1/(cilAea eae#te,, Oe9o4
ESOURCE
TLAS
NATURAL
HUMAN
ECONOMIC
PUBLIC
JANUARY 1974
ENSION
i.O4(t4MA.LUIt9 t,
GON STATE UNIVERSITY
PROJ ECT
Maiheur County
NATURAL
RESOURCE
ATLAS
HUMAN
ECONOMIC
PUBLIC
January 1974
Oregon State University Extension Service
Prepared by Gary Valde, Research Assistant,
Under the supervision of: Robert 0. Coppedge
Extension Economist, and Russell C. Youmans,
Extension Resource Economist,
Department of Agricultural Economics
For sale by the Extension Business Office, Extension Hall 118,
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331.
$2.50 per copy.
Contents
Page
General Description
...........1
Physical Aspects.
Climate
Soils
Soil Characteristics and Land Capability
Land Ownership and Land Use
Agricultural Land
Forest Land
Water
Water Based Recreation
Minerals
Wildlife
.
.
2
2
.
5
............
5
8
9
10
........................13
16
17
17
Human Resources
Population
Employment
Income
Education
Health and Vital Statistics
Public Welfare
Housing
.
19
19
23
30
33
36
41
42
The County's Economy.................44
............
Agriculture
Logging and Wood Products
Manufacturing
Mining - Mineral and Metal Industries
Outdoor Recreation
Business
...................44
50
51
52
53
56
Public Services
Transportation
Communication
Library Facilities
Utilities
58
58
59
61
62
Public Finance
64
Selected List of Agencies
69
Selected Bibliography
.
.
.
......
.
.
71
/
MALHEUR
COUNTY
MILES
tO
15
20
MALHEUR COUNTY
L E GEND
MILES
PRIMARY HIGHWAYS
SECONDARY HIGHWAYSQ
COUNTY ROADS
INTERSTATE HIGHWAYSI)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Malheur County is located in the southeastern corner of Oregon.
It is bordered on the east by Idaho and on the south by Nevada
Harney
and Grant counties border it on the west and Baker county forms its
northern border
The county is about 64 miles wide and 177 miles long. With a total
land area of 9,925 square miles, or over 6,300,000 acres, the county ranks
second in size among Oregon counties.
The county seat, Vale, is located in the northeast corner of the
county where most of the population is centered. Vale is about 114 miles
northeast of Burns, 89 miles southeast of Baker, 380 southeast of Portland,
and 70 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho.
Much of the county's land is used for grazing livestock.
fourths of the land area is publicly owned.
Over three-
The climate is semi-arid, with annual precipitation ranging from
near zero to around 20 inches. The growing season is relatively short,
generally less than 120 days, although the northeastern corner of the
county hasa somewhat longer growing season of from 160 to 200 days.
In 1972, the county's population was 23,380.
Ontario, the largest
town in the county, had a 1972 population of 7,140.
The county's economy is largely based on agriculture, including
both livestock raising and crop production. Recreation is also important
to the economy.
Malheur County was established in 1887. Its name was given to it by
a group of French trappers who were attacked by Indians in the county.
The French name means "bad time".
1/
Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Myers, Secretary of State,
Oregon Blue Book, 1973-74, January 1973.
A brief summary of facts for the county is noted below.
Area:
9,925 square miles
6,350,000 acres
County Seat:
Population:
Vale
23,380
(July, 1972)
True Cash Value:
$283,793,282
(1972)
Elevation at Vale:
Average temperature:
Summer - 65.9
Winter - 34.1
2,443 feet
Principal industries:
Agriculture, Food Processing,
Recreation
PHYSICAL ASPECTS
In Malheur County elevations range from 2,200 feet on the Snake River
to 7,815 feet at the summit of Ironside Mountain. The County has deep canyons formed by the streams located in the County.
The ground slope varies from steep rugged mountainous areas to flat level
plateaus and valleys. Level to nearly level valleys are found cut by the
Maiheaur and Owyhee Rivers which drain into the Snake River at the County's
border.
Climate
Malheur County has a semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers, cold winter
winters, and moderate spring and fall temperatures. The annual precipitation
varies in different years from near zero to almost 25 inches. Most areas
average around 10 inches annually.
Much of the precipitation comes in winter
and early spring. Annual snowfall varies from 10 to 30 inches in different
areas.
The southern two-thirds of the county generally have a growing season
of less than 120 days, but the northeastern portion has an average growing
season of 160 to 200 days.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Myers, Secretary of State,
Oregon State Blue Book, 1973-74, January 1973.
-2-
Table
Selected Maiheur County Weather Stations
Stat ion
El evat ion
Adrian
Danner
Maiheur Branch Experiment
Station
Nyssa
Ontario
Owyhee Dam
Rome
Vale
SOURCE:
Table 2.
2,231
4,391
2,230
2,185
2,194
2,400
3,380
2,240
U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census
of U.S. Climate, Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No.
86-31, 1965.
Temperature and Precipitation, Maiheur County, By Month, 1951-1960 Averages
Station
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Average
Temperature
Adrian
Danner
Maiheur Bran.
Exp. Sta
Ontario KSRV1/
Owyhee Daml/.
Rome1/
Vale
30.7
27.3
35.2
31.6
42.2
36.6
Apr.
SOURCE:
1/
I
June July Aug.
