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Eastern Oregon University

ranked Number #1 most affordable Collage in Oregon

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"i grew up in a small town in America's heartland where values of faith in God, freedom, family, friends, and concern for ones neighbors were shared by all."

-Matthew McConaughey

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Mt. Emily

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Hot Lake Springs is one of the largest hot springs in the Northwest and is Oregon's oldest resort.

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Beginning as an Oregon Trail way station in 1864, the city evolved into a major shipping center for Cattle, timber and ore. Cattle ranching and Logging remain its economic foundation.

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We're almost there! From extensive work related to framing, roofing, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical work, and fire suppression already completed, the theater is entering its final phase of restoration - the finish work. Soon, work will commence to put all of the final touches on the interior and exterior of the building, as well as the installation of the state-of-the art cinema system, and sound & light systems.

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We're almost there! From extensive work related to framing, roofing, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical work, and fire suppression already completed, the theater is entering its final phase of restoration - the finish work.

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Rodeos are a vital part of Union County's Cultural and agricultural heritage, a tradition proudly continued by events like Chief Joseph Days and the Blue Mountain Rodeo.

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La Grande's Farmers Market was started in 1980 in a vacant lot By Sally Snyder and Sandy Roth and later moved to Max Square in 2003. It is now a non-profit organization bringing locally grown produce, eggs, baked goods and many more things to the community every Sunday.

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Painter designs four murals in one - La Grande Observer

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Most all of us have experienced looking at something and seeing only a jumble, then marveling when everything suddenly resolves into crystal clarity. TrendingMore than $7.4M coming to help E. Oregon forests, millsHundreds gather in La Grande to honor Charlie KirkPendleton artist Jason Hogge cultivates those moments in the art he creates. He […]

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Explore works by Lee C. Imonen and the State of Oregon Percent for Art Collection collection on Public Art Archive.

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On the third weekend in July, LGMSD hosts Crazy Days. On Friday, businesses set up booths and offer discounts for people to come down and shop. Saturday activities include many facets of family friendly recreation from archery, water games, helicopter ball drops, food and craft vendors, and mor…

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La Grande, the seat of Union County, is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Blue Mountains. Situated in the Grande Ronde Valley, La Grande is the third largest city in eastern Oregon, with an estimated population of 13,026 in 2020.

The Oregon Trail passed through the Grande Ronde Valley, and La Grande was first settled in 1861 by immigrants originally bound for the Willamette Valley. One of the founding settlers, Benjamin Brown, was a community and business leader in the town, which was originally referred to as Brown's Town or Brownsville. Because there was already a Brownsville in Linn County, the Post Office Department required a new name, and in 1863 a post office was established under the name La Grande. The city was incorporated in 1865.

There is some uncertainty regarding the origins of the town's name. Most sources attribute it, along with the shared name of the river and valley-the Grande Ronde- to early French Canadian trappers describing the bowl-shaped valley, in which La Grande is situated. One possibly apocryphal claim is that a young Frenchman by the name of Charles Dause frequently used the phrase le grand ronde when referring to the sweeping views of the valley from town.

Before white settlement, the Grande Ronde Valley was an important rendezvous site for Native people of the southern Columbia Plateau. Umatilla, Nez Perce, Cayuse, and others traveled to the valley in the summer to harvest camas root and other plants and to hunt, fish, and trade. White settlement created competition for the land and its resources, and in 1862 a band of Umatilla challenged the newcomers' right to claim land in the valley. U.S. soldiers who were sent to arrest three Umatilla chiefs who were involved in the dispute killed several men before the rest of the group could escape.

During the 1860s and 1870s, La Grande grew rapidly, as miners moving into the gold fields of Idaho and eastern Oregon provided a ready market for homesteaders' agricultural products. La Grande's importance as a commercial center grew when, in 1884, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (OR&N) completed its main trunk line through the town. The railroad drastically altered the landscape of La Grande, as businesses relocated from the original site of the town along the southwest edge of the valley to the flats near the proposed tracks and train depot.

During the late nineteenth century, La Grande, like many towns in the rural West, had a significant Chinese population. Many had come to work in the mines and on the railroads, and they stayed on as small business proprietors and agricultural laborers. On September 24, 1893, a mob of about two hundred armed men looted and burned some of the city's Chinese businesses and homes and forcibly removed many Chinese residents by marching them to the nearby rail depot at Oro Dell and demanding that they leave the country. According to accounts in the La Grande Gazette the next week, some of the mob victims returned to settle their business affairs before leaving La Grande permanently. While the newspaper reported that the sheriff and others attempted to protect the Chinese, articles also noted that public sentiment opposed the presence of Chinese in the community. Over fifty men were arrested, ten of whom were indicted and charged with arson. All were found not guilty.

From 1875 to 1884, La Grande was home to Blue Mountain University, founded and operated by the Columbia River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1929, Eastern Oregon Normal School opened its doors as a teachers college. The Oregon legislature renamed the college Eastern Oregon State College in 1973; in 1997, it became Eastern Oregon University. The university, with an on-campus enrollment of about 1,600 students, is a major employer in La Grande and plays an important economic and cultural role in the region. It is the only state liberal arts university east of the Cascade Mountains.

La Grande, whose nickname is "The Hub City," hosts the Eastern Oregon Film Festival, the Crossing the Blues Arts festival, and the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra. ArtsEast, home of the Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, was founded in 1977 as a nonprofit organization to deliver arts education and outreach programs in eastern Oregon.

With its proximity to the Blue and the Wallowa Mountains, La Grande is a popular year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters, campers, mushroomers, birders, cyclists, skiers, snowmobilers, and snowboarders. Nearby Anthony Lakes Ski Resort boasts some of the best powder snow in the Intermountain West. Five miles south of La Grande, the 6,000-acre Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, a popular destination for birdwatchers and hunters, is the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in northeastern Oregon, offering a glimpse of what the valley was like before agricultural development.

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La Grande, the seat of Union County, is nestled in the eastern foothills of the Blue Mountains. Situated in the Grande Ronde Valley, La Grande is the third lar...

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View of Jefferson St in La Grande, Oregon, circa 1915.

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Historic Hot Lake Hotel | La Grande, Oregon

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Take a walk on the historic side in La Grande: Tour showcases classic homes - La Grande Observer

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La Grande has always been recognized as a town rich in history and architectural charm. TrendingMore than $7.4M coming to help E. Oregon forests, millsHundreds gather in La Grande to honor Charlie KirkFounded in the early 1860s, the town quickly became a hub for settlers traveling along the Oregon Trail. La Grande […]

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Downtown La Grande Oregon Award Winning Main Street

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Mt. Emily Lumber Co.

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File:Map of Oregon highlighting Union County.svg - Wikipedia

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Public Works Airport Parks Roads Forms Parks Union County is located in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon.The area is known for its spectacular landscapes, abundance of wildlife, and outstanding recreational opportunities.Funding for the parks is provided by Oregon State Parks and the Oregon State Marine Board.Camping is free of charge, please come explore and

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Union County Celebrates Arbor Day 2024 With Free Trees for Schools

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In recognition of Arbor Day 2024, the Union County Board of County Commissioners is once again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to provide free trees for local schools. “F…

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Welcome to Oregon’s corner of the Wild West.

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Union County sits at the meeting point for the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, the Blue Mountains, Eagle Cap Wilderness. Discover the best outdoor activities in Union County, Oregon. From hiking and fishing to scenic drives and camping, explore our natural beauty and plan your outdoor adventure with Visit Union County!