Wasco County is a county in Oregon, United States, on the south bank of the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge. It had a population of 26,670 at the 2020 census and covers 2,395 square miles (6,200 km2), of which 2,382 square miles are land, centred near 45°10′N 121°10′W.
The Dalles is the county seat, and its postal code is 97058. The county has six incorporated cities, several unincorporated census-designated places, and lies in the Pacific time zone (UTC−8, UTC−7 during daylight saving). Its FIPS code is 41065.
Towns & Villages in Wasco County
Wasco County’s population is concentrated along the Columbia River and the U.S. Route 197 corridor south toward Maupin. Most of the county’s land area is dry, thinly settled range and farmland east and south of The Dalles.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dalles | City · seat | 16,010 | 97058 |
| Dufur | City | 632 | 97021 |
| Mosier | City | 468 | 97040 |
| Maupin | City | 427 | 97037 |
| Shaniko | Town | — | — |
| Antelope | Town | — | — |
| Tygh Valley | CDP | — | — |
| Wamic | CDP | — | — |
| Chenoweth | CDP | — | — |
| Rowena | CDP | — | — |
| Celilo Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
The county also has a number of small rural place names on maps and older gazetteers, including Antelope-area ranch settlements such as Bakeoven, Boyd, Clarno, Dant, Emerson, Endersby, Fairbanks, Kingsley, Nansene, Ortley, Petersburg, Pine Grove, Pine Hollow, Simnasho, Sportsmans Park and Wapinitia. Most are unincorporated crossroads, former rail sidings or ranch clusters rather than populated towns, and the county does not report separate population figures for them.
ZIP Codes
- 97058 — The Dalles (also serves Chenoweth and Dallesport-area addresses)
- 97021 — Dufur
- 97040 — Mosier
- 97037 — Maupin
Smaller communities such as Shaniko, Antelope, Tygh Valley, Wamic, Rowena and Celilo Village generally use a nearby city’s ZIP code for mail rather than having their own.
Geography
Wasco County straddles the transition from the forested Cascade foothills near the Columbia River to the dry, high-desert plateau and canyon country of the Deschutes and John Day drainages farther south and east. The Dalles sits at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, where the river cuts through the Cascades; the Deschutes River forms much of the county’s eastern edge before joining the Columbia. Elevations range from near sea level along the Columbia to over 4,000 feet in the southern uplands.
Wasco County borders:
- North: Klickitat County, Washington, across the Columbia River
- East: Sherman County and Gilliam County
- Southeast: Wheeler County
- South: Jefferson County
- Southwest: Marion County
- West: Hood River County and Clackamas County
Demographics
Wasco County had 26,670 residents at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate of about 26,310. The Dalles is by far the largest community; among the incorporated cities, Dufur is the next largest, followed by Mosier and Maupin. Oregon’s 2023 ACS median household income was $80,160; Wasco County’s is lower, reflecting its farm- and timber-based economy outside The Dalles. Population density is about 11 people per square mile of land, one of the lower densities among Oregon’s mid-sized counties.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives much of the county outside The Dalles, with fruit orchards (especially cherries), wheat farming and cattle ranching on the plateau lands. The Dalles itself has a broader base of lumber and wood products, food processing, electric power and river transportation tied to its position as an inland port on the Columbia River, plus a growing tourism sector built around the Gorge’s windsurfing, kiteboarding and outdoor recreation.
History
Wasco County was created on January 11, 1854, and named for the Wasco, a Chinookan-speaking Native American people who lived along the south bank of the Columbia River. At its creation the county was enormous, reportedly covering some 130,000 square miles and reaching east to the Rocky Mountains, before later territorial and county divisions carved it down to its present size. In the early 1980s, the Rajneeshee religious community established Rajneeshpuram on the Big Muddy Ranch in the county’s dry southern reaches; the group’s 1984 salmonella contamination of restaurants in The Dalles remains the largest bioterror attack on U.S. soil.
Getting There
Interstate 84 runs along the Columbia River through The Dalles, with U.S. Route 30 paralleling it and U.S. Route 197 heading south through Dufur and Maupin toward Central Oregon. The Dalles lies about 75 miles east of Portland.
- Portland — about 75 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Portland International Airport, roughly 80 miles west. There is no Amtrak station in Wasco County; Portland offers the nearest passenger rail service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wasco County?
Wasco County had a population of 26,670 at the 2020 census.
What is the county seat of Wasco County?
The Dalles is the county seat.
What is The Dalles postcode?
The Dalles postal code is 97058.
How big is Wasco County?
Wasco County covers 2,395 square miles (6,200 km2), including 2,382 square miles of land.
Where does the name Wasco County come from?
The county is named for the Wasco, a Chinookan Native American people who lived along the south bank of the Columbia River.
What counties border Wasco County?
Klickitat County, Washington to the north; Sherman and Gilliam counties to the east; Wheeler County to the southeast; Jefferson County to the south; Marion County to the southwest; and Hood River and Clackamas counties to the west.
What is the largest city in Wasco County?
The Dalles, the county seat, is the largest city, with 16,010 residents at the 2020 census.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oregon.