-
degrees Farenheit
51.9
45.8
59.5 66.6 74.6 71.5
53.4 66.3 69.0 66.0
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec. Annual
62.7
58.1
51.2
47.9
38.1
36.7
32.1
28.9
51.4
46.9
289 335 414 510 590664751719 633 511 373 312 508
29.8
31.7
29.3
29.4
34.3
37.1
34.2
34.0
42.0
43.5
39.7
41.4
51.9
51.9
47.6
51.0
Total
Precipitation
Adrian
Danner
Malheur Bran.
Exp. Sta
Nyssa
Ontario 1/
Owyhee Dim
Rome 1/
Vale -
May
59.8
59.4
56.7
58.9
67.1
66.0
63.4
66.5
76.7
74.3
71.7
75.4
72.7
71.3
68.5
71.8
63.8
64.7
60.9
62.9
51.1
54.0
50.1
51.0
37.5
39.5
36.4
37.3
31.3
34.4
29.9
31.5
51.5
52.3
49.0
50.9
inches
1.10
1.46
1.37
1.29
1.49
.90
.87
1.27
.94
1.07
1.15
1.16
1.22
1.01
.60
1.06
.71
.98
.75
.86
1.58
1.75
.79
.95
.15
.39
.28
.18
.44
.60
.63
.92
.72
.96
.80
1.41
.85
.82
.84
.79
.44
.77
.81
.80
.76
.67
.55
.85
1.44
1.32
1.50
1.59
.78
.77
.58
.80
.06
.05
.08
.08
.20
.09
.30
.28
.31
.26
.29
.33
.53
.49
.56
.38
.36
.55
.81
.92
.91
.85
.73
.38
.85
1.18
1.27
1.13
1.40 1.12
1.43
.83
.80
.80
71
.40
.79
.90
.92
1.15
9.65
11.37
10.20
9.96
10.12
8.82
7.53
9.97
U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S. Climate,
Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
Some months for somewhat less than the 1951-1960, ten year period.
The following table gives an average day-time high and night-time low
for each month over the years 1951-1960.
Table 3.
Station
Mean Daily Maximum and Minimum Temperatures, Malheur County,
by Month, 1951-1960 Averages
Apr. JMay June
Jan.
Mean Daily
Maximum Temp.
I!
Adrian
Danner 1!
Maiheur Branch
Exp. Sta
Ontario
Owyhee Dam
Vale
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Annua
degrees Farenheit
38.9
38.6
45.3
43.3
55.6
50.2
67.1
62.1
74.5 82.1
70.1 78.3
92.4
90.6
88.7
88.1
80.2
80.6
66.6
67.6
50.2
52.1
40.8
41.9
65.2
63.6
36.3
37.7
41.0
37.8
42.7
43.7
46.6
44.1
53.3
54.6
55.4
54.4
65.2
67.2
65.9
73.5
75.4
74.3
74.8
92.6
96.3
94.7
95.4
89.0
91.6
91.0
91.2
80.6
83.2
82.6
82.2
65.6
67.2
69.0
67.3
48.1
49.4
52.5
49.9
38.6
39.3
43.2
40.6
63.9
65.8
66.6
65.7
66..g
Mean Daily
Minimum Temp.
Adrian
Danner
Maiheur Branch
Exp. Sta
Ontario 1/
Owyhee Dam 1/
Vale
July
81.8
84.1
82.8
83.7
degrees Farenheit
- -
22.4
15.9
25.0
19.9
28.7
23.1
36.7
29.4
44.4 51.0
36.8 42.3
56.9
47.4
53.8
43.9
45.1
35.5
35.7
28.4
26.0
21.1
24.2
17.8
37.5
30.1
21.6
21.7
22.9
20.8
24.3
24.8
27.5
23.7
29.4
29.3
31.6
28.3
36.8
36.5
37.8
35.1
44.5
44.1
44.5
42.9
57.6
57.1
53.8
55.3
54.7
53.8
51.5
52.3
45.9
44.4
46.8
43.5
36.5
34.9
34.0
34.7
26.4
25.6
27.7
24.8
23.7
23.3
25.5
22.4
37.7
37.1
38.2
36.1
50.9
50.1
49.2
49.1
1/
Some months for somewhat less than 1951-1960, ten-year period.
SOURCE
U S Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau Decennial Census of U S
Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
Table 4
Station
Adrian 1/
Danner
Maiheur Branch
Exp. Sta
Nyssa
Ontario 1/
Owyhee Dam 1/
Vale
Climate,
Freeze Data for Malheur County, 1951-1960
Mean Number of Days with a Temperature of 32°F. or Below
Mar.
Apr.
May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
27
28
23
25
21
27
28
28
27
27
28
24
24
23
20
24
21
21
21
18
21
8
1
2/
0
20
9
2
2/
2/
0
0
2/
0
0
0
0
0
8
5
2/
9
2
6
11
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
10
22
23
26
27
28
141
197
9
23
24
23
20
24
28
28
29
26
28
143
140
147
123
151
1
9
1
12
5
11
2/
2
1/
Some months for somewhat less than 1951-1960 ten-year period
Less than 0.5 days.
SOURCF
U S Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U S
Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965
2/
4
Annual
Climate,
For more recent climatological data on Maiheur County see: U.S.
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Environmental Data Service, Climatological Data, Annual Summary, 1971,
Vol. 77, No. 13, 1971.
