Visitors to Ontario, Oregon, will be pleased to find that the small town boasts both beautiful arid desert landscapes and majestic mountain ranges. A short drive from the town center will take you to Owyhee Reservoir, a 53-mile-long lake surrounded by volcanic rock formations. It is the perfect playground for boaters and offers scenic boat rides. A variety of other attractions are located in and around the city.
Bird-watchers will enjoy the park’s many species of birds. You can watch blue heron and Canada geese perched in the reeds, or look for muskrat and river otter. A nearby island is home to deer, which are often visible in early morning mist. Bring binoculars and a boat, and spend the day exploring nature. It’s a great escape from the bustle of modern life.
The local economy is centered on agriculture, with an estimated 600 million pounds of potatoes produced annually by the Heinz Frozen Food Company. Another major employer in the region is the Snake River Correctional Institute, which opened in 1991 and currently has 3,000 beds. A community college, the Treasure Valley Community College, was founded in 1962 and serves around 7,500 students each year. The Four Rivers Cultural Center, a 10,000 square-foot museum dedicated to the diverse settlement patterns of the area, is another attraction.
In the 1880s, Ontario was a livestock-producer center. Public lands provided ample grazing land, and the number of sheep in the town soared. In 1884, the Oregon Short Line connected to the town. Once the railroad was operational, stock from Eastern Oregon ranches began to arrive in Ontario. This led to a massive stockyard in Ontario, which was eventually the largest in the Pacific Northwest. A large number of people grew up in Ontario, which became a multicultural community.
The town’s scenic surroundings have made it an ideal place for outdoor activities. Visitors can take advantage of numerous boat rentals along the Snake River, which is known for its abundance of fish. You can also spot eagles, bighorn sheep, and lizards. A trip to this small town in Oregon is worth taking, as there are several scenic areas and a wealth of outdoor activities. The city’s thriving economy is the result of many recent improvements and new businesses.
After the war, Ontario’s population of Japanese Americans increased significantly, from 134 to 800. The Japanese population in the town increased to more than 1,000 by the 1950 census, and the local newspaper editor was a vocal advocate for them. The city’s xenophobia soon died down, and the city had the highest proportion of Japanese-Americans per capita in Oregon. Today, the city’s residents embrace diversity and celebrate their ethnicity.
The city is home to numerous attractions and landmarks, including the Veterans Monument, introduced by Japanese partners to honor veterans. Aside from the town’s natural attractions, Ontario Oregon is home to a lava flow and a 27-square-mile ovaline crater. While the crater is not the main attraction, locals claim to see bootprints in the lava. The town’s population includes many businesses related to the production of vegetables, corn, and sugar beets.