Life in The Dalles

A scenic view featuring a mountain in the background, a river, and a small town along the water's edge.
The Dalles with Mt. Hood in Background
Aerial view of a river winding through industrial and agricultural land, with buildings and greenery along the banks.
North Chenoweth Industrial Park (Bottom) Google Date Center (Top)
Aerial view of a river with surrounding roads, buildings, and land. The area appears partly developed with open landscapes.
North Chenoweth Industrial Business Park
An aerial view of a riverbank with dry land, hills, and scattered vegetation, likely in a rural or industrial area.
North Chenoweth Industrial Business Park
An overhead view of an industrial area with warehouses, parking lots, and a waterfront along a river or body of water.
Port Office and Riverfront Development
Aerial view of an industrial area next to a river, featuring several warehouses, roads, and green spaces.
Port Area
Aerial view of grain silos near a river, surrounded by industrial buildings and fields, showcasing a rural landscape.
Grain Silos
Aerial view of a marina with boats, surrounded by water and a nearby industrial area, set against a hilly landscape.
Port of the Dalles Marina
A photo of the port from the sky
Port of the Dalles Marina
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Old Northwest Aluminum Site
Aerial view of a river winding through a landscape with mountains and towns, featuring a snow-capped peak in the background.
The Dalles and Mt. Hood
A scenic view featuring a snow-capped mountain, lush valleys, a river, and a town nestled in the landscape.
The Dalles and Mt. Hood
Aerial view of a river with a small town and mountains in the background, showcasing lush landscapes and clear skies.
The Dalles and Mt. Hood
An aerial view of a river, hills, and a small town with industrial areas and roads visible along the landscape.
Industrial Area Aerial
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The Dalles Train Yard
Aerial view of a small town by a river, featuring buildings, roads, and a marina with boats. Lush greenery surrounds the area.
Downtown Aerial
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Port Area
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Downtown Looking East
An aerial view of a commercial area near a river, featuring several buildings, construction sites, and surrounding roads.
Google Data Center Aerial
An aerial view of a river landscape with features like dry land, industrial buildings, and highways adjacent to the water.
North Chenoweth Industrial Business Park
A scenic view featuring a mountain in the background, a river, and a small town along the water's edge.
Aerial view of a river winding through industrial and agricultural land, with buildings and greenery along the banks.
Aerial view of a river with surrounding roads, buildings, and land. The area appears partly developed with open landscapes.
An aerial view of a riverbank with dry land, hills, and scattered vegetation, likely in a rural or industrial area.
An overhead view of an industrial area with warehouses, parking lots, and a waterfront along a river or body of water.
Aerial view of an industrial area next to a river, featuring several warehouses, roads, and green spaces.
Aerial view of grain silos near a river, surrounded by industrial buildings and fields, showcasing a rural landscape.
Aerial view of a marina with boats, surrounded by water and a nearby industrial area, set against a hilly landscape.
A photo of the port from the sky
An aerial view of a landscape featuring industrial areas, a river, and greenery in the background, with roads and buildings visible.
Aerial view of a river winding through a landscape with mountains and towns, featuring a snow-capped peak in the background.
A scenic view featuring a snow-capped mountain, lush valleys, a river, and a town nestled in the landscape.
Aerial view of a river with a small town and mountains in the background, showcasing lush landscapes and clear skies.
An aerial view of a river, hills, and a small town with industrial areas and roads visible along the landscape.
Aerial view of a river, railway tracks, and a nearby residential area with greenery and structures visible.
Aerial view of a small town by a river, featuring buildings, roads, and a marina with boats. Lush greenery surrounds the area.
Aerial view of a river with industrial buildings on one side and agricultural land on the other, surrounded by greenery.
An aerial view of a town by a river, surrounded by rolling hills and greenery, with roads and buildings visible.
An aerial view of a commercial area near a river, featuring several buildings, construction sites, and surrounding roads.
An aerial view of a river landscape with features like dry land, industrial buildings, and highways adjacent to the water.

