Tillamook County

DAIRY FARMING & 75 MILES OF COASTLINE

Tillamook County was established in 1853 and was named after the Tillamook Indians who occupied the areas around Tillamook and the Nehalem Bays. Tillamook County is located in the northwest portion of the state, about 73 miles west of Portland, and borders the beautiful Oregon Coast. Tillamook County has 75 miles of coastline, 4 bays, and 9 rivers. The population of the county is 27,390 and is known for dairy farming, agriculture, fishing, and logging. About 90% of the county is considered forestland.

Dairy farms dominate the county's fertile valleys providing milk for the well-known Tillamook cheese. The largest employer is the Tillamook Cheese Factory owned by the Tillamook County Creamery Association and employs over 900 people. The company has been operating over 110 years, and the cheese can be found in all 50 states. The factory is a Co-op made up of local dairy farmers, and since 1909, the Tillamook Cheese Factory has taken pride and care in their farmers, cows, and community. You can visit the creamery (that has the capacity to age 50 million pounds of cheese at once) or schedule a tour; it’s open 7 days a week.

Attractions in Tillamook County include kayaking, the Cape Meares Lighthouse, the Tillamook Forest Center, the Air Museum, the Pioneer Museum, and the Cheese Factory. Dining, shopping, and sightseeing along the coastline are also major attractions. Some of the most well-known towns are Pacific City, Tillamook, Rockaway Beach, and Bay City.

Tillamook County Oregon has 3 school districts- Tillamook, Neah-Kah-Nie, and Nestucca Valley. There are 12 public schools serving 3,268 students, and 3 private schools. The highest rated school district is Neah-Kah-Nie near Rockaway Beach in the Northwest region of the county. Tillamook County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in Oregon.

The median household income for Tillamook County is $54,268, and the median house price is $542,600 at around $300 per square foot.