Soils 1/
The county area may be divided into four major physiographic divisions:
Recent alluvial bottomlands, and older fans,pedinients and terraces;
closed basins; 3) laval plateaus; and 4) canyonlands and mountainous uplands.
Most of the irrigated farming in the county occurs on the recent alluvial
bottomlands division.
Drainage for soils in the division ranges from poor to
well-drained. Some are strongly alkaline. Depth varies from moderate to
shallow.
Closed basins are geneBily sites of former lakes. Several soils in this
division are poorly drained and subject to ponding. Although some areas have
been tilled, most land is used for range land.
Much of the county consists of gently sloping to rolling lava plateaus.
Soils are generally light colored, shallow, and stony. Vegetation is
mainly wheatgrass and sagebrush. At higher elevations mountain mahogany
and juniper occur.
Canyonlands and mountainous uplands consist largely of cliffs and rock
outcroppings. The Trout, Mahogany, and Battle Mountains are in this division.
Moderately deep, loamy soils are present in some of the smoother
areas.
Soil Characteristics and Land Capability
An interpretive grouping of soils into "Land Capability Classification"
has been developed by the Soil Conservation Service.
This grouping shows,
in general, how suitable soils are for most kinds of farming. Soil characteristics such as depth, textures wetness, slope, erosion hazard, overflow
hazard, permeability, structure, reaction, waterholding capacity, inherent
fertility, and climatic conditions as they influence the use and management
of land are considered in grouping soils into eight land capability classes.
These eight classes are designaled by Roman numerals. The hazards and limitations of use of the groups increase as the class number increases.
For more detailed inforrnation on Maiheur County soils see: Loveli, B.B.,
M.G. Lindray, J.A. Norgren, D.W. Anderson, and G.H. Simonsen, Oregon's
Long Range Requirements for Water, General Soil Map Report with Irrigable
Areas Owyhee Drainage Basin, Appendix I-li, and Maiheur River Basin, Appendix 1-10, Oregon State Water Resources Board, 1969.
-5-
Class I land has few hazards or limitations, whereas Class VIII land is so
limited that it is unfit for cultivation and grazing. This land can be used
only for recreation, wildlife habitat or water supply.
Table 5.
Land Area and Use of Inventory Acreage, Maiheur County, 1967
Use
Acres
Inventory Acreage
Cropland
Pasture
Range
Forest and woodland
Other land
1,221,898
37,000
118,600
Total inventory acres
1,661,686
278,790
S ,398
Percent of total land area in inventory
26.3%
Non-inventory Acreage
Federal Land
Urban and built-up areas
Water areas
4,639,995
Total non-inventory acres
4,655,114
Total land area
6,316,800
SOURCE:
14,519
600
Oregon Conservation Needs Committee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory, U.S. Soil Conservation Service and
OSU Extension Service, 1971.
-6-
Table 6.
Capability Class
and Limitations 1/
Use of Inventory Acreage by Capability Class,
Malheur County, 1967
Crop land
Pasture-Range
Forest
51,441
10,862
0
55,882
12,056
39,291
6,716
1,044
0
0
w
48,790
30,568
2,236
9,392
E
C
12,978
3,763
3,428
0
0
0
E
24,021
C
VII
0
0
I
Other Land
Total
2,039
64,342
3,346
0
0
65,944
13,100
39,291
3,136
7,316
54,162
47,276
0
2,030
0
0
0
18,436
3,763
0
0
230,155
44,560
14,000
728
0
0
268,964
44,560
73,092
845,811
23,000
0
0
46,998
96,092
892,809
53,007
53,007
II
E
S
C
III
E
Iv
V
VI
B
S
VIII
E
Limitations:
SOURCE:
E - main limitation is erosion.
W - water in soil interferes with plant growth.
S - soil is shallow, droughty, or stony
C - main limitation is climate, too cold or too dry.
Oregon Conservation Needs Committee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory, U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service and
Oregon State University Extension Service, 1971.
Land Ownership and Land Use
Nearly 79 percent of Malheur County's land area is publicly owned.
About 74 percent of this is owned by the Federal Government. Most of
the federal land is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
However, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Forest Service also
manage significant acreages.
Over 4 percent of the county is owned by the state.
land is managed by the Division of State Lands.
Most of the
Over 93 percent of the county's land is used for grazing livestock.
About 5 percent is under intensive agriculture. Only about 1 percent
is considered forest land.
Table 7.
Land Use and Ownership, MaiheCounty, 1964
I tern
Total Land Area
Land Use
Urban
Industrial
Military
Intensive griculture.
Dryland farming
Forests
Parks
Conservation
Grazing
Non-productive land
Land Ownership
Total private land
ownership
Total public land
ownership
Federal
State
Local
SOURCE:
Maiheur County
Acres
Percent
State
Percent
6,316,800
100.00
100.00
4,422
0.07
312,682
7,580
41,059
4.95
0.12
0.65
0.49
0.16
0.10
6.52
-
-
3.33
44.84
0.32
2.25
41.50
0.49
5,951,057
94.21
1,335,141
44.2
21.1
4,981,659
4,683,722
276,237
21,700
55.8
51.8
2.9
78.9
74.1
4.4
1.1
.3
Oregon Department of Planning and Development, Resources for
Development, 1964.
-8-
Table 8.
Inventory of State-Owned Real Property, Maiheur County, 1970
Agency
Acres
Employment Division
Game Commission
Oregon State University.
Division of State Lands.
