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 rich heritage that stretches back more than 10,000 years. Once among the largest population centers in the Pacific Northwest, it remains the economic hub of the Mid-Columbia region today. Lewis and Clark camped here during their expeditions in 1805 and 1806, helping pave the way for the overland Oregon Trail in 1843. At The Dalles, emigrants faced a pivotal choice on the final and most challenging leg of their journey to the Willamette Valley: brave the dangerous Columbia River or attempt the rugged Barlow Road through the mountains.

Located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, The Dalles sits in a landscape shaped by the Missoula Floods more than 15,000 years ago. For centuries, it served as a vital gathering place for Native American tribes, who came together to trade, fish, and socialize. In the early 1800s, fur traders, boatmen, and missionaries arrived, followed by settlers who established the neighborhoods and business districts that form the foundation of The Dalles today.

Today

The Dalles continues to play an important role as a regional center for trade and commerce. Its growth has long been shaped by strong transportation connections and access to markets in all directions. Agriculture remains a key part of the local economy, alongside a diverse mix of industries that contribute to the area’s stability and resilience.

As economic conditions evolved, The Dalles embraced a forward-looking approach by broadening its economic base. Community leaders and partners worked together to create opportunities for new businesses and long-term growth, resulting in a dynamic mix of employers and industries that support jobs and investment throughout the region.

In addition to its economic vitality, The Dalles offers a wide range of outdoor and recreational opportunities. With easy access to the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding landscapes, residents and visitors enjoy an active lifestyle with countless ways to explore, relax, and connect with the outdoors.

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°