A Deeper Look: Morrow County


But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Morrow county was created in 1885, from a portion of Umatilla County to the east. It was named after Jackson L. Morrow, an early resident and state representative who advocated for the county’s formation.

Hepner is the county seat, established in 1873 when Henry Hepner and Jackson L. Morrow opened the first mercantile store in the area.  

Morrow County, Oregon
On June 14, 1903 – a Sunday evening - Hepner experienced one of the most devastating natural disasters in Oregon history. Willow Creek, a peaceful little stream said to be about ankle deep in June, runs through the town. As many of the 1500 residents were getting ready for the evening church services, a thunderstorm began. At 5:16 a flash of lightening stopped the town clock while a mile south a sudden cloudburst released a wall of water and sent it hurling down the narrow canyon. It swept through Hepner with no warning, destroying one-third of the buildings and killing 247 residents in less than an hour.

Two men - Leslie Matlock, the son of a former county sheriff, and Bruce Kelley - seeing the danger for residents downstream, including the towns of Lexington and Ione, jumped on horses and rode just ahead of the flood to warn the townspeople and ranchers. Downstream residents were able to get themselves and cattle to higher ground before the wall of water arrived. Matlock’s horse dropped dead during the ride, but he borrowed a fresh horse and continued a total of 18 miles.

This disaster made national news with support and assistance from Portland and the entire state being organized.

Willow Creek dam now keeps flooding under control. Willow Creek is actually a 79-mile-long tributary of the Columbia River, flowing into the Columbia just above Arlington.

While the county is known for wheat ranches and sheep, in 2022 it was announced that Amazon intends to build at least 5 commercial data centers in Morrow County, a project worth around 12 billion dollars total.

How do we pray for Morrow County?

And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  Matthew 7:25

Pray for local leadership. The Board of County Commissioners is Jim Doherty, Melissa Lindsay, and Don Russell. The County Sheriff is Kenneth W. Matlack.

Pray for the coming Amazon presence in Morrow County, and the changes in the economy that may bring.

Pray all the homes in Morrow County will be founded “upon the rock,” trusting in the Lord and safe from the natural and supernatural winds and floods.

Pray for the travelers along I-84 and the Columbia River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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