Military Department
Highway Division
Parks
Office and Maint enance
Total
SOURCE:
0.35
218.96
120.90
212,896.18
Land
Value
Improv.
Value
$68,000
10,620
95,022
.80
$5,000
44,805
102,796
1,912,746
5,494
1,585.35
Total
Value
Annual
Rental
Income
600
160,050
$78,000
60,425
197,818
1,912,746
165,544
56,222
321,631
377,853
540
18.14
21,809
332,469
354,278
1,620
264,915.68
$2,154,247
$987,792 $3,i42,o39
$2,760
-
-
Legislative Fiscaf Committee, Inventory of State-Owned Real Property, by County
Sec.77, 115 State Capitol, Salem, Oregon, 1970.
Table 9.
Land Area in Highways, Streets, and Road, Maiheur County
Maiheur County
Ownership
Acres
Percent
5,830
22.8
County roads
19,385
75.9
City streets
315
1.6
25,530
100.0
State highways
Total
SOURCE:
Oregon State Department of kevenue and Oregon State Highway Division,
unpublished data.
Agricultural Land
In 1969 there were over 1,360,000 acres in farms in Maiheur County, but
only 184,000 or 13.5 percent were harvested cropland. Over 80 percent of the
farm land was pasture or rangeland. About 16 percent of the county's farmland was under irrigation.
Table 10.
Land in Farms, Malheur County, 1964 and 1969
1964
Item
Acres
19 69
Percent
Acres
Percent
Total land area
Proportion in farms
6,311,040
100.00
25.1
6,309,760
100.00
21.6
Acres in farms.
Cropland harvested
Cropland pasture
Other cropland
Woodland including woodland
pasture
Other land
1,580,928
192,409
59,799
18,230
100.0
12.2
4.8
2.2
1, 360, 19
183,96
62,00
18,92
100.0
13.5
4.5
1.4
13,440
1,265,232
0.8
80.0
9,74
1,085,56
0.7
79.8
231,155
14.6
Irrigated land
SOURCE:
215,21 1
15.8
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1969, Vol.1,
Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1972.
Forest Land
There was an estimated 21,210 acres of commercial forest land in
Malheur County in 1956. The U.S. Forest Service classifies commercial
forest land as land that is (a) producing, or is physically capable or
producing, useable crops of wood, (b) economically available, nor or prospectively, for timber harvest, and (c) not withdrawn from timber harvest.
In 1956 the U.S. Forest Service estimated there were 73,610 acres of
noncommercial forest land in Malheur County. Noncommercial forest land is
land that is incapable of producing useable crops or wood, or is withdrawn from timber harvest through statute, ordinance, or administrative
order.
The forests of Malheur County are almost exclusively softwoods, with
small stringers of hardwoods in the river valleys. A belt of western
juniper separates the forest from the grassland. Ponderosa pirepredominates over the forested area and often occurs in pure stands at lower elevations.
As elevation increases, other species--of mixed conifer type--are
found in increasing proportions. Theseassociates are Douglas-fir, white
fir, western larch, and lodgepole pine.
Most of the noncommercial forea land in Malheur County is covered
with a sparse, bushy growth of western juniper; the remainder consists of
noncommercial forest growth on sterile, rocky sites.
- 10 -
About 65 percent of the forest land in Maiheur County, or 13,840
acres in 1956, was in private ownership.
About 35 percent of the forest land in the county, 7,320 acres in
1956, was in federal ownership. Of this, the Bureau of Land Management
controls 5,280 acres, or 90 percent of the federal ownership. Ten percent of the federal ownership is in national forests.
Less than .5 percent is owned by the State of Oregon.
The major uses of forest land in Maiheur County are for production
of crops of commercial timber, for outdoor recreation, and for watershed
protection. Other uses for wildlife habitat and grazing are also important.
Table 11.
Item
LAND
Total land
Forest land
Commercial
Unproductive
Nonforest
OWNERSHIP
All ownerships
National forest
Other public
Private 1/
1/
Forest Acreage, Ownership and Use, Maiheur County, 1956
Acres
Percent
6,316,800
94,820
21,210
73,610
6,221,980
100.0
21,210
2,040
5,330
13,840
100.0
9.6
1.5
.3
1.2
98.5
25..1
65.3
Figures for Forest Industry and Miscellaneous Private not available sep.
erately.
SOURCE:
U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for Baker and Malheur Counties,
Resource Bulletin PNW-132, Pacific Northwest Experiment Station, 1958.
Table 12.
Volume of All Growing Stock and Sawtimber by Ownership,
Maiheur County, 1956
Total Commercial
Growing Stock
Ownership
million
cubic ft.
OWNERSHIP
National forest
Other public
Private
Total
Percent
Total Commercial
Sawt imber
million
board ft. 1/ Percent
23
15.8
23.7
60.5
31
34
79
21.5
23.6
54.9
38
100.0
144
100.0
6
9
Scribner Log Rule.
Forest Industry and Miscellaneous Private not abailable separately.
SOURCE:
U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for baker and Malheur Counties,
Resource Bulletin PNW-132, Pacific Northwest Experiment Station.
1/
2/
Table 13.
Volume of All Growing Stock and Sawtimber on Commercial Forest Land,
by Species, Malheur County, 1956
Species
Growing Stock
Million
Cubic ft.
