Coos County ( ) is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,929. The county seat is Coquille. The county was formed from the western parts of Umpqua and Jackson counties. It is named after a tribe of Native Americans who live in the region. Coos County comprises the Coos Bay, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Coos Bay is the homeland of two bands of Native people, Miluk and Hanis. Both today are often referred to as "Coos". Lewis and Clark noted Cook-koo-oose for Coos Bay people. The origin of the name "Coos" is probably influenced both by the Lewis and Clark reference and the name for the region in the Hanis and Miluk languages, kuukwis. Early maps and documents spelled it Kowes, Cowes, Coose, Koos, among others.
Adjacent counties
- Douglas County - north and east
- Curry County - south
National protected areas
- Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
- Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Siskiyou National Forest (part)
- Siuslaw National Forest (part)