Hermiston, Oregon

WHERE LIFE IS SWEET T he city of Hermiston sits seven miles south of the Columbia River, Lake Wal- lula, and the McNary Dam in Umatilla County,Oregon. Due to its proximity to the junction of I-82 and I-84, and central location between the major Pacific Northwest metropolitan areas, theHermiston area has become a transportation and logistics hub.Home to a population just shyof 18,000,the city is also known for its watermelons, which are part of its branding and tag- line“Where life is sweet.” Historically,the area was inhabited by indigenous Umatilla, Cayuse,Walla Walla, and Columbia Indians–de- scendants of peoples who lived in this area for thousands of years.The ear- liest European settlers were Catholic missionaries who established a mis- sion near Pendleton in 1847. Umatilla County was organized by the territori- al government in 1862 from the larg- er Wasco County.On July 10, 1907, the town of Hermiston was incorporated. Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel “Weir AT A GLANCE HERMISTON, OREGON WHAT: City in Umatilla County; population 17,985 WHERE: Eastern Oregon WEBSITE: www.hermiston.or.us Oregon