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Hermiston, OR
Hermiston is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Its population of 20,322 makes it the largest city in Eastern Oregon. Where life is sweet and our future is sweeter.
Hermiston is a community where everyone is welcome – whether you’re visiting or looking for a place to call home, we provide a safe, beautiful, and close-knit community where neighbors help one another, and friendliness and opportunity abound. From a booming economy to recreational amenities, we have big city services rooted in small-town values.
The historic inhabitants of the area were the indigenous Umatilla, Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Columbia Indians, descendants of peoples who lived in this area for thousands of years. The earliest European settlers established a mission near Pendleton in 1847. The territorial government organized Umatilla County in 1862 from the larger Wasco County. On July 10, 1907, the town of Hermiston was incorporated. The region saw modest growth until the outbreak of World War II, when the Umatilla Army Depot was constructed, causing Hermiston's population to jump from 803 at the 1940 US Census to 3,804 in 1950. The city is also known for its Watermelons, which are part of its branding.
The City of Hermiston Parks Department maintains 15 parks, 15 landscape areas, and 100-plus acres for the enjoyment of the community. In addition to the developed parks, the department also has 50 additional acres planned for future development. Riverfront Park features 16 acres of open grassy areas alongside the Umatilla River, as well as nearly a mile of paved walking paths, with picnic shelters, restrooms, and fishing access.
Hat Rock, located on the Columbia River near Hermiston, was one of the first landmarks of the area noted by Lewis and Clark in their journals. The Hermiston Butte features several easy hiking trails accessible from Butte Park, the Hermiston Family Aquatic Center, and Good Shepherd Medical Center.
Blue Mountain Community College has a branch in Hermiston. Eastern Oregon University also hosts undergraduate and graduate-level courses at the Eastern Oregon Higher Education Center in Hermiston.