Percent
Sawt imber
Million
Board Ft.i/
Percent
All species
38
100.0
144
100.0
Softwood s
38
16
14
100.0
42.0
37.0
3.0
143
60
53
99.0
42.0
37.0
1
1.0
1.0
Ponderosa pine
Douglas-fir
Subalpine fir
Englemann spruce
Western larch
Lodgepole pine
White fir
Juniper
Hardwoods
1
2/
-
10.0
2/
3
-
2
15
2/
10.0
-
8.0
2/
1
1.0
Scribner Log Rule.
Less than 500,000 board feet.
SOURCE: U.S. Forest Service, Forest Statistics for Baker and Malheur Counties,
Resource Bulletin, PNW 132, 1958.
1/
2/
- 12 -
Water
The streams in Malheur County drain into the Snake River.
The major
stream systems in the county are the Owyhee River and its tributaries and
the Malheur River and its tributaries.
The Owyhee River drains the southern portion of the county. Some of
the major tributaries of the Owyhee River are as follows: Jordan, Crooked,
Antelope, and Rattlesnake Creeks, and the West, South, Middle, and North
Forks of the Owyhee River.
The Maiheur River drains the northern section of Maiheur County. The
Maiheur River also drains portions of northern Harney County and southern
Grant County.
It empties into the Snake River at Ontario.
Table 14.
Annual Yield of Representative Streams, Malheur County
Stream and
Gaging Point
Jordan Creek, above Lone
Tree Ck.,near Jordan
Valley
Owyhee River near Rome
Owyhee River below Owyhee
Dam
Malheur River near Drewsey
Malheur River below Warmsprings Reservoir, near
Riverside
North Fk. Malheur River,
above Agency Valley
Reservoir, near Beulah
North Fk. Maiheur River
at Beulah
Malheur River at Little
Valley near Hope
Bully Creek at Warmsprings near Vale
Drainage
Area
sq.miles
Years
of
Record
Mean Annual Yield 1/
acre-feet!
acre-feet2/
sq. mile
400
8,000
20
19
129,600
571,200
295
11,160
910
36
42
220,100
124,500
20
137
1,100
49
122,400
111
355
32
89,770
253
440
33
96,290
219
3,010
19
133,200
44
539
11
30,120
56
1/
71
Annual yield of surface water is the net yield, or quantity of water, leaving
a drainage area during the hydrologic or water year, which extends from October
1 of one year to September 30 of the following year. Net yield is the precipitation on the area minus evaporation, transpiration, and net underground percolation.
Average or mean annual yield actually reflects a composite of constantly changing conditions due to withdrawals from stream flow and changes in
watershed characteristics.
2/
Acre-feet equals the quantity of water (43,650 cu.ft.) that covers one acre
to a depth of one foot.
SOURCE:
U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey, Water Resources Division,
Water Resources Data for Oregon, Part 1, Surface Water Records, 1968.
- 13 -
Monthly flows are high from November to April and are low during the
late summer months.
Generally August and September are the months of
lowest flow and March, April, and May are the highest.
Both the Malheur and Owyhee Rivers have stream regulation projects
located on them.
Snowmelt can materially augment maximum discharges caused by rainstorms. The following table will list selected streams and their peak
discharges.
Table 15.
Extremes of Discharge at Selected Stations, Malheur County
Stream and Location
Jordan Creek above Lone Tree
Creek near Jordan Valley.
Owyhee River near Rome
Owyhee River below Owyhee Dam.
Malheur River near Drewsey.
Malheur River below Warmsprings Resevoir near
Riverside
North Fork Malheur River above
Agency Valley Reservoir
near Beulah
North Fork Malheur River at
Beulah
Malheur River at Little Valley
near Hope
Bully Creek at Warm Springs
near Vale
Maximum Discharge
Year
flow(cfs) !/
Minimum Discharge
Year
flow(cfs)
1964
1964
1952
1964
7,530
33,500
22,900
12,000
1948
1954
1932
No flow at times
1910
7,200
No flow at times
1964
3,970
1967
1942
7,000
No flow at times
1957
12,300
1966
1964
12,560
No flow at times
No flow
42
2/
8.5 3/
7.8
1/
2/
cfs - cubic feet per second
Diversion tunnel at dam closed.
3/
Minimum flow due to freezing up of the river.
SOURCE:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Water Resources Data for Oregon, Part 1, Surface Water Records,
1968.
Maiheur County has been broken by block faulting into basins and mountain ridge areas. The faulting has also divided the area into numerous disconnected groundwater reservoirs
A large part of the area is underlain by
permeable volcanic rocks. However, the low precipitation incident to the
county limits the amount of groundwater recharge. The main source of recharge is snowmelt runoff from the ridges and hills during the spring months.
To date there has been very little groundwater development in the southern
Malheur area.
- 14 -
Domestic water rights include those granted for individual and small
group water supply systems plus campsite, park, and stock watering use.
In rural areas, water for these purposes is obtained mostly from wells and
springs, with a smaller amount taken from streams.
Municipal water rights include many held by water districts as well
as municipalities. Rights for municipal and industrial are sometimes used
interchangeably, and industries often are served by municipal systems.
Malheur County has four cities with public water systems.
It was estimated that average annual use by Malheur County municipal
water systems was 815 million gallons in 1967.
Table 16.
