Post Office Box 746 Gold Beach, Oregon  97444

Commissioners:

Ralph Brown, Chair                                   Lucie La Bonte, Vice Chair                           Marlyn Schafer, Commissioner        

E-mail the Commissioners                        County Office Phone Directory       Employment Opportunities                      Senior & Disabled Tax Deferral Information Special Assessment Tax Deferral Information CCD Regional Investment Program           Notice of Privacy Practices

Curry Economic Development

Lewis and Clark           Bicentennial Website

Sea Stacks - Curry Coast

Cities & Towns

Agness    Brookings  Carpenterville Gold Beach Harbor           Hunter Creek  Langlois       Nesika Beach Ophir              Pistol River       Port Orford Wedderburn

                               Sand Dunes - Pistol River

One Hundred One Miles of Nature's Best

Curry County was created on December 18, 1855, from the southern part of Coos County. Initially it was proposed that the new county be named after Captain William Tichenor, council member from Port Orford.  However, he declined because his constituents wanted to honor the territorial governor, George Law Curry.

Elected Officials

Assessor             Jim Kolen       Clerk              Renee Kolen District Attorney Alexandria Streich Sheriff             Mark Metcalf Surveyor         Jerry Floyd Treasurer        Isabella Brock

Curry County is situated along the Pacific Coast in the southwest corner of Oregon.  It is bounded on the south by California, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Coos County, and on the east by Josephine County.  The county originally contained about 1,500 square miles.  However, boundary adjustments with Coos County in 1872 and 1951 and Josephine County in 1880 and 1927 increased the area to 1,648 square miles.

Upon creation of Curry County, the Territorial Legislature fixed the county seat temporarily at Port Orford until the citizens of the county could determine a permanent site.  In 1859, following an informal vote of county citizens during the general election, Ellensburg was designated the county seat.  In 1891 Ellensburg was renamed Gold Beach because of the gold and other minerals found in the sands in this area and to eliminate confusion with the city of Ellensburg located in the state of Washington.

The first courthouse was in Judge Fred Smith's home in Port Orford.  Apparently the town's inability to finance the construction of a proper courthouse was a factor in the vote that favored the move to Gold Beach.  The first courthouse in Gold Beach was replaced in 1912.  The current courthouse was constructed in 1958.

Adventure Abounds

Illinois River - Kalmiopsis Wilderness

Adult Corrections Animal Control  Assessor    Children & Families         Clerk Commissioners Computer Services       District Attorney Elections Emergency Services         Fiscal Services Home Health & Hospice       Human Services Juvenile         Parks & Recreation Personnel         Public Health Public Services R.S.V.P.           Road Department Sheriff      Surveyor  Treasurer  Veterans Services

The government of Curry County consisted originally of a probate judge, a three member board of commissioners, sheriff, auditor, treasurer, and coroner.  The county judge`s position was replaced by a board of commissioners in 1969.  Curry County is represented by Senate District 1, Representative District 1, and the Fourth Congressional District.  Port districts were established at Port Orford in 1919 and Gold Beach in 1955.

The first county census in 1860 showed a population of 393.  There has been a steady increase in population with the 1997 population given at 22,200, a 14.9% increase over 1990.

Coastal Pilot          Curry Reporter       Port Orford News Port Orford Today

Radio Stations

KURY  95.3 FM  KGBR 

In 1852, explorers discovered gold and other precious metals in the rivers and along the beaches of this area.  Initially, settlement in the county was concentrated along the coast and depended primarily on water transport.  The slow development of inland transportation routes kept the county relatively isolated well into the twentieth century.  While there is still some mining of cobalt, nickel, and chromium in the southern part of the county, most of the county's economy has reoriented to agriculture, recreation, tourism and forest products.  Port Orford cedar (Lawson Cypress) and myrtlewood are important export commodities.  The county has excellent grazing areas for raising cattle and sheep as well as favorable environmental conditions for the production of blueberries, cranberries, and horticultural nursery stock.  The Harbor Bench area of southern Curry and northern Del Norte counties produces ninety percent of all Easter lilies raised in the United States.  Vacation and recreational possibilities in the county draw tourists to the area and provide additional economic diversity.

                  Curry County Historical Society Port Orford Heritage Society

Airports

Brookings        Gold Beach    Cape Blanco

Ports

Gold Beach Brookings-Harbor Port Orford

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