There are roughly 17.1 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 29%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in Oregon using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census’ 2024 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Montana are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country’s 3,144 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#36. Multnomah County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.8% (31,614 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 374
— Korean War: 1,401
— Vietnam War: 11,227
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 6,256
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 7,016
#35. Benton County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.3% (4,290 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 42
— Korean War: 313
— Vietnam War: 1,844
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 842
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 815
#34. Hood River County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.6% (1,054 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 45
— Vietnam War: 283
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 376
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 332
#33. Washington County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.6% (26,398 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 325
— Korean War: 1,402
— Vietnam War: 7,934
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 6,488
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 6,835
#32. Umatilla County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.5% (3,884 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 37
— Korean War: 127
— Vietnam War: 1,613
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 857
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 982
#31. Clackamas County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.6% (22,296 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 335
— Korean War: 865
— Vietnam War: 8,344
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,676
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 5,070
#30. Deschutes County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (12,269 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 165
— Korean War: 565
— Vietnam War: 4,611
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,098
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,764
#29. Marion County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (19,351 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 147
— Korean War: 1,108
— Vietnam War: 6,341
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,371
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,346
#28. Lane County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (23,869 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 321
— Korean War: 1,215
— Vietnam War: 9,474
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,212
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,561
#27. Union County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (1,622 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 11
— Korean War: 96
— Vietnam War: 607
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 335
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 516
#26. Yamhill County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (6,738 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 12
— Korean War: 407
— Vietnam War: 2,406
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,459
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,492
#25. Morrow County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (718 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 5
— Korean War: 91
— Vietnam War: 272
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 188
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 125
#24. Lake County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (550 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 49
— Vietnam War: 174
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 133
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 151
#23. Jefferson County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (1,603 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 21
— Vietnam War: 726
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 283
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 332
#22. Malheur County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (1,946 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 1
— Korean War: 108
— Vietnam War: 669
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 540
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 430
#21. Tillamook County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (1,943 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 44
— Vietnam War: 768
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 297
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 340
#20. Jackson County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.8% (15,684 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 265
— Korean War: 665
— Vietnam War: 6,288
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,881
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,744
#19. Wasco County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (1,857 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 44
— Korean War: 82
— Vietnam War: 591
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 384
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 482
#18. Polk County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.1% (6,368 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 44
— Korean War: 338
— Vietnam War: 2,206
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,292
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,631
#17. Harney County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.2% (560 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 23
— Korean War: 26
— Vietnam War: 231
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 111
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 147
#16. Linn County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.3% (9,431 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 76
— Korean War: 331
— Vietnam War: 3,692
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,039
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,783
#15. Klamath County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 10% (5,436 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 33
— Korean War: 220
— Vietnam War: 2,072
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,163
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,429
#14. Crook County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.1% (2,130 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 46
— Korean War: 73
— Vietnam War: 857
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 548
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 283
#13. Wallowa County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.4% (628 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 10
— Korean War: 56
— Vietnam War: 230
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 131
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 118
#12. Columbia County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.5% (4,460 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 86
— Vietnam War: 1,786
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 770
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,059
#11. Clatsop County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11% (3,695 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 49
— Korean War: 269
— Vietnam War: 1,399
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 787
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,029
#10. Baker County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.1% (1,500 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 81
— Vietnam War: 693
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 147
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 262
#9. Curry County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.1% (2,231 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 18
— Korean War: 206
— Vietnam War: 1,151
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 422
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 342
#8. Coos County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.2% (5,974 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 111
— Korean War: 413
— Vietnam War: 2,606
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,033
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,366
#7. Lincoln County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.3% (4,862 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 40
— Korean War: 225
— Vietnam War: 2,156
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 918
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 554
#6. Josephine County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.4% (8,082 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 119
— Korean War: 626
— Vietnam War: 2,970
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,382
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,620
#5. Wheeler County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.9% (156 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 5
— Vietnam War: 94
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 0
#4. Sherman County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.1% (188 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 0
— Korean War: 7
— Vietnam War: 49
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 46
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 64
#3. Grant County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.7% (759 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 12
— Korean War: 87
— Vietnam War: 341
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 74
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 186
#2. Douglas County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.2% (11,928 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 201
— Korean War: 829
— Vietnam War: 4,956
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,133
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,192
#1. Gilliam County
– Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.2% (226 veterans)
– Veterans by war:
— World War II: 13
— Korean War: 13
— Vietnam War: 114
— Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 40
— Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 66
Stacker
Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.