Klamath County, Oregon

A Sordid Wild West Story After the Collapse Algoma Sawmill Ancient Spirits Applegate Trail Applegate Trail Applegate Trail Applegate Trail Balloon Bomb Bear Valley Before the Collapse Beginning of a Trail Bonanza Chase Stage Station Collier Memorial Logging Museum Competing Attractions Cooper Stage - Station Site Crystal Recreation Area Dennis Crawley Cabin Denny Creek Eulalona First School Fort Klamath Military Cemetery Memorial Freight and Stage Road Ft. Klamath Frontier Post Geologic Apocalypse George Nurse George Nurse (In Memory of) Gerber Ranch Glacial Valleys Haynesville Henley School World War II Memorial Horn's Camp 1895 - 1898 Kerwin Ranch Klamath Basin History Klamath County's First White Settler Klamath Falls City Hall Klamath Falls City Library Klamath Fish Hatchery Klamath River Crossing Lindsey Applegate Locomotive 2579 Lost River Gap and Ford Marion Apartments Merganser Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church World War II Memorial New Pokegama - 1903-1909 Old Pokegama Oregon History - Upper Klamath Lake Parker Station Pioneer Furtrader Potter's Mill Pumice Desert Resolving the Oregon Question Rourk Store Second Klamath River Ford Site of Fort Klamath Snow Spencer Creek Crossing / Camp Day Steam, Iron, and Strong Backs Stephen Tyng Mather Stone Bridge Stout Abner Stukel Ranch SwedeÂ’s Cut The 42nd Parallel The Applegate Trail The Applegate Trail The First Sawmill The Klamath Tribes The Legacy Link The Ranch of J. Frank Adams The River Link The Stone Bridge The Town of Fort Klamath This Marks the Road to Topsy Grade Topsy Grade Topsy Station UMC Indian Mission Upper Klamath Lake Van Brimmer Cabin 1864-1928 Veterans Memorial Walters Cabin Tree Planting Western International History Weyerhaeuser Camp 3 Weyerhaeuser Camp 4 White Lake City Whitebark Pines Whitlock House Whittle's Ferry Site Williamson River "Little Meadows" "Robber's Rock."
Klamath County, located in southern Oregon, has a diverse and rich history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally home to the Klamath and Modoc tribes, who inhabited the region for thousands of years, relying on the abundant natural resources of the area for their survival.

In the mid-19th century, European American explorers and settlers began to arrive in the area. It was in 1846 that John C. Fremont and Kit Carson explored what is now Klamath County, with Fremont even naming the nearby lake after Carson. The first European American settlers arrived in the 1860s, establishing small communities and ranches.

By the late 19th century, the discovery of gold and silver in nearby mines attracted more settlers to Klamath County. This led to the establishment of the town of Klamath Falls in 1874, which quickly grew as a center for trade and transportation. Agriculture also became an important industry in the county, with the fertile soil and abundant water resources supporting the growth of crops such as alfalfa, potatoes, and grains.

In the early 20th century, the development of hydroelectric power in the area was a significant milestone for Klamath County. The construction of dams, such as the Link River Dam, allowed for the generation of electricity and the irrigation of farmland, further boosting agricultural production. The county also saw an increase in tourism as more people discovered its natural beauty, including Crater Lake National Park, which was established in 1902.

Overall, Klamath County's history is shaped by both the contributions of its indigenous tribes and the influx of settlers and industries. From its early Native American inhabitants to the growth of agriculture and hydroelectric power, the county's history showcases a vibrant and evolving community that continues to thrive today.
Brief timeline of the history of Klamath County, Oregon:

  • 1846 - The Klamath region is first explored by Peter Skene Ogden, a fur trapper.
  • 1864 - Klamath County is created out of parts of Jackson County and Lake County.
  • 1874 - The city of Linkville is renamed Klamath Falls.
  • 1906 - The ground is broken for the construction of the Klamath Reclamation Project.
  • 1920 - Klamath County's first airport, the Saban Airport, is established.
  • 1945 - The Klamath tribes are terminated by the federal government.
  • 1980 - The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges are established.
  • 2001 - The Klamath Falls Forest Estates wildfire destroys hundreds of homes.
  • 2004 - The Klamath Basin water crisis occurs due to conflicting demands for water.
  • 2019 - Klamath County celebrates its 155th anniversary.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Klamath County, Oregon.

Audiobooks about the history of Oregon.