Joseph, Oregon
title: "Joseph, Oregon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["joseph,-oregon", "cities-in-oregon", "cities-in-wallowa-county,-oregon", "1883-establishments-in-oregon", "populated-places-established-in-1883"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph,_Oregon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| official_name | Joseph, Oregon |
| native_name | nez |
| settlement_type | City |
| image_skyline | Joseph OR - aerial.jpg |
| image_caption | Joseph in 2007 |
| image_map | Wallowa_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Joseph_Highlighted.svg |
| mapsize | 250px |
| map_caption | Location in Oregon |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | United States |
| subdivision_type1 | State |
| subdivision_name1 | Oregon |
| subdivision_type2 | County |
| subdivision_name2 | Wallowa |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| established_title | Incorporated |
| established_date | 1887 |
| area_total_sq_mi | 0.91 |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 2.35 |
| area_land_sq_mi | 0.91 |
| area_land_km2 | 2.35 |
| area_water_sq_mi | 0.00 |
| area_water_km2 | 0.00 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_as_of | 2020 |
| population_total | 1154 |
| population_density_km2 | 491.49 |
| population_density_sq_mi | 1272.33 |
| timezone | Pacific |
| utc_offset | −08:00 |
| timezone_DST | Pacific |
| utc_offset_DST | −07:00 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| elevation_ft | 4193 |
| website | www.josephoregon.org |
| postal_code_type | ZIP Code |
| postal_code | 97846 |
| area_code | 541 |
| blank_name | FIPS code |
| blank_info | 41-37900 |
| blank1_name | GNIS feature ID |
| blank1_info | 2410150 |
| unit_pref | Imperial |
| named_for | Chief Joseph |
| :: |
| official_name = Joseph, Oregon | native_name = nez | settlement_type = City | nickname = | motto = | image_skyline = Joseph OR - aerial.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Joseph in 2007 | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = Wallowa_County_Oregon_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Joseph_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location in Oregon | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Oregon | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Wallowa | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1887 | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = 0.91 | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 2.35 | area_land_sq_mi = 0.91 | area_land_km2 = 2.35 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | population_footnotes = | population_as_of = 2020 | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_note = | population_total = 1154 | population_metro = | population_urban = | population_density_km2 = 491.49 | population_density_sq_mi = 1272.33 | timezone = Pacific | utc_offset = −08:00 | timezone_DST = Pacific | utc_offset_DST = −07:00 | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_ft = 4193 | website = www.josephoregon.org | postal_code_type = ZIP Code | postal_code = 97846 | area_code = 541 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 41-37900 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2410150 | footnotes = | pop_est_footnotes = | unit_pref = Imperial | named_for = Chief Joseph Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, the city formally named itself in 1880 for Chief Joseph (1840–1904) of the Nez Perce people. The population was 1,081 at the 2010 census.
History
Joseph was platted in 1883, and the economy was originally based on the land, especially grain and stock. In 1896 the First Bank of Joseph was robbed; one robber was shot and killed, another shot and captured, and a third escaped with the money. On occasion there have been reenactments of the robbery. After a railroad line was completed to Joseph in 1908, a lumber mill opened, bolstering the economy.
When the timber industry collapsed in the 1980s, local unemployment rate approached 17%. However, in 1982 a new industry was born as three bronze foundries opened in the local area.
The city sponsors the annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in late July, Bronze, Blues and Brews in August since 2001, and Alpenfest in September, a Swiss-Bavarian festival staged in Joseph and at nearby Wallowa Lake. Alpenfest resembles an Oktoberfest but has more yodeling and alphorn playing, reflecting the area's reputation as "Oregon's Little Switzerland."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.88 sqmi, all of it land.
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Joseph has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Joseph was 100 F in July 1919, while the coldest temperature recorded was -34 F in December 1924.
|location = Joseph, Oregon, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2012 |single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 61 |Feb record high F = 61 |Mar record high F = 70 |Apr record high F = 85 |May record high F = 98 |Jun record high F = 97 |Jul record high F = 100 |Aug record high F = 97 |Sep record high F = 95 |Oct record high F = 85 |Nov record high F = 71 |Dec record high F = 72
|Jan avg record high F = 49.4 |Feb avg record high F = 50.5 |Mar avg record high F = 60.8 |Apr avg record high F = 71.6 |May avg record high F = 79.8 |Jun avg record high F = 85.7 |Jul avg record high F = 92.7 |Aug avg record high F = 91.1 |Sep avg record high F = 85.8 |Oct avg record high F = 75.3 |Nov avg record high F = 59.9 |Dec avg record high F = 51.5 |year avg record high F = 93.1
|Jan high F = 34.9 |Feb high F = 39.1 |Mar high F = 46.3 |Apr high F = 51.8 |May high F = 61.0 |Jun high F = 68.4 |Jul high F = 79.3 |Aug high F = 79.7 |Sep high F = 70.6 |Oct high F = 56.1 |Nov high F = 42.7 |Dec high F = 34.7 |year high F =
|Jan mean F = 26.9 |Feb mean F = 29.2 |Mar mean F = 36.3 |Apr mean F = 41.1 |May mean F = 49.7 |Jun mean F = 56.3 |Jul mean F = 64.0 |Aug mean F = 64.5 |Sep mean F = 57.0 |Oct mean F = 45.0 |Nov mean F = 33.9 |Dec mean F = 26.2 |year mean F =
|Jan low F = 18.8 |Feb low F = 19.3 |Mar low F = 26.2 |Apr low F = 30.4 |May low F = 38.5 |Jun low F = 44.3 |Jul low F = 48.8 |Aug low F = 49.4 |Sep low F = 43.4 |Oct low F = 33.9 |Nov low F = 25.1 |Dec low F = 17.7 |year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = -5.1 |Feb avg record low F = 0.6 |Mar avg record low F = 8.5 |Apr avg record low F = 17.8 |May avg record low F = 24.4 |Jun avg record low F = 30.5 |Jul avg record low F = 36.3 |Aug avg record low F = 35.0 |Sep avg record low F = 27.9 |Oct avg record low F = 20.5 |Nov avg record low F = 9.3 |Dec avg record low F = 0.4 |year avg record low F = -10.6