City
Malheur County Municipal Water Supplies, 1967
Population
Served
Water Source
Ontario
5,750
4 wells
Nyssa
2,600
Vale
Adrian
1,850
60
Collector
and 2 wells
4 wells
2 wells
SOURCE:
Treatment
Chlorinated, partially softened
Chlorinated
Chlorinated
None
Oregon State Water Resources Board, Malheur and Owyhee Basins, 1969.
Irrigated agriculture represents a very important element in Malheur
County's economy,
Consequently, water for irrigation is vital to its
economic activity. About 95 percent of all water rights issued in the
county is for irrigation.
Extensive irrigation projects have not eliminated water shortages in
several areas during the growing season.
Surface water shortages were estimated by the State Water Resources
Committee Survey in 1969 to be as much as 75 percent on the Vale and Warm
Springs projects; 35 percent on the Owyhee Project; 95 percent in upper
Jordan Valley, and no water after July 1 for most upstream valleys where
storage has not been developed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that in 1969, 215,211
acres of farm land was irrigated in the county, or approximately 15.8
percent of the land in farms.
The majority of the water used in irrigation
comes from resevoirs and streams.
The major industrial water user in the county is food and kindred
products processing.
Water requirements for use in food and kindred processing include water for washing and cleaning of food products, brining,
packaging, and canning of food stuffs. Water use is very seasonal with
approximately 80 percent being required during the summer processing season
from June through October.
- 15 -
Pollution of streams in Maiheur
The table following lists the sewage
structed in the county by cities and
which does occur is erosion produced
Table 17.
Location
County is not a significant problem.
treatment plants which have been conother developed areas. Pollution
sedimentation in surface water.
Sewage Treatment Plants, Malheur County, 1967
Year
Built
Type !/
Design
Population
Design
F low
Population
Served
Receiving
Stream
MGD
Nyssa
1960
AD
120
Ontario
1960
L
6,SO0
2.13
5,800
Vale
1955
1,800
0.18
1,800
0.008
100
Dexter
Pool
Malheur
River
Malheur
River
AD - aerobic disgestion; L - lagoon.
MGD - million gallons per day.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Sanitary Authority, Water Quality Control In Oregon, Voluifte I,
for Calandar years 1966-67, 1967.
1/
2/
Water Based Recreation
Over all use of water-based recreational facilities has been steadily
increasing in the county.
Boating, fishing, and stream or lake-oriented
picnic and camping activies are the key to this expansion.
Maiheur County's largest water-based recreational areas are Owyhee Lake,
Unity Reservoir, Warm Springs Reservoir, Bully Creek Reservoir, Beulah Reservoir, Antelope Reservoir and the Cow Lakes.
Water needs for wildlife vary according to species and are met in most
cases from streams, lakes, and reservoirs.
Malheur County's most numerous game fish is the rainbow trout.
The most
popular stream fisheries for trout occur in the Middle Fork Maiheur River
system above the vicinity of Vale and the North Fork system above Beulah
Reservoir.
Trout angling is also productive in the South Fork system.
Minimum water requirements of game fish in the county are most nearly
fulfilled in the Upper Middle Fork and North Fork systems. Flows released
below Beulah and Warm Springs Reservoirs are adequate for fish life during the
the irrigation season. During the winter and spring the diversion of Malheur
River water to Bully Creek Reservoir often leaves a residual flow in the
main stem that is inadequate for the maintenance of salmonids.
- 16 -
The shortage of water for game fish is noticable in lower stream
systems and is amplified by extensive water withdrawals for irrigation.
Minerals 1/
Income from mineral deposits is primarily from lime, Stone, sand
and gravel, and mercury.
Many of the mineral deposits in the county are small or of inferior
There are numerous gravel terraces along the Snake River suitable
for most construction purposes.
grade.
Other mineral deposits having economic importance are:
Building
stone, cinder, mercury, semi-precious stones, and volcanic ash.
Explorations for uranium, oil, and gas have not yet found commercial quantities.
Wildlife 1/
The most numerous big game species in Malheur County are mule deer
and antelope. It has been estimated that the county supports approximately
15,000 pronghorn antelope and 45,000 mule deer. There are nearly 100
elk in the northern corner of the county.
Table 18.
Game
Management Unit
Mule Deer
Beulah
Big Game Animal Population Trends, Maiheur County
Miles
Animals
Observed
Travel led
1971
Animals per
5 yr.
1971
1970
average
10.2
4.1
1.2
6.3
NA
NA
114
1,119
9.8
Owyh ee
NA
NA
NA
White Horse
Malheur River.
110
54
159
438
1.4
8.6
7.8
5.0
1.2
14.9
175
200
500
415
781
699
2.3
3.9
1.4
3.3
1.2
1.3
Antelope 2/
Beulah
Owyhee
White Horse
ile 1/
1.2
NA - Not available.
1/
5 year average - 1966-1970.
2/
Aerial inventory.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Game Commission, 1971 Annual Report, Oregon State Game
Commission.
1/
Oregon State Water Resources Board, Malheur-Owyhee Basins, 1969.
- 17 -
There are several game bird species located in Maiheur County. The
most numerous are chukar and quail.
There is a high population of geese
and ducks during the migratory season.
The county also has a substantial
number of Chinese pheasant.
Malhuer County is one of the few counties in Oregon that has bobwhite
quail.
Beaver, raccoon, mink, muskrat, and otter are common along streams in
the valley region. Civit cat, badger, wildcat, and coyote occupy the
more arid environments in the county.
