Vale was selected as Malheur's county seat in 1888 in a vote where other candidate communities were Ontario and Jordan Valley.

The area where present-day Vale sits was historically home to small groups of Native Americans.

The area was also a central gathering place for Paiutes during salmon run season.

A post office with the name of Vale was established in the Rinehart House the same year,[9] though the community was not incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly until February 21, 1889.

[10] In 1887, Vale was named the first Malheur County seat, and a courthouse was constructed.

[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.14 square miles (2.95 km2), all of it land.

However, the low humidity and clear high-altitude skies mean nights are cool even in summer, with minima rarely above 65 °F or 18.3 °C.

Snowfall is rare despite temperatures falling well below freezing between mid-October and mid-April, with a median of only 7.3 inches or 19 centimetres and usually negligible snow on the ground even in January, although during February 1989 a depth of 18 inches or 46 centimetres was reached.

[17] In the 21st century, Vale is a stop on the Eastern POINT intercity bus line between Bend and Ontario.