Jefferson County

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,720. The county seat is Madras. The county is named after Mount Jefferson.

Jefferson County was established in 1914 from a portion of Crook County. It was named for Mount Jefferson on its western boundary. The county owes much of its agricultural prosperity to the railroad, which arrived in 1911, and to the development of irrigation projects in the late 1930s. The railroad, which links Madras with the Columbia River, was completed after constant feuds and battles between two lines working on opposite sides of the Deschutes River.

Vegetable, grass and flower seeds, garlic, mint and sugar beets are cultivated on some 60,000 irrigated acres. Jefferson County also has vast acreages of rangelands and a healthy industrial base related to forest products. The Warm Springs Forest Products Industry, a multi-million dollar complex owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation—partially located in the northwestern corner of the county—is the single biggest industry. With 300 days of sunshine and a low yearly rainfall, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, water-skiing and rock hunting are popular recreations.

Points of interest in Jefferson County are Mt. Jefferson, Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Metolius River, Black Butte, Suttle Lake, Blue Lake, Santiam Summit, Lake Billy Chinook behind Round Butte Dam, Haystack Reservoir and Priday Agate Beds.

Sheriff Sales:

A sheriff’s sale is a public auction sale of property held by the sheriff pursuant to a writ (court order) of execution (to seize and sell the property) to satisfy (pay) a judgment, after notice to the public. There are three types of sales that take place at these auctions, Mortgage foreclosure, Tax lien, and Tax sale. Each property is listed by its book and writ number. The highest bidder is required to immediately submit ten percent of the winning bid while at the auction. The rest of the money must be paid to the Sheriff’s Office no later than thirty days following the auction. If the money is not paid, the house/property will be auctioned off at the next sale.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
675 NW Cherry Lane
Madras, OR 97741
Contact: Debbie Zawerucha, Chief Civil Deputy, Civil/Administration Division
Tel: 541-475-6520
Fax: 541-475-3847
www.co.jefferson.or.us/sheriff

Trustee Sale:

A trustee sale is a sale by a property in foreclosure due to default in the loan made from the lender, who holds a trustee deed on the property. State statutes, which vary by state, govern the notice requirements for publication of the sale of the foreclosed property. A foreclosure sale can take place at public auction. The property may be sold to a third party bidder or revert back to the lender for a specified amount.

Jeferson County Court House
75 SE C Street Suite C
Madras, Oregon, 97741
Phone: 541-475-3317