Chinook salmon and steeIhead are practically nonexistant in Maiheur's
river systems, The numbers of anadromous fish have decreased since the
construction of numerous diversion darns for irrigation and for electrical
power.
Rainbow trout are the most importnat game fish in the county. Rainbow trout occur in nearly all areas where suitable habitat exists.
Brook and Dolly Varden trout are found in the headwater streams of the
Middle Fork drainage. Whitefish are abundant in the warmer waters of
lowland areas.
Populations of warm-water game fish are managed in Warm
Springs Reservoirs and Lower Malheur River.
Populations of warm-water game fish include bullhead, bass, bluegill, yellow perch, crappie and channel catfish.
Rough fih species include bridgelip suckers, coarse scale suckers,
squawfish, chiselmouths, carp, cottids, and redside shiners. Population
densities of these fish are greatest at lower elevations.
- 18 -
HUMAN RESOURCES
Population
Maiheur County's population was 23,380 in 1972 or about 2.4 persons
per square mile. Approximately 40 percent of the population lived in
urban areas and 60 percent in rural areas of the county during 1970.
The county seat, Vale, had a 1972 population of 1,680. Ontario,
the largest town in the county, contained 7,600 people in 1972.
Table 19.
Number of Persons by Racial Group, Malheur County, 1970
Racial Group
Number of Persons
Total
Caucasian
Spanish Language
Black
American Indian
Other
SOURCE:
MALHEUR
Baker
Grant
Harney
SOURCE:
97
83
1,078
Valde, Gary R., and Robert 0. Coppedge, Income and Poverty Data
for Racial Groups: A Compilation for Oregon Census County Divisions, Special Report 367, Oregon State University Extension
Service, Corvallis, Oregon, 1972.
Table 20.
County
23,169
19,365
2,546
Maiheur and Bordering Counties, Population and Rank Order
in Oregon, 1960 and 1972
1960
1972
Rank
Population
Rank
Population
19
24
28
22,2f4
17,295
7,726
6,744
20
24
29
30
23,380
15,200
6,910
6,900
32
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General
Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962, 1972.
- 19 -
Table 21.
Land Area and Population Density, Maiheur and
Bordering Counties, 1950, 1960, 1970
Population Density
County and State
1950
Land Area
sq. miles
State of Oregon
MALHEUR
Baker
Harney
Grant
SOURCE:
U.S.
1970
U.S.
1971
1960
1970
persons per sq. mile -
96,248
9,870
3,062
10,131
4,532
15.8
2.4
5.2
0.6
1.8
18.4
2.3
5.6
0.7
1.7
21.7
2.4
4.9
0.7
1.5
Bureau of the Census, Census of Population:
1950, 1960, and
General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39,
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1951, 1961, and
editions.
Maiheur County's population has increased from 8,600 in 1910 to over
23,000 in 1972. However its population declined during the late 1960's.
From 1970-1972 the population increased slightly.
Table 22.
Year
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1965
1970
1972
SOURCE:
Population Growth, Malheur County
Percent Increase or (Decrease)
Period
Percent
Population
8,601
10,907
11,269
19,767
23,223
22,764
25,400
23,169
23,380
1910-1920
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1965
1965-1970
1970-1972
26.8
3.3
75.4
17.5
(1.9)
11.6
(8.8)
.0.9
Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates
of Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State
University, various years.
- 20
Table 23.
Components of Change in Maiheur County's Population, 1940-1970
SOURCES:
Migration
- 331
3,787
4,115
2,493
3,456
- 459
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970
Net
Natural
Increase
Net Change
Year
405
-4,574
-2,088
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, General Demographic
Trends for Metropolitan Areas, 1960 to 1970, Final Report PHC (2)39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
Oregon State Board of Census, Components of Population Growth, Population Bulletin P-3, 1961.
Urban and Rural Population, Malheur County
Table 24.
Urban
Population
Percent Change
Year
Rural
Percent change
Population
J
16,233
15,052
14,026
6,990
7,712
9,143
1950
1960
1970
-7.3
-6.8
)
The urban population comprises all persons living in urbanized areas and in
The population
places of 2,500 inhabitants or more outside urbanized areas
not classified as urban consitutes the rural population
1960 and 1970 Number
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population:
SOURCE:
of Inhabitants, Final Report PC (1)-A39 Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1961, 1971.
1/
Table 25.
Population Estimates of Incorporated Cities, Malheur County
Selected Years, 1960-1972
City and County
Malheur County
Jordan Valley
Juntura
Nyssa
Ontario
Vale
Incorporated area
Unincorporated area
1/
1960
1965
1971
1972
22,764
25,400
204
98
2,611
200
90
2,485
5,350
1,810
23,220
200
23,380
200
5,101
1,491
9,505
13,259
9,935
15,465
55
2,650
6,950 !/
1,650
11,505
11,715
55
2,670
7,140
1,680
11,745
11,635
Includes population annexed during April 1970 to June 1971.
Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of
Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University,
various years.
SOURCE:
- 21 -
In 1970, about 40 percent of Maiheur County's population was 18 years
old or under, while 10 percent was 65 years or over.
Table 26.
