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Fossil, OR
City in Wheeler County, Oregon.
Population
535
Land area
0.8sq mi
People per sq mi
684
ZIP codes
0
Fossil and its ZIP codes
Fossil at a glance
- Fossil is about 15 times as dense as Oregon as a whole.
- The median household income is $54,167, 35% below the Oregon median of $83,011.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $210,500 (56% below Oregon) and median rent is $754 a month.
Local data for Fossil, OR
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Fossil, OR, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,167
Poverty rate
11.6%
Median home value
$210,500
Median rent
$754/mo
Homeownership
79.8%
Bachelor's or higher
18.8%
Median age
48.4
Average commute
10.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (102), German Americans (52), Scottish Americans (36).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Wheeler County. PPP loans are for Fossil.
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Sep 2026, -1.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,100
352 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,470
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$33.5M
FY 2026, $23,057 per person
How people get to work
Fossil, OR, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone64.1%
- Carpooled2.9%
- Public transit10.5%
- Walked8.6%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home13.9%
Average one-way commute: 10.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Fossil, OR, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
315
Countywide, mostly heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
7
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 26°F
15.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Fossil, OR, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.6%
U.S. 33.3% +2.3 pts
Diabetes
16.3%
U.S. 12.1% +4.2 pts
Smoking
14.1%
U.S. 12.8% +1.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.9%
U.S. 11.1% -3.2 pts
Cities near Fossil
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CondonCity | 17 mi | 0.8 |
| LonerockCity | 17 mi | 1 |
| SprayTown | 24 mi | 0.3 |
| AntelopeCity | 26 mi | 0.5 |
| ShanikoCity | 26 mi | 0.5 |
| MitchellCity | 30 mi | 1.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Fossil, OR in?
- Fossil is in Wheeler County, Oregon.
- What is the population of Fossil, OR?
- About 535 people live in Fossil, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Fossil?
- Nearby places include Condon (17 mi), Lonerock (17 mi), Spray (24 mi), Antelope (26 mi), Shaniko (26 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023