Mitchell, Oregon

Mitchell is a city in Wheeler County, Oregon, United States. The population was 170 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1873 and was named after John H. Mitchell, a politician.

The Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Mitchell. Mitchell School, a public school with an enrollment of about 70 students, is in Mitchell.^[3]

Geography

Mitchell, in southwestern Wheeler County, is on U.S. Route 26 just east of its intersection with Oregon Route 207.^[4] By highway, the city is 47 miles (76 km) east of Prineville and 60 miles (97 km) west of John Day.^[5] To the city's south lie the Ochoco Mountains, the source of Bridge Creek. It flows through Mitchell and then north through the Painted Hills to the John Day River.^[4] Eroded remnants of ancient stratovolcanoes, once the size of Mount Hood are nearby; these include Black Butte and White Butte, visible from town.^[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.^[7]

History

At the request of William "Brawdie" Johnson, a blacksmith, a post office was established at Mitchell in 1873. Johnson, the first postmaster, suggested the name Mitchell after John Hippple Mitchell, a U.S. Senator from Oregon. Senator Mitchell held the office in 1873–79, 1885–97, and 1901–05. Platted in 1885, the community was incorporated in 1893.^[8]

In 1872 the first school in Wheeler County was established near Mitchell, and in 1874 it was relocated to the town itself. Over the next two decades, Mitchell grew to include a store, church, hotel, livery stable, and multiple saloons. The business district, including the saloons, grew up along Bridge Creek and became known locally as "Tiger Town". The church and most of the city's homes were built at higher elevation on a bench overlooking the creek; this part of town was known locally as "Piety Hill". About half the town was destroyed by fire in 1899, but it was later rebuilt.^[9]

Since its founding, Mitchell has experienced three catastrophic flash floods along Bridge Creek, which runs through the center of the city. Flooding caused great damage to the city in 1884 and 1904.^[10] The third flood occurred on July 13, 1956, shortly after an intense thunderstorm in the hills to the south. The creek is usually less than 12 inches (30 cm) deep during July.^[11] Minutes after the thunderstorm, a sudden surge of water destroyed or heavily damaged 20 buildings in the city and several bridges over the creek. An observer from the United States Geological Survey estimated that about 4 inches (10 cm) of rain had fallen in about 50 minutes at the storm's center.^[11] Total damage from the flood, which also caused extensive damage to crops and roads in a nearby valley, was $709,000.^[12]

Climate

July and August are the warmest months in Mitchell, with an average high of 86 °F (30 °C) and an average low of 52 °F (11 °C).^[13] January is the coldest month, when highs average 42 °F (6 °C) and lows average 24 °F (−4 °C).^[13] The highest recorded temperature in Mitchell was 107 °F (42 °C) in 1972, and the lowest was −27 °F (−33 °C) in 1983.^[13] Precipitation in the region is limited by the rain shadow effect of the Cascade Range and the Ochoco Mountains to the west.^[14] May is generally the wettest month, when precipitation averages 1.65 inches (42 mm).^[13] In winter, much of the precipitation arrives as snow.^[14]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 170 people, 75 households, and 42 families residing in the city. The population density was 144.6 people per square mile (55.6/km²). There were 91 housing units at an average density of 77.4 per square mile (29.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.00% White, 2.35% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 1.18% from other races, and 5.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.65% of the population.

There were 75 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,417, and the median income for a family was $20,833. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,906. About 26.9% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.

References

External links

• Listing for Mitchell in the Oregon Blue Book