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Our Community Do
you enjoy outdoor recreation and fresh air?
How
about blue skies and sunshine? Then
come to Klamath County – we’ve got all that and more! With 300 days of sunny skies, Klamath Falls is Oregon’s “City of
Sunshine”! There are endless recreation opportunities to enjoy, such as a
round of golf at one of our five local courses. The communities of Klamath
County offer affordable living, beautiful scenery, and a wide variety of
activities for outdoor fun. |
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POPULATION: Home to Crater Lake National Park, Klamath County is located
in the south-central part of Oregon, just east of the Cascade Mountains. It is located in a region known as the
Oregon High Desert and is geographically Oregon’s fourth largest county.
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ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY: The city of Klamath Falls is the seat of Klamath County
and serves as the transportation and service center for the greater area
referred to as the “Klamath Basin” (which includes south-central Oregon and
north-central California). Find out more about
us: Visit the Klamath
County Tourism Department website by clicking here! FRESH NORTHWEST WATERS: The upper
Klamath Lake is the largest body of fresh water in the pacific northwest and
covers more than 133 square miles. The
city of Klamath Falls is located on the shores of upper Klamath Lake, Lake
Ewauna, and the Klamath River. There are more than 82 lakes and streams in
Klamath County. A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
PROFILE: Klamath Falls is an active
community with many of the attractions of a larger city, but with the
affordable lifestyle of a smaller town. The downtown area features various
shopping, dining, and cultural facilities. On the lakefront, Moore Park
overlooks the beautiful upper Klamath Lake and offers residents hiking, tennis,
and boating activities. OUTDOOR RECREATION
& BEAUTY: Snowmobile runs
and downhill or alpine skiing are available at Mt. Shasta, Mt. Bachelor,
Crater Lake, Mt. Ashland and various other locations around Klamath County.
In addition, various rivers and mountain lakes offer an exciting retreat for
fishing, whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking. An abundance of deer and
wildlife, including the famous Klamath white pelicans, call this area home
for much of the year. Klamath County is also home to one of the largest bald
eagle populations in the United States. A GROWING LOCAL ECONOMY: The wood
products industry, manufacturing, service, and technology sectors have helped
to develop a diversified economic base for Klamath County. Tourism is also a
growing industry for the area due to the extraordinary natural setting and
the proximity of attractions such as Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, seven
National Wildlife Refuges, and the Running Y Ranch & Resort (featuring
Oregon’s only Palmer-designed golf course, as well as residential, lodge and recreational
facilities). The Klamath Basin also supports substantial agricultural and
ranching industries. |
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VARIED CLIMATE: With an annual precipitation average of 13 inches, plus the
year-round temperate climate, the Klamath Basin attracts people looking for
outdoor adventures throughout the year. TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS: Klamath Falls
is located at the junction of US Highway 97 and Oregon Highways 140 and 39. The
area is served by both Amtrak passenger rail service and Horizon Airlines
with several non-stop, one hour services to Portland, Oregon. Travel from
Klamath Falls to Medford is 1.25 hours west, Bend is 2.5 hours north, and
Reno, Nevada is 4 hours south. QUALITY HEALTH CARE: Klamath Falls and the surrounding
areas are served by Sky Lakes Medical Center a 176 bed health care facility. Sky Lakes full range of services include cancer and
heart centers, a center for occupational health, a family practice residency
program, a new family birthing center, and a kidney dialysis center. There
are numerous general and specialty clinics and urgent care facilities
throughout the city. In addition, two regional health care facilities are
located in Medford, Oregon. About 1,000 employees work hard every
day as they care for the people of our community as if they were family. News
& special events are always happening at Sky Lakes Medical Center,
especially as our 100,000-square-foot modernization continues to grow. LOCAL COMMUNICATION
SOURCES: The area is
served by our local newspaper, The Herald & News, a state-wide newspaper, The Oregonian, several AM and FM radio
stations, 6 local or regional television stations, and a variety of cable
television, satellite & telecommunication service companies. REGIONAL TAX &
COST OF LIVING: Oregon has no sales tax.
Property taxes are limited to $15.00 per thousand dollars of
valuation, excluding voter approved, bonded debt. Using the ACCRA cost of living index for
the 4th quarter of 1999, Klamath Falls had a composite index of
99.6 compared to the national average of 100.
That compares with Portland at 111.7 and Los Angeles at 123.0. EXCELLENT
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES: Local higher
education facilities include the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) and Klamath
Community College (KCC). Southern Oregon University (SOU) is
located in Ashland, just 70 miles west and offers distance learning
programs. Our students consistently
score above the national average.
Parochial education is available at three schools in the city. Here is some additional information on
primary and secondary education options in Klamath County:
ARTS & CULTURE: The 800-seat Ross Ragland Theater hosts performers of
various musical genres from around the region and the world. A 30 year old
theatrical troupe, The Linkville Players, produces four plays and a musical each
year. The Klamath Chorale, Klamath Symphony, Klamath Art Association, and
many other cultural groups all have seasonal performances and shows
throughout the local area. RETAIL & TRADE: Larger brand name stores located in Klamath Falls include
Gottschalks, Fred Meyer, Bi-Mart, Wal-Mart, and K- Mart. In addition, there
are many locally-owned smaller businesses which offer unique and specialized
shopping. THINGS TO DO & SEE IN KLAMATH COUNTY: v Go golfing at one of five area golf courses. v Ride the downtown Trolley or follow the Old Town Historic
Walking Tour v Drive the Volcanic Legacy National Scenic By-Way. v Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, Klamath pelicans,
and other birds and wildlife v Visit beautiful Crater Lake National Park |
