turners Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodside | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Braswell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brawley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Calm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clifton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Corona | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farewell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Allen Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Billmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Boze Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Culp Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deckard-Y | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elliot Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McFry Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sloan Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 65606 — Alton (also serves Riverton and Rover)
- 65791 — Thayer (also serves Turners Mill and Old Town)
- 65692 — Koshkonong (also serves Hunter Crossing)
- 65778 — Myrtle (also serves Thomasville and Greer)
- 65690 — Couch (also serves Garfield and Midway)
The county’s smaller crossroads communities generally use the ZIP code of the nearest post office town rather than their own; the site does not publish an exact settlement-to-ZIP crosswalk beyond these five delivery areas.
Geography
Oregon County lies in the Ozark Highlands, cut by the upper Eleven Point River and drained by numerous spring-fed streams. Much of its land is forested; the county holds more Mark Twain National Forest acreage than any other county in Missouri, and the Irish Wilderness within it is the state’s largest federally protected wilderness area. Of the county’s 792 square miles, 790 are land and 1.7 are water.
Oregon County borders Shannon County to the north, Carter County to the northeast, Ripley County to the east, Randolph County, Arkansas to the southeast, Sharp County, Arkansas to the south, Fulton County, Arkansas to the southwest, and Howell County to the west. Of these, Carter County and Ripley County have their own Towns & Villages profiles on this site.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 8,635 residents. Thayer and Alton are the county’s two largest population centers, with the remainder spread across small unincorporated communities and rural farmland. Oregon County’s median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, reflecting a rural, low-density Ozark economy. Population density is roughly 11 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forestry dominate the local economy, tied to the surrounding Mark Twain National Forest, alongside cattle ranching and hay production on the county’s cleared bottomland. Thayer, on the old St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) rail line, has historically served as the county’s commercial and rail hub. Outdoor recreation tied to the Eleven Point River — a federally designated National Scenic River — and the Irish Wilderness draws hunters, canoeists, and hikers.
History
Oregon County was organized on February 14, 1845, during the years the Oregon boundary dispute between the United States and Britain dominated national politics, and it was named for the disputed Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest — not for anything local. The county seat, Alton, was platted soon after. The county’s forests and remoteness later made it a Union stronghold contested by guerrilla raids during the Civil War, and its rugged terrain kept large sections roadless well into the 20th century until the Irish Wilderness was formally protected in 1984.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 63 and 160 cross the county, along with Missouri Routes 19, 99, and 142. Approximate distances from Alton:
- Thayer — 12 miles south
- West Plains — 25 miles northwest
- Poplar Bluff — 45 miles northeast
- Mountain Home, Arkansas — 40 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is West Plains Regional Airport, with fuller service available at the Springfield-Branson National Airport further northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Oregon County?
It is in south-central Missouri, on the Arkansas state line, roughly 36°41′N 91°24′W.
What is the population of Oregon County?
8,635 at the 2020 census.
How big is Oregon County?
792 square miles (2,050 km2), of which 790 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Oregon County?
Alton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Oregon County?
One city (Thayer) and two villages (Alton and Koshkonong), plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Oregon County?
65606 (Alton), 65791 (Thayer), 65692 (Koshkonong), 65778 (Myrtle), and 65690 (Couch).
What is Oregon County known for?
The Irish Wilderness, Missouri’s largest federally protected wilderness area, and having more Mark Twain National Forest land than any other Missouri county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.