Gilliam

Formed February 25, 1885 (27^th county)

Gilliam County (1,997), Condon (712)

The Modern red brick and concrete facility was built in 1955.  There was a 1903 courthouse earlier.  The structure is at the intersection of Oregon and Gilliam streets.  Oregon State Highway 19 is one block to the east of the site.  Morrison & Howard and Wesley Korman are the architects.  Gilliam County was created from Wasco County on February 25, 1885 as the 27^th county.  It is named for Cavalryman Cornelius Gilliam.  The county seat is named for Attorney Harvey C. Condon.  Arlington was the first county seat until 1890 when Condon assumed the seat.  Gilliam County is the birthplace of 1 Oregon Governor, Earl W. Snell. 

Gilliam County government consists of a treasurer, a sheriff, an attorney, an administrator, and a clerk (executive).  It has a county judge and 2 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four District Court Judges serve Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties serve Gilliam County (judicial.)  Gilliam County is on the northern border with Washington.  Portland, Oregon is west and Pendleton, Oregon is east of the county.  The Columbia River forms its northern border.  The county center is 10.8 miles North of Condon.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Washington and Morrow, Wheeler, Wasco, and Sherman counties. 

The area of the county is 1204 square miles.  It is 24 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 34 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 1.7 persons per square mile making it 32 out of 36 in the state.  Gilliam County has 68.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 84 crosses the northern part of the county east to west from Morrow County to Sherman County.  The county looks like a dog sled.  Condon is located in the southern quarter of the county.  Condon is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 35.7% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced KON-DON.