Jefferson County was created on Dec. 12, 1914, out of territory that was once part of Crook County.
 The county was named after Mount Jefferson, the second highest peak in Oregon with an elevation of 10,497 feet,
 which marks the county's western skyline. The county is bounded on the north by Wasco County, on the east by Wheeler
 and Crook Counties, on the south by Deschutes County, and on the west by Linn and Marion Counties. The county
 encompasses 1791 square miles.
 
 Madras, named after the city in India, was incorporated in 1911 and serves as the county seat. A new county courthouse
 was built in 1961. County government is administered by a three-member board of commissioners.