Jefferson

Formed December 12, 1914 (35^th county)

Jefferson County (24,507), Madras (7,464)

The 1961 version of the courthouse replaced the 1917 facility in Madras the only county seat.  The new courthouse is on E Street between 2^nd and 3^rd streets.  This 2016 courthouse is concrete.  DLR Group and HSR Master Planning combined on its designs.  United States Highway 97 is one block to the west of the site.  Roald, Schmeer and Harrington are the architects of the 1961 courthouse.  An Annex supports the courthouse.  The county was founded on December 12, 1914 from Crook County as the 35^th county.  It is named for Mount Jefferson.  Madras is named for Madras, India. 

Jefferson County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Jefferson and Crook counties.  Jefferson County is in the north central part of the state.  Portland, Oregon is northwest and Eugene, Oregon is southwest of the county.  The county center is 3.8 miles West of Madras.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Wasco, Wheeler, Crook, Deschutes, Linn, and Marion counties. 

The area of the county is 1781 square miles.  It is 19 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 25 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 13.8 persons per square mile making it 22 out of 36 in the state.  Jefferson County has 41.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 20 clips the southwest corner from Linn County, west, to Deschutes County, south.  United States Highway 26 travels through the county from east to northwest, Crook County to Wasco County.  United States Highway 97 enters from Wasco County, north, and exits into Deschutes County, south.  Jefferson County resembles a pistol pointing east.  Madras is located near the center of the county.  Madras is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 30.5% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced MAD-RAS.