Biohazard and Crime Scene Remediation in Milton-Freewater, OR

Milton-Freewater is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, formed in 1951 when the neighboring rival cities of Milton and Freewater voted to merge.

The 2020 census counted 7,151 residents in Milton-Freewater, with 2,524 households and a median age of 34.0 years.

The community was first settled in 1868 and incorporated as Milton by 1873, possibly named in hopes of building a mill or in honor of English poet John Milton.

Freewater took its name from the offer of free residential water rights used to attract new settlers; other proposed names had been New Walla Walla and Wallaette.

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake centered about 6 miles northwest of town caused significant damage in and around Milton-Freewater in 1936.

In the 1960s Milton-Freewater billed itself as the pea capital of the world, with several pea canneries and an annual Pea Festival in May.

The city now celebrates the Muddy Frogwater Festival, a three-day event held the third weekend in August each year, featuring frog-jumping contests, a corn roast, and concerts.

The city has sponsored the creation of more than 50 chainsaw sculpture frogs at local businesses to market itself as a "fun town" with its quirky nickname, "Muddy Frogwater Country."

Milton-Freewater is home to a growing wine industry, and The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater American Viticultural Area was established in February 2015.

The city's schools are under the Milton-Freewater Unified School District, including McLoughlin High School, Central Middle School, and three elementary schools.