Jordan Valley, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Jordan Valley is a city in Malheur County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is part of the Ontario
, OR–ID
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. The city was named after Jordan Creek
, a tributary of Owyhee River
, which runs through the city; the creek is named for a 19th century prospector, Michael M. Jordan. The population was 239 at the 2000 census.
Sacagawea
's son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
is often said to be buried in Jordan Valley, as that is the closest incorporated city to Danner
, the actual site of his burial.
In the center of town stands a pelota fronton, built in 1915 by Basque
settlers, many of whom had been recruited from Spain
to herd sheep. Their descendants are a noticeable presence today in Malheur County.
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all land.
Jordan Valley's most prominent landmark is the blunt plateau
adjacent to town, named Pharmacy Hill.
Jordan Valley's main occupations are cattle ranching and sheep herding. People in those occupations typically live far from town on homesteads, but use Jordan Valley as their cultural and economic center. People within Jordan Valley primarily provide a number of services to tourists passing through on U.S. Route 95
, which is the primary road from Boise, Idaho
to Reno, Nevada
.
Jordan Valley is known for its excellent hunting and fishing as well as its proximity to Jordan Craters
, an extinct volcanic field. Other popular areas nearby include Leslie Gulch
, Cow Lakes, Antelope Reservoir, and the Three Forks Reservoir to the south.
of 2000, there were 239 people, 109 households, and 66 families residing in the city. The population density
was 114.6 people per square mile (44.4/km²). There were 140 housing units at an average density of 67.2 per square mile (26.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.72% White, 0.42% Asian, 0.42% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
, and 3.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.
There were 109 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples
living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $16,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,501. About 13.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.9% of those sixty five or over.
Malheur County, Oregon
Malheur County is a county located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the eight-county definition of Eastern Oregon. Most of the county observes the Mountain Time Zone, although the southern quarter of the county observes the Pacific Time Zone along with the...
, 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 is part of the Ontario
Ontario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
, OR–ID
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Ontario micropolitan area
The Ontario Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in southeastern Oregon and one in southwestern Idaho, anchored by the city of Ontario....
. The city was named after Jordan Creek
Jordan Creek (Owyhee River)
Jordan Creek is a tributary of the Owyhee River in the northwestern United States. It flows generally west from near Silver City, Idaho, in the Owyhee Mountains to near Rome in the Oregon High Desert. Major tributaries are Big Boulder, Soda, Louse, Spring, Rock, Meadow, Combination, and Louisa...
, a tributary of Owyhee River
Owyhee River
The Owyhee River is a tributary of the Snake River located in northern Nevada, southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon in the United States. It is long. The river's drainage basin is in area, one of the largest subbasins of the Columbia Basin...
, which runs through the city; the creek is named for a 19th century prospector, Michael M. Jordan. The population was 239 at the 2000 census.
History
Jordan Valley was incorporated as a city in 1911.Sacagawea
Sacagawea
Sacagawea ; was a Lemhi Shoshone woman, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide, in their exploration of the Western United States...
's son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau was an American explorer and guide, fur trapper and trader, military scout during the Mexican-American War, alcalde of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, and a gold prospector and hotel operator in California. He spoke French and English, and learned German and Spanish...
is often said to be buried in Jordan Valley, as that is the closest incorporated city to Danner
Danner, Oregon
Danner is an unincorporated community located in Malheur County, Oregon, United States, near Jordan Valley.-History:The old Idaho-Oregon-Nevada highway ran through Danner, following the route of the Skinner Toll Road which opened the area for settlement in 1863.Danner is the location of the grave...
, the actual site of his burial.
In the center of town stands a pelota fronton, built in 1915 by Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
settlers, many of whom had been recruited from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to herd sheep. Their descendants are a noticeable presence today in Malheur County.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all land.
Jordan Valley's most prominent landmark is the blunt plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
adjacent to town, named Pharmacy Hill.
Jordan Valley's main occupations are cattle ranching and sheep herding. People in those occupations typically live far from town on homesteads, but use Jordan Valley as their cultural and economic center. People within Jordan Valley primarily provide a number of services to tourists passing through on U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 is a north–south U.S. highway in the western United States. Unlike many other US highways, it has not seen deletion or replacement on most of its length by an encroaching Interstate highway corridor, due to its mostly rural course...
, which is the primary road from Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
.
Jordan Valley is known for its excellent hunting and fishing as well as its proximity to Jordan Craters
Jordan Craters
Portions of this article include public domain text from the USFS .The flows of Jordan Craters volcanic field are the youngest of a large Quaternary basalt fields in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. The most recent flows come from Coffeepot Crater, a large breached cinder cone...
, an extinct volcanic field. Other popular areas nearby include Leslie Gulch
Leslie Gulch
Leslie Gulch is a canyon in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It is on the east side of Owyhee Lake, a reservoir on the Owyhee River. Its abundant and striking rock formations are made of tuff....
, Cow Lakes, Antelope Reservoir, and the Three Forks Reservoir to the south.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 239 people, 109 households, and 66 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 114.6 people per square mile (44.4/km²). There were 140 housing units at an average density of 67.2 per square mile (26.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.72% White, 0.42% Asian, 0.42% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.
There were 109 households out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $16,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,501. About 13.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.9% of those sixty five or over.
External links
- City of Jordan Valley (official website)
- Jordan Valley School District