Umatilla is located in Umatilla County along the banks of the Columbia River, north of Hermiston along I-82, at the Hwy 730 junction.
The Port of Umatilla is one of 23 Oregon public ports. Established in 1940, the Port has a legislative mandate to diversify the economy and expand Oregon trade. As such, the Port of Umatilla is involved in economic development and various maritime activities
The site of Umatilla was first visited by Lewis & Clark on Sunday, April 27, 1806 as they surveyed the Pacific Northwest for the U.S. Government. Later, the town was founded as Umatilla Landing in 1864, Umatilla sprang up virtually overnight as an important trade and shipping center during the gold rush. This was primarily due to its prime location at the confluence of the Columbia and Umatilla Rivers.
Today, the Columbia River provides year-round Fishing activities.