McDermitt, Nevada and Oregon explained

Official Name:McDermitt
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Named For:Lt. Col. Charles McDermit, 2nd Cavalry, California Volunteers
Mapsize:200px
Pushpin Map:Nevada#Oregon#United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Area Total Sq Mi:1.57
Area Total Km2:4.06
Area Land Sq Mi:1.57
Area Land Km2:4.06
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Area Water Km2:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:124
Population Density Km2:30.56
Population Density Sq Mi:79.13
Coordinates:41.9975°N -117.7183°W
Timezone:PST
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation Ft:4432
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:89421 (NV) and 89425 (OR)
Area Code:Area code 775 (NV), 458 and 541 (OR)
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:32-44000
Unit Pref:Imperial
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0845557
Area Footnotes:[1]

McDermitt is an unincorporated community straddling the Nevada–Oregon border, in Humboldt County, Nevada, and Malheur County, Oregon, United States. McDermitt's economy has historically been based on mining, ranching, and farming. The last mining operation closed in 1990, resulting in a steady decline in population.

As of the 2010 census, the combined population was 513. Seventy-five percent of the residents were American Indian, predominantly Northern Paiute of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, whose members include Shoshone people.[2] [3]

History

The community, originally called Dugout, was named after Fort McDermit. It was named after Lt. Col. Charles McDermit,[4] [5] commander of the Military District of Nevada, who was killed by Native Americans in a skirmish in the area in 1865.[6] It is not known why there is a discrepancy in the spelling.[4] Fort McDermit, which was 5miles outside the current township, was originally established to protect the stagecoach route from Virginia City through Winnemucca to Silver City, Idaho Territory. The stage road was the military's most important transportation route in southeast Oregon.[7] The township of Dugout was established as support for Fort McDermit.[8]

Geography and climate

The community is on U.S. Highway 95, 73miles north of Winnemucca. The elevation of McDermitt is 4432feet above sea level.

McDermitt is in the Oregon High Desert with a desert climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), averaging 9.2inches of rain annually with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Most precipitation (47%) occurs from March through June. About 23% occurs from September through November, and 25% from December through February, much as snow.[9] [10]

The McDermitt area boasts the longest climatic record in Nevada, with data beginning in 1866. The earliest Nevada climate stations were at Army posts. The U.S. Army Signal Corps was responsible for weather duty in the late 19th century and established the National Weather Service in 1870.[11]

Demographics

For statistical purposes, the census bureau has allocated McDermitt two census-designated places (CDPs), McDermitt, Nevada and Fort McDermitt, Nevada. The Oregon portion of McDermitt is not part of the McDermitt CDP, but is included in the Ontario, OR - ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.[2] Essentially the Fort McDermitt CDP entails the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation and the McDermitt CDP entails the adjoining McDermitt township.

Fort McDermitt CDP

As of the US census of 2010, there were 341 people, of which 30% were under the age of 18 years and 11% (39 people) over the age of 65 years. 92% (313 people) were American Indian, with 3.5% (12 people) described as being of two or more races, and 0.6% (two people) were White. There were 125 housing units with 86% (108) described as occupied. There were 108 males for every 100 females.[2]

McDermitt CDP

As of the US census of 2010, there were 172 people, of which 18% were under the age of 18 years and 22% (38 people) over the age of 65 years. 24% (42 people) were American Indian, with 0% described as being of two or more races, and 68% (117 people) were White. There were 101 housing units with 77% (78) described as occupied. There were 110 males for every 100 females.[2]

Economy

McDermitt's economy has historically been based on mining, ranching and farming. In the period 1917 to 1989 it was home to four nationally significant mercury mines in the McDermitt CalderaBretz, Opalite, Cordero and McDermittwhich from 1933 to 1989 were the largest producers in North America.[12] In 1985 of the 16,530 flasks of mercury (each containing 76lb produced in the US, 16,337 came from the McDermitt Mine.[13] The closure of mercury mining in 1990 resulted in a significant decline in population.[2]

Significant gold mines in the nearby Santa Rosa Mountains were the National that produced in excess of 200000ozt, and the Buckskin National that produced 24000ozt of gold and 300000ozt of silver over the period 1906–1941.[14]

Current development activities that may result in renewed mining are at Cordero (gold and silver),[15] Cordero (gallium),[16] Buckskin-National (gold-silver),[17] Aurora (uranium)[18] and Disaster Peak (gold).[19] The largest employers in McDermitt are the Say When Bar, Restaurant & Casino and the McDermitt Combined School.

Points of interest

The state line goes through the White Horse Inn, a historical landmark now being restored, which was a saloon, hotel, and (reportedly) brothel.[20] When it was open, food could be ordered and paid for in Oregon, avoiding the Nevada state sales tax.[21]

Education

Humboldt County School District operates the McDermitt Combined School, a kindergartentwelfth grade (K–12) school, in the Nevada side.

