Sherman

Formed February 25, 1889 (31^st county)

Sherman County (1,867), Moro (367), Wasco (416)

The red brick Queen Anne courthouse was built in 1899.  The courthouse is located on Court Street at 5^th Street.  United States Highway 97 is three blocks southeast of the location.  Charles H. Burggraf provided the designs.  It features an expanded tower.  Sherman County was created on February 25, 1889 from Wasco County as the 31^st county.  Wasco was the first county seat until Moro the role in 1892.  The county is named for Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.  The county seat is reportedly named for Moro, Illinois. 

Sherman 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 Sherman, Gilliam, Hood River, Wasco, and Wheeler counties (judicial.)  Sherman County is on the northern border with Washington.  The Columbia River forms its northern border.  Portland, Oregon is west and Pendleton, Oregon is east of the county.  The county center is 6 miles South-Southeast of Moro nearer Grass Valley. 

The county is surrounded clockwise by Washington and Gilliam and Wasco counties.  The area of the county is 823 square miles.  It is 29 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 35 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.3 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 36 in the state.  Sherman County has 64.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 84 crosses the county from east to west from Gilliam County to Wasco County.  United States Highway 97 enters from Washington, north, and exits to Wasco County, south.  The county resembles a dog standing on its hind legs.  Moro is located in the northwest quarter of the county.  Wasco is located in the northern quarter of the county.  Moro is the county seat and Wasco is the largest city.  Moro is 19.7% of the county population while Wasco is 23.2% of the county population.

Wasco