Tillamook is a
Native American word meaning "Land of Many Waters". With 75 miles of
coastline, four bays, and nine rivers Tillamook truly lives up to its
name.
The county is also well described by the slogan "Land of Cheese, Trees,
and Ocean Breeze".
In spite
of having suffered the worst forest fires of the century, Tillamook
County's greatest source of income is from forest products. One large
sawmill, and several shake and shingle mills are situated in the
county. In addition to large privately owned tree farms,
extensive acreage is managed by the forest service and bureau of land
management while the Tillamook Burn is operated by the State Forestry
Department. Re-forestation is giving the county a sustained
annual timber yield. Douglas fir, hemlock, and spruce are the
principal trees, and 93% of the county is classed as forest land.
Tillamook
County has some 150 dairy farms and 26,150 cows. The Tillamook
County Creamery Association is famous for its cheddar cheese and other
dairy products. The annual value of dairy products is about
$85,000,000. Also of importance are the fishing, oyster, and
holly industries.
The
third factor of the county's economy is tourism. Every year more
visitors flock to the coast from Portland and valley points and travel
up and down U.S. 101 Highway.
The Tillamook Pioneer museum attracts 80,000 visitors a year and the
Tillamook Cheese Visitor Center over 1 million tourists. There is
much fishing, clamming, crabbing, golfing, boating, hunting, and beach
combing just to name a few attractions.
