Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 37 min5:14 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 8 h 46 min7:35 am – 4:22 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People800 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 53.3375 householdsMedian household income $54,583Median home value $250,000Median rent $725 a month80% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,697 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting3.2% unemployment rate48% of adults are in the labour force, 331 employedMain industries: public administration 17%, education and health care 16%, professional and business services 13%Average commute 24 minutes68% drive alone, 7% car-pool, 7% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle, 13% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher90% finished high school, 8% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 99%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 85°F, lows 46°FColdest month December: highs 41°F, lows 24°F15 in of rain a year, on about 38 dayswettest month May26 in of snow a year, on about 17 days27 days above 90°F, 127 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Fossil station, 3 mi away; snow from Condon
Nearby landmarksBald Mountainpeak · under a mileBlack Buttepeak · 3.1 miGrant Springspring · 1.1 miClymer Springspring · 1.9 miHoover Creek Reservoirreservoir · 4.3 miKinzua Reservoir (historical)reservoir · 6.6 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsJohn Day, Chaparral Accessstate recreation area · 13.3 miJohn Day, Chaparral Recreation Associationstate recreation area · 13.7 miJohn Day Fossil Beds National Monumentnational monument · 21.4 mi · 7,033 acresOchoco National Forestnational forest · 25.9 mi · 613,632 acresMt. Hood Purchase Unitnational forest · 57.0 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes37 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19704 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.6 on 13 Apr 197634 mi away, near Shaniko, OregonMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 30 Dec 201038 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowWheeler County, OR, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality86% of days had good air in 2025315 of 365 days measured50 moderate daysMedian index 25, worst day 81main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Wasco County, OR, 50 mi away
Internet at home80% of households have a broadband subscription53% have cable, fibre or DSL8% rely on a mobile data plan alone14% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterCity of Fossilserves 470 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation3,961 ft1,207 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesPost officeFossil Post Office2.7 miTown hallFossil City Hall2.8 miPoliceWheeler County Sheriff's Office2.7 miFire stationFossil Volunteer Fire Department2.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRoberts Field RDM69 miMajor airportPortland International Airport PDX125 miUS highwayUS 9725 miAmtrakWishram, WA WIH61 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 97830 ZIP area.
