Shaniko, Oregon

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Coordinates: 45°0′11″N, 120°45′11″W
Shaniko, Oregon
Nickname: "Oregon's Best Known Ghost Town"
Location in Oregon
County	Wasco County
Incorporated	1901
Mayor	Booker T. Pannell
Area
- City	1.2 km² (0.5 sq mi)
- Land	1.2 km² (0.5 sq mi)
- Water	0 km² (0 sq mi)
Elevation	1,019 m (3,344 ft)
Population
- City (2000)	26
- Density	21.8/km² (55.9/sq mi)
Time zone	Pacific (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	Pacific (UTC-7)
Website: http://www.shaniko.com

Shaniko is a city located in Wasco County, Oregon, United States, on U.S. Highway 97 and about eight miles (13 km) north of Antelope. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 26; a virtual ghost town whose preservation is being spearheaded by investments from Robert B. Pamplin, a businessman and owner of the Portland Tribune and Columbia Empire Farms.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

According to Oregon Geographic Names, Shaniko was named after August Scherneckau, a settler who came to the area after the Civil War. The spelling of the town's name reflects local pronunciation of Scherneckau's name. The town was originally called Cross Hollows; a post office by that name was established in May 1879 with Scherneckau as postmaster.

The town's heyday was the first decade of the 20th century, when Shaniko served as a transportation hub spurred by the presence of the Columbia Southern Railway, a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad which built a branch from Biggs Junction to Shaniko. That branch was completed in May 1900.

The residents of Shaniko voted to incorporate of Shaniko and elected a mayor, F. T. Hurlbert, and other city officials on January 1, 1902. It was Wasco County's fifth largest city, boasting the largest wool warehouse in the state, from which two tons were marketed in 1901. It was surrounded by cattle ranches, which produced livestock for shipment which filled 400 railroad cars that year.^[1]

By 1911, another line diverted traffic once served by the Columbia Southern and the town begin to decline. A mid-1960s flood in Hay Canyon near Grass Valley destroyed part of the Columbia Southern line and led it its abandonment.

[edit] Geography

Shaniko is located at 45°0'11" North, 120°45'11" West (45.002955, -120.753149)^GR1, at an elevation of 3,344 feet (1019 m), according to Oregon Blue Book.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²), none of which is covered with water.

While the semi-arid climate creates a desolate landscape with little visible vegetation other than scrub oak and dry grass most of the year, views from Shaniko are remarkable. Many foothills and peaks of the Cascade range are visible, including Three Feathers Mountain, Hood, Jefferson, Adams, St. Helens and Rainier.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 26 people, 14 households, and nine families residing in the city. The population density is 21.8/km² (55.9/mi²). There are 35 housing units at an average density of 29.4/km² (75.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.31% White and 7.69% African American.

There are 14 households out of which 7.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% are married couples living together, 0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% are non-families. 21.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.86 and the average family size is 2.11.

In the city the population is spread out with 7.7% under the age of 18, 0% from 18 to 24, 11.5% from 25 to 44, 42.3% from 45 to 64, and 38.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 61 years. For every 100 females there are 136.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 140.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $28,750, and the median income for a family is $31,250. Males have a median income of $28,750 versus $43,333 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,617. 16.7% of the population and 0.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 100.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.