Tumalo ( ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Tumalo had a population of 558. In the Klamath language, tumolo means "wild plum," a plentiful shrub in south central Oregon. Tumola means "ground fog," which may have described Tumalo Creek. Tumallowa, the original name of Tumalo Creek, means "icy water."OregonLive.com op-ed by Thom Powell History The town was originally called "Laidlaw", after W. A. Laidlaw, the town promoter. The Tumalo Irrigation Project and Tumalo post office had been established in 1904. Although the project ended and the Tumalo post office closed in 1913, by 1915 residents of Laidlaw changed the town name to "Tumalo".
Due to population growth in the Bend area a new zip code was added effective July 1, 2015. The new zip code, 97703, changed the zip code of Tumalo from 97701 to 97703.
Geography Tumalo is in north-central Deschutes County on U.S. Route 20 between Sisters, to the northwest, and Bend, the county seat to the south. Eagle Crest Resort is to the northeast.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Tumalo has an area of , all of it land. The town lies along the Deschutes River. Tumalo Creek joins the Deschutes south of the town.
Demographics
Education It is in the Redmond School District 2J. The zoned schools are: Tumalo Elementary School, - Compare to the Census school district map. Obsidian Middle School, - Compare to the Census school district map. and Ridgeview High School. - Compare to the Census school district map.
In previous eras, there was a Tumalo elementary school district. In 1966, the Tumalo district, among others, was to merge into the Redmond elementary school district.
Deschutes County is in the boundary of Central Oregon Community College.
Notable residents Ben Westlund, politician
See also Tumalo Mountain Tumalo State Park
References