Klamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Oregon and the county seat of Klamath County. It sits on the southeastern shore of Upper Klamath Lake near the Cascade Range and is home to the Oregon Institute of Technology. The city is nicknamed “Oregon’s City of Sunshine” and has about 21,800 residents.
The town started in 1867 as Linkville, named after the Link River. It was renamed Klamath Falls in the 1890s, after the falls on the river. The area’s early big industry was logging, and a water project begun in 1906 helped create land for farming. The region has a long history with Indigenous peoples, including the Klamath and Modoc; there was conflict in the 19th century, and a number of important events followed in the area.
Klamath Falls is in a high-desert climate with about 300 sunny days each year. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers can be hot. The city gets relatively little rain, mostly in winter, and snowfall averages around 36 inches per year. The all-time temperature range runs from very hot in summer to very cold in winter.
Geography and notable places: The city is near Upper Klamath Lake and is part of a region known for waterfowl and other wildlife along the Pacific Flyway. Notable sites include the OC&E Woods Line State Trail, which is the longest state rail trail in Oregon, and Veterans Memorial Park near Lake Ewauna. The area has used geothermal energy for heating since the early 1900s, including a downtown district heating system that has seen various periods of use and expansion.
Population and neighborhoods: The 2020 census recorded about 21,813 people. The city covers about 21 square miles, with most residents living in urban areas. The community includes families, students, and workers who help run local services and businesses.
Government and services: Klamath Falls uses a council–manager form of government. A five-member city council, elected from five wards, guides the city, while a nonpartisan mayor presides over meetings. A city manager handles day-to-day administration.
Transportation and connections: Amtrak’s Coast Starlight stops in Klamath Falls, linking the city to Seattle and Los Angeles. Local transit is provided by Basin Transit Service, with additional routes like Oregon POINT to Medford and Brookings and Sage Stage to Alturas, California. Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base sits near the airport, which is used by the military and, for commercial travel, the nearby Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport.
Education and economy: The Oregon Institute of Technology is a major local institution. The area has a history of farming and forestry, and geothermal heating remains a notable feature of the local energy landscape.
Overall, Klamath Falls is a sunny, high-desert city with a mix of historic industry, higher education, outdoor recreation, and unique energy and transportation links that connect it to the rest of Oregon and the region.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:59 (CET).