History

The Dalles has a unique history and heritage that dates back over 10,000 years. Once one of the largest population centers in the Pacific Northwest, The Dalles continues to be the economic hub for the Mid-Columbia region. Lewis and Clark camped in The Dalles in both 1805 and 1806 with their expeditions paving the way for the overland Oregon Trail in 1843. At The Dalles, Oregon Trail emigrants made the fateful decision of whether to take the treacherous Columbia River or the mountainous Barlow Road on the last and most daunting leg of their trek to the rich farmland of the Willamette Valley.

The Dalles is located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, carved by the Missoula Floods during the last ice age over 15,000 years ago. Populated by numerous Native American tribes The Dalles was a gathering place for natives to peacefully trade, fish, and socialize. In the early 1800’s they were joined by fur traders, boatmen, and missionaries. Settlers came next to build the neighborhoods and business districts of The Dalles.

Today

The Dalles remains the trading hub for the region. Development has largely been dependent upon transportation and access to markets both west and east of The Dalles. Agriculture has been the backbone of industry with sweet cherries, grains, and apples leading the way. Manufacturing has also served as a dominant industry with a strong presence still evident today. As manufacturing began to leave America’s shores, The Dalles had the vision and foresight to diversify it’s economy. With the Port of The Dalles in the lead, the community set out to develop industrial land to grow and recruit businesses to supplant the departure of heavy manufacturing. Success is evident through the more than 50 businesses and 1,500 jobs located at the Port of The Dalles Industrial Area, including Google and PowderPure.

The Dalles also boasts many recreational opportunities. Bicycling, fishing, rock climbing, hiking, swimming, boating, rafting, windsurfing, and kiteboarding are just a few of the outdoor options at our doorstep!

Living Here

View The Dalles' full profile on the Oregon Prospector

Housing

Apartment Rental: $1,700/month (avg.)
Single Family House Rental: $2,575/month
Median Home Price: $500,000-$515,000
Residential Tax Rate: varies, $17-21.00 per $1,000 assessed value
Residential Electric Rates:

Residential Phone & Internet Services:

Hospitals

Adventist Health Columbia Gorge is a faith-based, nonprofit healthcare organization that includes a 49-bed medical center the in The Dalles, Oregon, surrounded by a variety of primary, specialty, and immediate care clinics that support patients from rural communities in and around the Columbia River Gorge. As the first Planetree-certified hospital, our mission to support whole-person care drives us to bring the best in evidence-based treatments and technology closer to where our patients live and work.

Schools

The Dalles area is served by the North Wasco County School District 21 as well as the Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC). CGCC works with local companies to provide customized training programs to help employees become more capable and efficient. One private Christian school also serves the area, St. Mary’s Academy.

National Scenic Area

The Dalles is situated within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, an area known around the world for its seemingly limitless recreation activities and astounding scenic beauty. The Gorge is much more than a summer-only recreation paradise. Hiking, biking, windsurfing, skiing, and fishing can be done year round and mild summer weather allows the entire family to enjoy outdoor activities.

Weather in The Dalles

In the Spring, The Dalles has warm days and cool evenings interspersed with occasional rainfall. Summer temperatures rise steadily through August but humidity remains low. Clear, blue skies and cool, starry evenings persist through autumn, with intermittent rain beginning later in the season. In the winter, several feet of snow fall on Mt. Hood but the lower elevations in the Gorge stay mostly dry.

 

Average PRECIPITATION by year

 

Area Ave. Yr. Percip
The Dalles 14"-15″
Portland 36"-37"
Seattle 38-39″
Los Angeles 12"-18"
San Francisco 20"-24"
Boise 11.5"-12"
Averages by Season: THE DALLES
Season Average Precip Avg. Snowfall Avg. Daily Hi Temp Avg. Daily Low Temp
Spring 2.64″ 0″ 65° 40°
Summer 0.94″ 0″ 86° 56°
Fall 3.46″ 1″ 67° 40°
Winter 7.48″ 5″ 47° 29°