Baker

Formed March 25, 1862 (19^th county)

Baker County (16,666), Baker City (10,098)

The stone Romanesque Revival courthouse is located on 3^rd Street at Washington Avenue.  United States Highway 30 passes three blocks to the east of the site.  This structure was built in 1909 and has been enlarged.  The building architect is Delos D. Neer.  The courthouse was restored in 2011.  Baker County was organized on March 25, 1862 as the 19^th county with Baker City as the only county seat.  It was originally part of Wasco, Union, and Malheur counties.  The county and county seat are named for Senator Edward Dickinson Baker. 

Baker County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Baker County.  The county is located on the eastern border with Idaho.  The Snake River forms its eastern border.  Boise, Idaho is southeast and Portland, Oregon is northwest of the county.  The county center is 12.5 miles East of Baker City.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Wallowa County and Idaho and Malheur, Grant, and Union counties. 

The area of the county is 3068 square miles.  It is 10 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 28 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 5.4 persons per square mile making it 28 out of 36 in the state.  Baker County has 70.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 84 goes northwest to southeast in the county from Union County to Malheur County.  United States Highway 26 cuts the southwest corner from Malheur County, south, to Grant County, west.  United States Highway 30 enters in the north, Union County, and joins Interstate Highway 84 into Malheur County.  The county resembles a waiter carrying a tray.  Baker City is located in the northwest quarter of the county.  Baker City is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 60.6% of the county population.