Summer Lake, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Summer Lake is an unincorporated
community in northern Lake County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is located on Oregon Route 31 approximately halfway between Bend
and Lakeview
. It is located at the base of the eastern slope of Winter Ridge adjacent to the Fremont–Winema National Forests.
, for which the town is named, is one of the largest in Oregon at approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide. It was named by Captain John C. Frémont during his 1843 mapping expedition through Central Oregon
.
Frémont and his Army Topographical team were mapping the Oregon Country
as they traveled from The Dalles
on Columbia River
to Sutter's Fort
in Sacramento
, California
. On December 16, 1843, the expedition struggled down a steep cliff from a snow-covered plateau to reach a lake in the valley below. Frémont named them "Winter Ridge" and "Summer Lake." From the rocky cliff overlooking the lake basin, Frémont described the discovery and naming of Summer Lake as follows:
"At our feet...more than a thousand feet below...we looked into a green prairie country, in which a beautiful lake, some twenty miles (32 km) in length, was spread along the foot of the mountain...Shivering on snow three feet deep, and stiffening in a cold north wind, we exclaimed at once that the names of Summer Lake and Winter Ridge should be applied to these proximate places of such sudden and violent contrast." (Captain John C. Frémont, December 16, 1843, Report of the Second Frémont Expedition)
The first settlers began to arrive in the Summer Lake Valley around 1870. However, the high desert
was difficult to farm, and many early settlers stayed only a few years before moving on to greener country. As a result, the population of the valley never grew beyond a few hundred people.
basin, the geology of the Summer Lake region, and Oregon's Outback Scenic Byway.
house built in 1890 by the Harris family, who were among the first pioneer families to settle in the Summer Lake area. The school closed in 1919, and then briefly reopened in 1926 for three more years. In 1929, Summer Lake students began attending school in Paisley
twenty miles (32 km) south of Summer Lake.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
maintains the Summer Lake Wildlife Area
on the north side of the lake. The refuge consists of a large wetland
marsh fed by the Ana River
and associated high desert
uplands with an 8.3 miles (13.4 km) tour route open to the public most of the year.
The refuge headquarters and several housing units are located adjacent to Oregon Route 31 at the south end of the town. The Department of Fish and Wildlife operation and the visitors who come to the refuge are an important part of the Summer Lake economy.
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 northern 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 is located on Oregon Route 31 approximately halfway between 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 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"...
. It is located at the base of the eastern slope of Winter Ridge adjacent to the Fremont–Winema National Forests.
History
Summer LakeSummer Lake (Oregon)
Summer Lake is a large, shallow, alkali lake in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is approximately long and wide, and is located five miles south of the small, unincorporated community of Summer Lake, Oregon. The lake was named by explorer John C. Fremont on his expedition into Central...
, for which the town is named, is one of the largest in Oregon at approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long and 10 miles (16.1 km) wide. It was named by Captain John C. Frémont during his 1843 mapping expedition through Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
.
Frémont and his Army Topographical team were mapping the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
as they traveled from The Dalles
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
on Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. On December 16, 1843, the expedition struggled down a steep cliff from a snow-covered plateau to reach a lake in the valley below. Frémont named them "Winter Ridge" and "Summer Lake." From the rocky cliff overlooking the lake basin, Frémont described the discovery and naming of Summer Lake as follows:
"At our feet...more than a thousand feet below...we looked into a green prairie country, in which a beautiful lake, some twenty miles (32 km) in length, was spread along the foot of the mountain...Shivering on snow three feet deep, and stiffening in a cold north wind, we exclaimed at once that the names of Summer Lake and Winter Ridge should be applied to these proximate places of such sudden and violent contrast." (Captain John C. Frémont, December 16, 1843, Report of the Second Frémont Expedition)
The first settlers began to arrive in the Summer Lake Valley around 1870. However, the high desert
High Desert (Oregon)
The Oregon High Desert is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon, located east of the Cascade Range and south of the Blue Mountains, in the central and eastern parts of the state. Divided into a southern region and a northern region, the desert covers most of five Oregon counties and averages above...
was difficult to farm, and many early settlers stayed only a few years before moving on to greener country. As a result, the population of the valley never grew beyond a few hundred people.
Economy
Facilities in Summer Lake include a post office, gas station, store, motel, restaurants, and several bed and breakfast establishments.Parks and recreation
There is a wayside park located across the highway from the post office and store that has six interpretive markers highlighting the Frémont Expedition's travel through the Summer LakeSummer Lake (Oregon)
Summer Lake is a large, shallow, alkali lake in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is approximately long and wide, and is located five miles south of the small, unincorporated community of Summer Lake, Oregon. The lake was named by explorer John C. Fremont on his expedition into Central...
basin, the geology of the Summer Lake region, and Oregon's Outback Scenic Byway.
Museums and sites of interest
Summer Lake is home to the well-preserved nineteenth-century Harris School, a one-room schoolOne-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
house built in 1890 by the Harris family, who were among the first pioneer families to settle in the Summer Lake area. The school closed in 1919, and then briefly reopened in 1926 for three more years. In 1929, Summer Lake students began attending school in Paisley
Paisley, Oregon
Paisley is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. It is located along Oregon Route 31, between Summer Lake and Lake Abert. The population was 247 at the 2000 census.-History:...
twenty miles (32 km) south of Summer Lake.
Wildlife refuge
The Summer Lake Basin supports more than 250 species of birds including bald eagles, Canada geese, white faced ibis, yellow-headed blackbirds, goshawks, hermit thrushes, red-tail hawks, great blue herons, and numerous species of ducks. This makes Summer Lake a favorite bird watching and hunting area.The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
maintains the Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
The Summer Lake Wildlife Area is a wildlife refuge located on the northwestern edge of the Great Basin drainage in south-central Oregon. It is administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The refuge is an important stop for waterfowl traveling along the Pacific Flyway during...
on the north side of the lake. The refuge consists of a large wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
marsh fed by the Ana River
Ana River
The Ana River is a short spring-fed river in south-central Oregon. It is on the northwestern edge of the Great Basin drainage. It flows from springs at the foot of Winter Ridge through high desert, range, and wetlands before emptying into Summer Lake...
and associated high desert
High Desert (Oregon)
The Oregon High Desert is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon, located east of the Cascade Range and south of the Blue Mountains, in the central and eastern parts of the state. Divided into a southern region and a northern region, the desert covers most of five Oregon counties and averages above...
uplands with an 8.3 miles (13.4 km) tour route open to the public most of the year.
The refuge headquarters and several housing units are located adjacent to Oregon Route 31 at the south end of the town. The Department of Fish and Wildlife operation and the visitors who come to the refuge are an important part of the Summer Lake economy.