Vale is a city in and the county seat of Malheur County, Oregon, United States, about 12 miles (19 km) west of the Idaho border. Take a look below for 15 interesting and fascinating facts about Vale, Oregon, United States.

1. It is at the intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 26, on the Malheur River at its confluence with Bully Creek.

2. Vale was selected as Malheur’s county seat in 1888 in a vote where other candidate communities were Ontario and Jordan Valley.

3. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 1,874, down from 1,976 in 2000.

4. Vale is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

5. The area where present-day Vale sits was historically home to small groups of Native Americans.

6. The area was also a central gathering place for Paiutes during salmon run season.

7. The community was the first stop in Oregon along the Oregon Trail. Journals of those who traveled the trail note a trading post in the area as early as 1853, and by 1864, Johnathan Keeney had built a cabin and a barn that he offered for lodging for passing travelers.

8. This cabin was replaced by the Rinehart House in 1872, which still stands today.

9. The railroad arrived in Vale in 1883, and the town became an important shipping gateway.

10. A post office with the name of Vale was established in the Rinehart House the same year, though the community was not incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly until February 21, 1889.

11. Originally incorporated as the Town of Vale, it became the City of Vale in 1905.

12. In 1887, Vale was named the first Malheur County seat, and a courthouse was constructed.

13. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.14 square miles (2.95 km2), all of it land.

14. The city has an elevation of 2,244 feet (684 m) above sea level.

15. Vale has a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). July is on average the hottest month and January the coldest.