|Jan record low F = -29 |Feb record low F = -25 |Mar record low F = -13 |Apr record low F = -3 |May record low F = 18 |Jun record low F = 22 |Jul record low F = 22 |Aug record low F = 28 |Sep record low F = 11 |Oct record low F = 5 |Nov record low F = -17 |Dec record low F = -34
|precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 1.26 |Feb precipitation inch = 1.06 |Mar precipitation inch = 1.43 |Apr precipitation inch = 1.92 |May precipitation inch = 2.61 |Jun precipitation inch = 1.91 |Jul precipitation inch = 0.85 |Aug precipitation inch = 0.70 |Sep precipitation inch = 1.12 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.39 |Nov precipitation inch = 1.39 |Dec precipitation inch = 1.29 |year precipitation inch =
|Jan snow inch = 10.7 |Feb snow inch = 9.2 |Mar snow inch = 10.1 |Apr snow inch = 6.3 |May snow inch = 1.1 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.1 |Oct snow inch = 1.2 |Nov snow inch = 7.3 |Dec snow inch = 8.2 |year snow inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 12.0 |Feb precipitation days = 10.5 |Mar precipitation days = 13.4 |Apr precipitation days = 13.7 |May precipitation days = 13.8 |Jun precipitation days = 11.2 |Jul precipitation days = 4.9 |Aug precipitation days = 4.8 |Sep precipitation days = 6.5 |Oct precipitation days = 11.1 |Nov precipitation days = 11.8 |Dec precipitation days = 13.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 7.9 |Feb snow days = 6.4 |Mar snow days = 7.7 |Apr snow days = 4.1 |May snow days = 0.7 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.1 |Oct snow days = 0.9 |Nov snow days = 4.3 |Dec snow days = 9.0
|source 1 = NOAA |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00354329&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Joseph, OR |access-date = October 31, 2022 |source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima 1893-2012) |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Pendleton |access-date = October 31, 2022
Demographics
|1890= 249 |1900= 237 |1910= 725 |1920= 770 |1930= 504 |1940= 593 |1950= 666 |1960= 788 |1970= 839 |1980= 999 |1990= 1073 |2000= 1055 |2010= 1081 |2020= 1154 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census | align = right | align-fn = center
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Joseph had a population of 1,154; the median age was 55.9 years, 15.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 34.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.4 males age 18 and over.
0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 546 households in Joseph, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.7% were married-couple households, 17.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 612 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.6% were owner-occupied and 28.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.
::data[format=table title="Racial composition as of the 2020 census{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A37900&in=state%3A41|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 29, 2026|df=mdy}}"]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,042 | 90.3% |
| Black or African American | 1 | 0.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 12 | 1.0% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0% |
| Some other race | 24 | 2.1% |
| Two or more races | 68 | 5.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 41 | 3.6% |
| :: |
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,081 people, 509 households, and 305 families living in the city. The population density was 1228.4 PD/sqmi. There were 590 housing units at an average density of 670.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 0.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.
There were 509 households, of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.57.
The median age in the city was 51 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.2% were from 25 to 44; 36.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,054 people, 450 households, and 288 families living in the city. The population density was 1,234.8 PD/sqmi. There were 543 housing units at an average density of 636.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.88% White, 0.47% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 450 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, the population dispersal was 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,310, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,938 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,163. About 7.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Joseph,_Oregon.jpg" caption="East First Street in 2013"] ::
Notable people
- Chief Joseph
- Rod Scribner
- Walter Brennan
- Margaret Osborne duPont
- Joseph, a band started by Natalie, Allison, and Meegan Closner, named after the town.
References
References
- "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
- {{GNIS. 2410150
- "Reminiscence of the Joseph, Oregon Bank Robbery of 1896". OregonPioneers.
- Bailey, Barbara Ruth. (1982). "Main Street: Northeastern Oregon". [[Oregon Historical Society]].
- "Rodeo". Chief Joseph Days.
- Hopper, Ila Grant. (August 22, 1982). "Chief Joseph Days". The Bulletin.
- (July 14, 2015). "Chief Joseph Days celebrates 70 years of Western heritage". East Oregonian.
- "The Official Joseph Oregon site featuring Eagle Cap Wilderness and Wallowa Lake Oregon - Home".
- "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
- "Joseph, Oregon". CantyMedia.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
- "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
- (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
- (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
- (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
- "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
- Finn, Robin. (October 25, 2012). "Margaret Osborne duPont, Tennis Champion, Dies at 94". [[The New York Times]].
- "Sibling Trio Joseph Conjure Vocal Alchemy On ATO Records Debut 'I'm Alone, No You're Not' Out August".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::