The Oregon side is zoned to McDermitt School District 51,[22] a school district, governed by a board of directors, which sends all of its students to McDermitt Combined in Nevada and which does not have any employees.[23] Circa 2006, 16 students, of all grade levels, lived in the district. In 2006 the district possessed a school building that was no longer used.[24]

Humboldt County is in the service area of Great Basin College.[25] That college maintains the GBC Center in Winnemucca.[26] The section of Malheur County in which McDermitt, Oregon is located in is not in any community college district.[27]

McDermitt has a public library, a branch of the Humboldt County Library.[28]

Transportation

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 19, 2022.
  2. Web site: 2010 Census Data . 2011-08-24 . U.S. Census Bureau . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131013222920/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ . October 13, 2013 .
  3. Book: Bengston . Ginny . SWCA Environmental Consultants . Northern Paiute and Western Shoshone Land Use in Northern Nevada: A Class 1 Ethnographic/Ethnohistoric Overview . Cultural Resources Series No 12, 2003 . US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Nevada . Dec 16, 2002 . Reno, Nevada . 32 . 2012-02-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120630044848/http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nv/cultural/reports.Par.99842.File.dat/12_N_Pauite.pdf . 2012-06-30 .
  4. 624.
  5. Web site: McDermit, Charles . 2011-08-25 . pdf . Carson City Consolidated Municipality . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927165808/http://www.carson-city.nv.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=11839 . 2011-09-27 .
  6. Book: Origin of Place Names: Nevada . https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171723/http://dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf . 2018-04-09 . live . W.P.A. . Federal Writers' Project . 1941 . 38.
  7. Web site: Winnemucca to Silver City Wagon Road . 2011-08-26 . Bureau of Land Management.
  8. Web site: The Town That the Internet (Almost) Forgot . 2012-02-23 . Salter . Chuck . March 21, 2001 . Fast Company.
  9. Web site: Louse Canyon Geographic Management Area Standards Of Rangeland Health Evaluation . 2011-11-06 . Taylor . Jerry L. . 2002 . Bureau of Land Management.
  10. Web site: Historic Average: McDermitt, Nevada . 2012-09-24 . 24 Sep 2012 . Intellicast.com.
  11. Web site: Nevada's oldest Climate Records . 2012-09-24 . Weather Observations . Mic Mac Media.
  12. Book: Fisk . Elwin . Ridge . John . Cordero Mine, Opalite Mining District, in Ore deposits of the United States, 1933-1967 . 1968 . The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum engineers, Inc. . New York . 1573–1591.
  13. News: J.D. . Schlottmann Jr . Last Mercury Mine Closes . April 1987 . California Mining Journal . 17 . 23 Oct 2013.
  14. Web site: Buckskin National and McCormick Group Mine/Millsites: Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest . 2011-08-26 . US Forest Service.
  15. Web site: Cordero Property . 2011-08-24 . Nevgold Resource Corp . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110205215142/http://www.nevgoldcorp.com/s/Cordero.asp . 2011-02-05 .
  16. Web site: Cordero Gallium Project . 2011-08-24 . Gold Canyon Resources Inc .
  17. Web site: National District . 2011-08-24 . Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929024457/http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/scans/3350/33500011.pdf . 2011-09-29 .
  18. Web site: Oregon Energy . 2011-08-24 . Energy Ventures Limited . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110831115118/http://www.energyventures.com.au/projects/projectsoregon.html . 2011-08-31 .
  19. Web site: Albisu – USA . 2011-08-24 . Concordia Resource Corporation . dead . https://archive.today/20120707160209/http://concordiaresourcecorp.com/projects/albisu/ . 2012-07-07 .
  20. Web site: Notes for Baber Family Members Individual Notes from the database.
  21. Web site: Townsite of McDermitt . 2004-01-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20031216034650/http://www.scs.unr.edu/~sjbarnes/mcdermit.html . 2003-12-16 .
  22. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Malheur County, OR. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901235801/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st41_or/schooldistrict_maps/c41045_malheur/DC20SD_C41045.pdf . 2021-09-01 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-15.
  23. Web site: McDermitt. Malheur Education Service District. Vale, Oregon. 2022-07-15. - Linked from "Schools We Serve"
  24. Web site: McDermitt School District . Malheur County Schools . 2006-09-03 . 2022-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060903163539/http://www.malesd.k12.or.us/Districts/McDermitt/index.html . 3 September 2006 . dead.
  25. Web site: Data and Information. Great Basin College. 2024-03-10.
  26. Web site: GBC Center in Winnemucca. Great Basin College. 2024-03-10. 5490 Kluncy Canyon Road Winnemucca, NV 89445.
  27. Web site: Oregon Community Colleges and Community College Districts. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001051322/https://www.clatsopcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02-2-OR-CC-color-map.pdf . 2020-10-01 . live. Oregon Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development. 2022-07-17.
  28. Web site: Nevada Public Libraries . PublicLibraries.com . 14 June 2019.