Adel, Oregon

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Adel is an unincorporated community in southeastern Lake County, Oregon, United States. It consists largely of a cafe and gas station, amid a community of loosely scattered ranches. The community is in one of the most remote parts of Oregon, on Oregon Route 140, approximately 30 miles (32 km) east of Lakeview.

1 History
2 Geography
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The Adel post office was established in 1896, and was either named for a former sweetheart of the owner of the land on which it was established, or for a local cow, Leda, but with the spelling reversed.^[1]

Some residents also suggest the town name is derived from the word "dell" meaning a remote valley.^{[citation needed]}

The community was largely settled by Irish Catholics from County Cork whose livelihoods were sustained by sheep, cattle, and wheat production. The Irish brought to Warner Valley a passion for music and dance. Crump Lake, immediately north of Adel, is named after Charlie Crump who played the drums late into the night—and late into his life—at many community dances. Crump's property also featured Crump Geyser, which once erupted with a force and frequency to rival Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful. The geyser's strength waned over a period of decades as visitors, hoping to trigger an eruption, gradually filled the geyser well with tossed pebbles and stones. Rattlesnakes, mule deer, pronghorn, scorpions, jackrabbits, and magpies share the valley with—and still outnumber—the human occupants.

[edit] Geography

The community is located in the southern reaches of semi-arid Warner Valley. Basalt pillars overlaying layers of fossiliferous limestone characterize the valley walls. The valley floor features scattered fresh and alkali lakes, wetlands, streams, sage/grass/juniper graze, and irrigated agricultural fields. The region is moderately geologically active with a retired geyser and several hot springs. Evidence of Native American culture and occupation is apparent in numerous petroglyphs, arrowheads, and other material artifacts.

[edit] References

^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.

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