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History

Hermiston’s original settlers consisted of the Walla Walla, Umatilla and Cayuse tribes until the Treaty of 1855, which relocated the tribes to a reservation. These nomadic people left a mark on the area, as evidenced in the name of the county and city Umatilla.

New residents began to trickle in and began building homes in the Umatilla River basin. The dry land found here proved to be a problem for farming, however these inventive inhabitants began to develop methods of irrigation to aid in their livelihood.

Hermiston, named for the novel “The Weir of Hermiston” by Robert Louis Stevenson, was known in the 1860s through ‘70s as “Six Mile House.” This “house” served as a stop where freighters and travelers could rest on their way to wherever it was they were headed. Six Mile House was not a house at all, but a hotel and bar. People stopping by could sleep in the hotel and find refreshment in the bar, while their horses and mules drank from the well and ate at the feed barn on the premises. It was not until July 10, 1907 that Hermiston was incorporated and given the name it has today.

Growth was in Hermiston’s future and it was to come by furthering the use of irrigation. The Umatilla River played a huge role in this venture via the development of the Cold Springs and McKay reservoirs. The Bureau of Reclamation headed up the project and in doing so, served as a vital player in Hermiston’s success in agriculture. The official opening of the Cold Springs Reservoir took place on May 27, 1908, less than a year following Hermiston’s incorporation.

Through the 1920s, Hermiston’s agricultural endeavors were proving successful, despite a downfall due to a harsh winter. Dairy farming continued to be profitable. Raising poultry emerged as a trade. It was until just before the beginning of World War II that agriculture served as this city’s source of industry.

About 20 years later, in the late 1940s, the Umatilla Chemical Depot, a huge storage place for ammunition, was built nearby and further spurred Hermiston’s economy. The railroad made an appearance in 1951 with the completion of Hinkle Terminal, and as in many other communities, the railroad was a surefire way to help ensure financial stability. The products of Hermiston could now be shipped anywhere in the country that had rail service by way of the Union Pacific Railroad. This opened up a whole new avenue of income.

Maxwell Siding was built around the time the railroad came to Hermiston and now serves as a museum exhibiting what life was once like in this area. From 1947 to 1954 the construction of the McNary Dam shone a light on more prosperity that would come to Hermiston. Not only could the city be reached by land and rail, but now business could be brought in through water.

Agriculture continued to flourish through the 1970s. Potato processing plants moved into the area while new methods in irrigation spun opportunities in farming. Agriculture remains a huge industry in Hermiston today.