The northeastern Oregon town of Echo has been given the national America in Bloom Award for cities of under 4,000 population. The award was given at the eighth annual America in Bloom Symposium and Awards Program at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa.
America in Bloom is a national campaign and contest that promotes enhancing communities through beautification. In the friendly competition, communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to heritage conservation, floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, and community involvement.
Over the previous three years Echo had earned special recognition from America in Bloom for its heritage preservation efforts (twice) and urban forestry efforts. This year, as well as winning overall in its population category, the city received special recognition for community involvement.
The community has 10 properties on the National Register of Historic Places and many other historic buildings and sites in and within a few miles of town. There are three town history books and a cultural inventory to tell the city's history. The 1920 Echo Bank Building, which is on the National Register, has been converted to a historical museum.