Madras & Jefferson County
Jefferson County is defined by diversity and opportunity. Business diversity can be found in 
a mix of agricultural and manufacturing enterprises, and cultural diversity is represented in several ethnic groups, including Hispanics and Native Americans. The county boasts some of the broadest ranges of scenic beauty, ranging from densely forested and snow-topped Mt. Jefferson to agricultural fields in the valley floor, from the carved, dry canyons west of Madras to isolated, vast rangelands in the eastern part of the county. Residential, lifestyle, and age diversity are also well represented in Jefferson County, Incorporated communites (Madras and Culver) and unincorporated communities (Metolius, Camp Sherman, Crooked River Ranch, Ashwood, and Warm Springs) vary considerably in size and makeup, each community has its own identity. Madras and Warm Springs are home to many younger families, while outlying areas in the county have seen a strong interest over the last decade from retired individuals. Although the largest town in Jefferson County, Madras retains a small town atmosphere that exudes safety, community, and friendliness.
Development
Business opportunity abounds with the untapped infrastructure of two major north/south highways, BNSF railroad, an airport in Madras with the third largest runway in Oregon, and an abundant, pure water supply from the Opal Springs aquifer southwest of Culver. Plenty of ready-to-build industrial land is available with the advantage of its Enterprise Zone.
From 2000 to 2008, Jefferson County's population grew by more than 18%, more than twice the national average. It was the third fastest growing county in Oregon, following neighboring Deschutes and Crook counties. Population and employment growth is expected to be among the fastest in Oregon over the next decade, partly because of available land, infrastructure and housing that is some of the most affordable in the tri-county area.
City of Madras has seen steady development activity over the past decade and a half. The town’s close proximity to the Portland metropolitan area (two hours via car, or ½ hour via air) makes it an excellent location for manufacturing or distributing products dependent on the I-5 or Vancouver/Portland urban market. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for industrial development lies in the vicinity of the Madras Airport (former Army Air Base) which has more than 500 acres available of its 3,000 acre footprint for lease for manufacturing operations (both aviation and non-aviation related).
Livability
People desiring a quality lifestyle, year-round recreational activities (including Lake Billy Chinook, famous fly fishing in the Deschutes and Metolius Rivers) and ideal weather, find Madras highly desirable. With 300 days of sunshine and low annual 
rainfall, boating, water-skiing, camping, fishing, hunting, mountaineering, and rock hunting are major tourist and resident activities.
Major landowners in the county are the Forest Service, with 24% of lands, and Warm Springs Reservation, with 21%. Jefferson County includes nationally protected areas of the Crooked River National Grassland, part of the Deschutes national Forest and a portion of the Mount Hood National Forest. In fact, of Jefferson County's 1,791 miles, 10 square miles are water.
History
Named after nearby Mount Jefferson, Jefferson County was created in 1914 from a portion of Crook County. The railroad linking Madras with the Columbia River was finished in 1911 and served as a the springboard for Jefferson County's agricultural growth as well as the impetus for multiple irrigation projects that continued into the late 1930s. Incorporated in 1911, Madras has been the permanent county seat since 1916 and operates as the major commercial hub of the county. In the 1940s, Madras experienced another economic boom with the establishment of the U.S. Army Air Base used to accommodate the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Since that time the community has become an established industrial center and home to the region’s largest employer, Bright Wood, as well growing companies such as Keith Manufacturing, maker of moving floors for the transport industry; Double Press, manufacturer of hay compressors and handling equipment; Shielding International, producer of x-ray protective garments and accessories; and Earth2O, regional bottled water distributor. The agricultural industry remains quite vibrant, with Jefferson County leading the world in carrot seed production. Other commercial crops include vegetable, grass and flower seeds, garlic, mint and sugar beets. The Warm Springs Forest Products Industry, a muli-million dollar complex owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, is the single biggest industry.
MADRAS Stats at a Glance
| Madras, Oregon (Jefferson County) |
| Elevation: | 2242’ |
| Population (July 2008) | 6,640 (Madras); 22,450 (Jefferson County) |
| Median Resident Age | 23.7 (2000) / 35.3 (Jefferson County (2005-07) |
| Estimated Median Hh Income (2007) | $20,179 (2005-07) |
Median single family home price
(YTD thru Dec 2008) | $139,950 (Jefferson Co.)
|
| Average household size | 4.02 (2000) / 2.74 (Jefferson County (2005-07) |
| Property Tax Rate 2007/2008 | $21.4159 per $1,000 of assessed value |
| Assessed Property Value 2008 | $1,258,956,914 |
| Telecommunications Infrastructure | Crestview Cable (commercial and residential), others? |
| Major Private Employers in the County | Bright Wood, Keith Manufacturing, Warm Springs Composite Products, Mountain View Hospital, Shielding International, Double Press
|
Top 5 Jefferson County Taxpayers in
2008-09 (in order) | Portland General Electric, Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation, Bright Wood Corporation, PacifiCorp, Keith Manufacturing, Inc.
|
Madras / Jefferson County Quick Links
| Madras & Jefferson County, Oregon |
| Jefferson County Economic Development, Inc. | Wayne Pearson, Manager 541-390-3121
2028 NW Airpowrt Way, Madras OR 97741 |
| Economic Development for
Central Oregon (EDCO) | Roger Lee, Executive Director
541-388-3236
109 NW Greenwood Ave., Suite #102, Bend OR 97701 |
| City of Madras | 541-475-2344
City Hall, 71 SE D Street, Madras OR 97741 |
| Jefferson County
Administrative Offices | 541-475-2449
66 SE D Street, Madras OR 97741 |
| Madras-Jefferson County
Chamber of Commerce | 541-475-2350
274 SW 4th Street, PO Box 770, Madras, OR 97741 |
| Work Source Oregon / Oregon
Employment Dept. Office | 541-548-8196
2158 SE College Loop, Suite B, Redmond OR 97756 |
| Madras Pioneer
newspaper | 541-475-2275
241 SE 6th Street, Madras OR 97741 |
Spilyay Tymoo News
(Warm Springs newspaper) | 541-553-3274
Warm Springs Indian Reservation
PO Box 870, Warm Springs, OR 97761 |