Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States.

Joseph was platted in 1883,[5] and the economy was originally based on the land, especially grain and stock.

After a railroad line was completed to Joseph in 1908, a lumber mill opened, bolstering the economy.

[5] When the timber industry collapsed in the 1980s, local unemployment rate approached 17%.

However, in 1982 a new industry was born as three bronze foundries opened in the local area.

The city sponsors the annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in late July,[7][8][9] Bronze, Blues and Brews in August since 2001, and Alpenfest in September, a Swiss-Bavarian festival staged in Joseph and at nearby Wallowa Lake.

Alpenfest resembles an Oktoberfest but has more yodeling and alphorn playing, reflecting the area's reputation as "Oregon's Little Switzerland.

"[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.88 square miles (2.28 km2), all of it land.