What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Association of Oregon Counties

Home
United States
Salem, OR
Association of Oregon Counties

Directions Website

Established in 1906, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is a statewide organization representing Oregon’s 36 counties.

AOC Social Media Guideline:
Any comment that is profane, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate may be removed from the page. AOC reserves to right to disable comments on this page.

10/29/2026

🎉 Today marks the finale of our County Spotlight Series! We hope you enjoyed discovering interesting trivia and celebrating the unique heritage, natural beauty, and diversity across all 36 of our counties — from the original districts established in 1843 to our last county created in 1916!

Deschutes County, established in 1916 from Crook County, is located in the heart of Central Oregon, spanning from the Cascade Range to the high desert plateau. Key industries include healthcare, tourism, tech and biotech, real estate, and construction. The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management manage over three quarters of the land and the landscape is defined by high peaks, dramatic lava flows, extensive pine forests, spectacular rivers, and vast high desert.

Often referred to as the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon, it offers year-round recreation, including skiing at Mount Bachelor, rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park, mountain biking, hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and exploring the Three Sisters Wilderness.

that in 1964, Apollo 11 astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, came to the region to study the area’s volcanic rock and basalt, believing it might bear a resemblance to the moonscape?

What’s your favorite spot in Deschutes County?

Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

10/23/2026

Thank you to all county election workers across Oregon who are ensuring our elections are fair and accurate. Find your nearest official ballot drop site: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/drop-box-locator.aspx

10/15/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Jefferson County Oregon!

Jefferson County was established in 1914 from territory originally part of Crook County. About a quarter of the county is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and another 21% forms part of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. With over 60,000 acres of irrigated farmland, the county produces vegetable, grass, and flower seeds, as well as garlic, mint, potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets.

Jefferson County has over 300 days of annual sunshine, making it ideal for fishing, hunting, camping, and boating. Popular destinations and landmarks include Mount Jefferson, the Metolius River, Suttle Lake, Lake Billy Chinook, and the Cove Palisades State Park.

that Kentucky bluegrass seed grown in Jefferson County supplied the turf for the FIFA World Cup?

What’s your favorite spot in Jefferson County?

Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

10/14/2026

Operation Green Light for Veterans returns this November for its sixth year!

From Nov. 4–11, county buildings and landmarks will light up green to honor veterans and highlight essential county services available to support them. Explore the National Association of Counties outreach toolkit for ways to participate: www.naco.org/ogl

10/07/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Hood River County!

Hood River County, established in 1908, is located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The county’s economy is driven by industry, agriculture, and tourism. Its rich agricultural history began with the planting of the first fruit trees in 1855, and now features roughly 15,000 acres of commercial orchards growing pears, apples, cherries, and peaches.

Hood River County is a popular destination for mountain biking, wind and water sports, and cycling enthusiasts from all over the world. Popular activities include hiking and skiing on Mt. Hood, exploring waterfalls and trails along the Historic Columbia River Highway, kayaking in scenic rivers and alpine lakes, and unique experiences like riding a railbike on the historic Mount Hood Railroad.

that Hood River County is the world’s leading producer of Anjou Pears?

What’s your favorite spot in Hood River County?

Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

09/30/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Wheeler County!

Established in 1899, Wheeler County features a rugged and diverse terrain that ranges from high desert sagebrush and juniper rimrock to dense stands of Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir across the Ochoco and Umatilla National Forests. It offers whitewater rafting and world-class bass and steelhead fishing on the John Day River, as well as unique local events like the Spray Rodeo.

that Wheeler County is known as one of North America's premier fossil depositories? The Clarno and Painted Hills Units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument showcase millions of years of plant and animal evolution.

What’s your favorite spot in Wheeler County?

Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

09/28/2026

Our district meetings continued last week as members gathered with regional partners and affiliate organizations to connect, receive updates from AOC staff, and discuss local issues. Thank you to Columbia, Benton, and Douglas counties for hosting and to everyone who participated for your valuable input.

09/22/2026

🎉Today’s County Spotlight: Lincoln County, Oregon!

Lincoln County, established in 1893, features a varied terrain along Oregon’s central coast — from the rocky cliffs at Cape Perpetua to the 7 miles of sandy beaches at Lincoln City. Home to Oregon’s tallest lighthouse, the 93-foot Yaquina Head Lighthouse, and iconic natural sites like Cascade Head, Drift Creek Falls, Thor’s Well, and Boiler Bay, it is one of the most popular destinations on the coast. Beyond tourism, the county’s economy also relies on trade, fisheries, paper manufacturing, construction and health services.

that Lincoln County was central to the famous "D River drama"? This tongue-in-cheek rivalry between Lincoln City's D River and Montana's Roe River over the title of the world's shortest river became so petty that the Guinness Book of World Records retired the "shortest river" category altogether in 2006 to keep the peace!

What’s your favorite spot in Lincoln County?

Photo by: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

09/17/2026

Great conversations and collaboration at yesterday’s AOC District 8 Meeting!

County commissioners and staff from Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties gathered at the newly renovated Belmont Library in Portland yesterday, where they discussed regional priorities, and heard reports on AOC’s work this year, briefings on county deflection programs, and legislative insights from Senator Kate Lieber and Representative Tawna Sanchez.

A huge thank you to our members, presenters, partners, and Multnomah County for hosting a successful first district meeting!

Clackamas County, Oregon
Multnomah County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon

Address

1212 Court St NE
Salem, OR
97301

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://www.oregoncounties.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Association of Oregon Counties posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.