The story of Madras, Oregon, is etched into the very landscape of the Willow Creek basin, a place that whispered of promise to early settlers. In 1902, when John Palmehn laid out the plans for a town, this basin was home to a mere four homesteads. Palmehn’s initial vision was to name the burgeoning community Palmain, an Americanized echo of his own name. However, the U.S. Postal Department, in its wisdom, deemed it too similar to the already established (and now vanished) community of Palmer. Thus began the quest for a new name, and while the exact origins of “Madras” remain debated, the name, like the town itself, resolutely stuck.
Fueled by the anticipation of a railroad’s arrival, Madras quickly blossomed into a bustling commercial center. Incorporated in 1910, the town’s trajectory was further solidified in 1911 with the arrival of both the Oregon Trunk Railroad and the Deschutes Railroad Co. Just a few years later, in 1914, Jefferson County emerged from Crook County, initially designating Culver as its seat of governance. However, the residents of Madras had other plans. In 1916, a county-wide vote shifted the balance of power, awarding the county seat to Madras. The early hours of New Year’s Day in 1917 witnessed a daring (or, depending on perspective, opportunistic) move by Madras residents who ventured to Culver and “secured”—or, as Culver lore recounts, “stole”—the county records, cementing Madras’s place at the heart of Jefferson County.
The 1930s brought further transformation. In 1937, decades after the formation of a local irrigation district, the Roosevelt Administration gave the nod to the Deschutes Project. This ambitious undertaking promised to deliver irrigation water to nearly 60,000 acres within central Jefferson County’s North Unit Irrigation District. While World War II temporarily slowed progress, it simultaneously delivered an unexpected economic boon: a U.S. Army air base. This lifeline was particularly crucial for Madras, whose population had dwindled to under 300 residents.
1946 marked a turning point. Irrigation water finally reached the district, and the arid wheat fields surrounding Madras underwent a dramatic metamorphosis, turning lush and green. This irrigation project triggered a land rush and a population surge in Madras and its environs. The fertile land surrounding the town would eventually gain renown for producing some of the world’s finest mint and seed crops, solidifying Madras’s agricultural prowess.
The landscape and demographics of the region were further reshaped by the construction of two dams by Portland General Electric. Pelton Dam was completed in 1958, followed by Round Butte Dam, a few miles upstream, in 1964. Both dams, situated on the Deschutes River near its confluence with the Crooked and Metolius Rivers, brought an influx of new residents and transformed the natural environment. Round Butte Dam’s creation of Lake Billy Chinook led to the establishment of Cove Palisades State Park, now one of Oregon’s most beloved recreational destinations.
Madras has also been home to individuals of notable distinction. Among them is Jake DeShazer, a member of Doolittle’s Raiders, famed for their audacious bombing raids in the early stages of World War II. DeShazer endured being shot down over China and spent three harrowing years in a Japanese prison camp. Furthermore, Madras proudly claims Jacoby Ellsbury, the Boston Red Sox outfielder, as its birthplace and childhood home. Ellsbury reached Major League Baseball in 2007, playing a key role in that year’s World Series victory, and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team in 2011.
Agriculture and ranching remain cornerstones of the local economy in Madras. Bright Wood Corporation, a wood-remanufacturing plant owned by the Stovall family, stands as a major employer, providing approximately 650 jobs at its Madras facility. Adding to the diverse economic landscape is the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, a state prison located just east of town.
Strategically positioned at the crossroads of U.S. Highways 97 and 26, Madras serves as a welcoming waypoint for travelers exploring central Oregon. Influenced by a rich tapestry of Hispanic and Native American cultures, and nurtured by a century-long relationship with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (whose children attend middle and high school in Madras), the town has evolved into a vibrant multicultural community. By 2020, Madras’s population had grown to nearly 7,456 residents, a testament to its enduring appeal and pioneering spirit in the heart of Oregon.
