Adel, Oregon
Encyclopedia
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 ranch
es. The community is in one of the most remote parts of Oregon, on Oregon Route 140, approximately 30 miles (32 km) east of Lakeview
.
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.
Some residents also suggest the town name is derived from the word "dell
" meaning a remote valley.
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. Rattlesnake
s, mule deer
, pronghorn
, scorpion
s, jackrabbits
, and magpie
s share the valley with—and still outnumber—the human occupants.
pillars overlaying layers of fossil
iferous 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 petroglyph
s, arrowheads, and other material artifacts.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in southeastern Lake County
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It consists largely of a cafe and gas station, amid a community of loosely scattered ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
es. The community is in one of the most remote parts of Oregon, on Oregon Route 140, approximately 30 miles (32 km) east of Lakeview
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
.
History
The Adel post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
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.
Some residents also suggest the town name is derived from the word "dell
Dell (landform)
In physical geography, a dell is a small wooded valley. Like "dale", the word "dell" is derived from the Old English word dæl.-See also:* Cirque* Combe * Coulee* Dells of the Wisconsin River...
" meaning a remote valley.
The community was largely settled by Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
from County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
whose livelihoods were sustained by sheep, cattle, and wheat production. The Irish brought to Warner Valley
Warner Valley
The Warner Valley is located in south-central Oregon, United States. It is a remote valley at the northwestern corner of North America’s Basin and Range Province. The valley is home to a chain of lakes and wetlands, known as Warner Lakes. The Warner Valley was used by Native Americans for...
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
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
's Old Faithful
Old Faithful Geyser
Old Faithful is a cone geyser located in Wyoming, in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Old Faithful was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park to receive a name...
. 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. Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
s, mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, pronghorn
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
, scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
s, jackrabbits
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
, and magpie
Magpie
Magpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...
s share the valley with—and still outnumber—the human occupants.
Geography
The community is located in the southern reaches of semi-arid Warner Valley. BasaltBasalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
pillars overlaying layers of fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
iferous limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
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
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
culture and occupation is apparent in numerous petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s, arrowheads, and other material artifacts.