Quick Facts
| County seat | Vale |
|---|---|
| Region | Southeast Oregon |
| Population (2020 Census) | 32,261 |
| Land & water area | 9,888 sq mi |
| Population density | 3.3 people per sq mi |
| Established | 1887 |
| Formed from | Southern portion of Baker County |
| Name origin | Named for the Malheur River, itself from French Riviere au Malheur, 'Unfortunate River', named by French fur trappers whose belongings were stolen along the river. |
| Incorporated cities | 5 |
| Main electric utility | Idaho Power |
| FIPS code | 41045 |
| Official county website | malheurco.org |
About Malheur County
Malheur County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,571. Its county seat is Vale, and its largest city is Ontario. The county was named after the Malheur River, which runs through the county. The word "malheur" is French for misfortune or tragedy. Malheur County is included in the Ontario, Oregon Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Boise Combined Statistical Area. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon.
Source: adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Cities in Malheur County
| City | Population (2020) | Incorporated |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 11,645 | 1899 |
| Nyssa | 3,198 | 1903 |
| Vale ★ | 1,894 | 1889 |
| Adrian | 157 | 1972 |
| Jordan Valley | 130 | 1911 |
★ county seat. Cities that span more than one county are listed in each.