Klamath County

Klamath County, named for the band of Indians that originally inhabited the land, was formed on October 17, 1882. It has a total area of 6,136 square miles. The County Seat is located in Klamath Falls. Klamath County is also home to the only National Park in the state of Oregon, Crater Lake.

In 1846, when European Americans began to travel through the area on the Applegate Trail, the settlers competed with the local Indians for game and water. This began to cause upset between the two groups and was magnified when the settlers began to clear land for farming. This eventually led to the removal of the Klamath people by the settlers to reservations.

October 14, 1864 was the signing date of a treaty between the Klamath Indians and the US Government. The treaty led to the establishment of the Klamath Reservation. Over the next several years, members of the Modoc Tribe of California were also forced to the reservation with the Klamath, who were traditionally rivals of the Modoc. Eventually members of the Modoc Tribe showed the desire to return to their homelands in northern California. Their chief, Captain Jack, led them back to their own territory in California. In 1872 the Modoc War occurred when the US Army tried to return the Modoc back to Oregon by force.

For years Klamath County’s economy, like much of Oregon, was based on the timber industry and agriculture. Today however, their economy is centralized on the outdoor recreation provided in the area. Hiking trails, hunting, fishing and Crater Lake National Park contribute largely to the area. There is also a complex of six National Wildlife Refuges which draw some of the largest waterfowl populations in North America.

Klamath County is also the starting point of the Klamath River which flows southwest through Klamath County and into northern California. The upper portion of this river is known for its salmon, steelhead and trout fishing opportunities.

Some of the many recreational activities available in Klamath County are:

Hiking ** Rock Climbing ** Camping ** Fishing ** Bicycling ** Horseback Riding ** Skiing ** Snowmobiling ** Historical Sites ** Museums ** Wildlife **