Millican, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Millican is an unincorporated
community in Deschutes County, Oregon
, United States
on U.S. Route 20
. It is approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) east of Bend
and is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its elevation is 4304 feet (1,311.9 m) above sea level. As of August 2011, the population is four.
In 1930, U.S. 20 was built north of the community, so Millican was moved to be next to the highway. By this time, the town's population was one—the postmaster, Billy Rahn, who lived there from about 1922 to 1945. When Rahn retired in 1942, the post office was closed.
In 1946, Bill Mellin bought Millican and ran the gas station, store and post office. The post office closed for good in 1953, but the store and gas station remained open for 30 more years. In 1985, Mellin put the community up for sale. In 1988, Mellin was murdered by a parolee from the Oregon State Penitentiary
who worked for him in the store, making the town's population zero. Mellin's wife and two children had died before him, the children in a car accident and a plane crash, and his wife, Helen, of a heart attack. Mellin's granddaughter took over the store for a few years.
Later Eric Cooper bought Mellin's estate. In 1999, Bruce and Tracy Resnick bought Millican with plans to donate the land to the Animal Rescue League, but they put the town up for sale in 2000. The Murray family moved to Millican in 2002, bringing the town's population up to seven. The Murrays rented the townsite and ran the store. The Millican Store closed in 2005 when the Murrays moved on to run the cafe and gas station in Hampton, Oregon
, further east. In February 2009, the 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) on which Millican is located was for sale by the Resnicks, and had been since August 2008.The townsite and store were purchased in the spring of 2010 and a caretaker now lives on site.
43.8790121°N 120.9200119°W
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 Deschutes County, Oregon
Deschutes County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Deschutes National Forest * Newberry National Volcanic Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,367 people, 45,595 households, and 31,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 54,583...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon
U.S. Route 20 in Oregon is a major east–west cross-state highway, especially east of the Cascade Mountains. It connects U.S. Route 101 in Newport on the central Oregon Coast to the Idaho state line east of Nyssa.- Route description :...
. It is approximately 25 miles (40.2 km) east of Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
and is part of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its elevation is 4304 feet (1,311.9 m) above sea level. As of August 2011, the population is four.
History
In the late 1880s, George Millican established a ranch in the area. Millican's wife suggested that the town be named after him, and Millican post office was established in 1913. George Millican sold his ranch in 1916. In the early 20th century Millican's population was 60.In 1930, U.S. 20 was built north of the community, so Millican was moved to be next to the highway. By this time, the town's population was one—the postmaster, Billy Rahn, who lived there from about 1922 to 1945. When Rahn retired in 1942, the post office was closed.
In 1946, Bill Mellin bought Millican and ran the gas station, store and post office. The post office closed for good in 1953, but the store and gas station remained open for 30 more years. In 1985, Mellin put the community up for sale. In 1988, Mellin was murdered by a parolee from the Oregon State Penitentiary
Oregon State Penitentiary
Oregon State Penitentiary , the first state prison in Oregon, United States, was originally located in Portland in 1851. In 1866 it was moved to a site in Salem and enclosed by a reinforced concrete wall averaging in height...
who worked for him in the store, making the town's population zero. Mellin's wife and two children had died before him, the children in a car accident and a plane crash, and his wife, Helen, of a heart attack. Mellin's granddaughter took over the store for a few years.
Later Eric Cooper bought Mellin's estate. In 1999, Bruce and Tracy Resnick bought Millican with plans to donate the land to the Animal Rescue League, but they put the town up for sale in 2000. The Murray family moved to Millican in 2002, bringing the town's population up to seven. The Murrays rented the townsite and ran the store. The Millican Store closed in 2005 when the Murrays moved on to run the cafe and gas station in Hampton, Oregon
Hampton, Oregon
Hampton is an unincorporated community in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is located about 20 miles southeast of Brothers, on U.S. Route 20, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. It is the largest settlement between Bend and Hines....
, further east. In February 2009, the 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) on which Millican is located was for sale by the Resnicks, and had been since August 2008.The townsite and store were purchased in the spring of 2010 and a caretaker now lives on site.
External links
43.8790121°N 120.9200119°W