Union

Formed October 14, 1864 (22^nd county)

Union County (26,197), La Grande (13,019)

The 1940 masonry Modern and Art Deco courthouse in La Grande has been remodeled in 1998 from its original intended use as a hospital.  The courthouse is sited on K Avenue and 4^th Street.  United States Highway 30 is 10 blocks to the northeast of the structure.  The original building architects are Tourtelotte and Phillips.  A Clerk’s Office was added in 1997.  Union County was founded on October 14, 1864 from Baker County as the 22^nd county.  It is named after a local town which later was renamed to La Grande.  The county seat is named for the local river valley.  La Grande has always been the county seat as either Union or La Grande. 

Union County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Union and Wallowa counties.  The county is in eastern Oregon.  Pendleton, Oregon is northwest and Boise, Idaho is southeast of the county.  The county center is 5.2 miles Northeast of La Grande nearer Alicel.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Wallowa, Baker, Grant, and Umatilla counties. 

The area of the county is 2037 square miles.  It is 16 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 23 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 12.9 persons per square mile making it 23 out of 36 in the state.  Union County has 74.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 84 crosses the county from southeast to northwest from Baker County to Umatilla County.  The county resembles a military tank.  La Grande is located south and west of center in the county.  La Grande is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 49.7% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced LA GRAND.  This county is in the La Grande Micropolitan Statistical Area.