Praying for Those in Authority: Hood River County

Pine Grove Methodist Church, Oregon

Praise the Lord from the earth…Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; Psalm 148: 7, 9

Hood River County is the last of the North Central Region of Oregon that we will cover, a small county in the upper northwest corner of the region right next door to Multnomah County.

The county seat is the town of Hood River. It was established in 1908 and is named after the Hood River, a tributary of the Columbia River. It is bordered by the Columbia to the north, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties to the west, and Wasco to the east. By area, at 533 square miles, it is the second smallest county in the state. The population is 23,977.

It is a transitional county, lying between the temperate rainforest of the Cascade Mountains, and the dry desert of eastern Oregon. It lies along the Columbia River Gorge, which moderates the rainfall and temperatures with the maritime air that flows up the Columbia to the east. When the wind flows west, out of the dry desert, it can bring extreme cold conditions into Hood River County and even into the eastern part of Multnomah and Portland, something those who live on the eastern edge of Portland experience frequently.

Hood River County, Oregon

It's a lovely County and driving along I-84 and the Columbia River takes you by towns like Cascade Locks at the Bridge of the Gods - a great place to buy salmon – and the town of Hood River, the county seat and a great stopping place when traveling either east or west. I recently had cause to visit the train station in Hood River. The Mount Hood Railway was completed in 1906 and runs for 22 miles to Parkdale. Getting into the center of Hood River County is to enter the Hood River Valley and a world of agriculture and fruit orchards. This rail line gave farmers access to markets in the years before the Columbia Gorge Highway was finished in 1922, which connected the area east of The Dalles to the Willamette Valley. The railroad from Hood River to Parkdale has changed owners several times, and as of 2022 has another new owner. Nevertheless, the train has excursions through the Hood River Valley that run on weekends, a step back into a slower-paced yesteryear, and a way to see the beautiful views not visible from the highway.

 The first settlers were taking land claims in what became Hood River County in 1854. By 1880 there were 17 families recorded living in the valley.   

Pine Grove is a small community and station along the Hood River Railroad and was named for a grove of trees that were once there. It is about five miles south of the town of Hood River. In 1886 Peter Mohr, a German immigrant, planted 400 apple trees there, possibly the first commercial orchard in the area to rely on irrigation. The establishment of orchards was followed for fruit storage and packing sheds. In 1907 the Methodists established a church, which still serves the community.

Hood River is a Home Rule County with a charter that was approved by the citizens of the county. The Commission serves as policymakers, reviewing and adopting ordinances, resolutions, and orders as needed. The Commission appoints a County Administrator to oversee the daily business and departments of the county.

Jennifer Euwer is the chair, and the other commissioners are Leticia Moretti, Arthur Babitz, Ed Weathers, and Les Perkins. The County Sheriff is Matt English