In the early 1990s, there was only one large recreational area serving Jefferson County and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Spring’s 24,000 residents—the Cove Palisades State Park. The park, a 30-mile roundtrip drive from Madras, was situated among the towering cliffs surrounding Lake Billy Chinook.

Until 1994, many Jefferson County students spent their days crowded into temporary Quonset-hut type school buildings that were too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

In the early 2000s, Jefferson County was the 5th-fastest growing county in the state. Its population was comprised of three primary racial groups: Caucasians, Native Americans, and Hispanics. Nearly 20% of residents lived below the poverty level, and many were non-English speaking.

Jefferson County is bordered by four large bodies of water: Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes River, the Crooked River and the Metolius River. It is also crisscrossed by 60 to 100 miles of irrigation canals. During the hot summer months when temperatures soar toward the 100 degree mark, residents flock to these waters to cool off and enjoy some play time.