Population by Age and Sex, Malheur County, 1960 and 1970
Male
Age Group
1960
Total Population 11,706
Under
5
1,339
5-9
1,301
Total
1960
1970
1960
1970
11,058
1,314
1,396
1,180
878
561
11,574
922
1,196
1,346
1,253
696
22,764
2,653
2,697
2,477
1,819
1,090
P erc nt
1960
1970
23,169
1,925
2,424
2,715
2,512
1,364
100.0
11.7
11.8
10.9
8.0
4.8
100.0
8.3
10.5
11.7
10.8
5.9
10.8
12.6
11.7
8.6
9.2
10.3
10.6
11.5
9.7
10.6
10-14
15-19
20-24
1,297
941
529
11,595
1,003
1,228
1,369
1,259
668
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
1,222
1,422
1,412
1,048
1,195
1,166
1,184
1,338
1,148
1,232
1,231
1,449
1,241
914
894
1,215
1,281
1,337
1,101
1,227
2,453
2,871
2,653
1,962
2,089
2,381
2,465
2,675
2,249
2,459
29.0
27.2
26.7
28.0
27.8
27.6
65 and over
Median age
SOURCE:
Female
1970
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970 General
Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1961, 1971.
Table 27.
Population of Selected Malheur County Cities by
Age and Sex, 1960 and 1970
Ontario
Nyssa
Age Group
Under
5
1960
1970
244
609
410
250
235
273
295
304
2,620
1,282
1,338
527
1,257
1,041
65 and over
573
1,074
626
565
676
600
459
528
729
625
762
591
754
298
587
336
271
308
332
230
239
Total population
Male
Female
5,101
2,504
2,597
6,523
3,156
3,367
2,611
1,320
1,291
5-14
15-25
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970
General Population Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-B39,
Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D,C.,
1961, 1971 editions.
- 22 -
Employment
The Oregon State Department of Employment reported the annual civilian
labor force in Malheur and neighboring Payette and Washington Counties
was 18,640.
This data was not reported for Maiheur County separately.
However, the Employment Division reported that average covered employment
for the county in 1971 was 5,665.
The 1970 Census of Population shows that 8,343 people 16 years old or
older were employed in the county, out of a total labor force of 8,760.
These figures are based on a survey taken during March, 1970. About
12.8 percent were employed in manufacturing. Food and kindred products
alone employed 8.9 percent.
Other major employers were: Agriculture and
forestry, 23.9 percent; retail tra'e, 16.4 percent; educational services,
11.1 percent; and construction, 6.0 percent.
Table 28.
Employment Status, Maiheur County and Ontario, 1960 and 1970
Subj ect
Malheur County
Onta rio
1960
1970
Total males, 14 years and over
Total labor force
Armed forces
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in labor force
Inmate of institution
Enrolled in school
Other
7,982
6,397
7,767
5,869
Total females, 14 years and over
Total labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Not in labor force
Inmate of insitution
Enrolled in school
Other
7,376
2,644
2,529
115
4,732
7,899
2,891
2,740
38
702
3,202
100
677
4,231
1,912
1,871
Married (husbands present), in
labor force
1/
1960
1970
1,736
1,395
2,207
1,630
3
19
3
4
6,394
6,104
290
1,585
43
5,850
5,603
1,392
1,312
80
341
1,626
1,561
NA
NA
614
928
247
1,898
61
553
1,284
151
5,008
I
65
577
ti
1,805
833
789
44
972
2,434
NA
NA
1,115
1,082
33
1,319
NA - not available.
1/
16 years and over.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population:
1960 and 1970 General
Social and Economic Characteristics, Final PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1962 and 1972 editions.
- 23 -
1/
Industry Group of Employed, Malheur County, 1960 and 1970
Table 29.
Number Employed
Industry
1960
Agriculture
Forestry and fisheries
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Lumber and wood products
Food and kindred products
Other
Transportation
Communications
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Business services
Personal services
Hospitals (and health services, 1970)
Educational services
Professional and related services
Public administration
Utilities and sanitary services
SOURCE:
1970
3,1:0
)
476
849
34
716
99
183
1,994
498
1,072
58
746
268
244
28
74
337
329
1,367
391
268
334
923
216
1,307
221
283
146
419
138
259
145
428
110
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population:
1960 and 1970
General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(l)-C39,
Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962 and
1972 editions.
Table 30.
Percent of Age Group in Labor Force, Malheur County, 1970
Age Group
Years
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
2 2-24
25-34
35-44
45-64
65 and over
SOURCE:
Maiheur County
Male
Female
23.9
34.1
59.5
75.3
93.7
95.5
94.8
88.6
28.2
8.4
21.7
38.1
53.0
44.2
39.6
46.3
42.9
10.0
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: l97O General
Social
Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 24 -
Table 31.
Maiheur County Occupations
Occupation
Male
Total employed, 16 years and over
Professional, technical, and
kindred workers
Engineers
Physicians and related
practitioners
Other health workers
Teachers
Technicians, except health
Other professional workers
Managers and administrators
Sales workers
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operative except transport
Transport
Laborers except farm
Farmers and farm managers
Farm laborers
Service worker
Cleaning service
Food service
Health service
Personal service
Protective service
Private household
Number Emyloyed
Female
I
Total
5,603
2,740
8,343
586
NA
382
968
NA
37
NA
NA
NA
NA
153
213
67
50
366
48
39
284
616
208
210
725
419
276
356
1,135
710
361
191
65
8
23
50
0
9
116
146
192
715
36
472
38
26
25
57
589
68
291
136
57
5
62
400
762
400
925
761
891
314
382
1,160
767
950
259
356
144
80
55
62
NA - not available.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population:
1970 General Social
and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S.
Government printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
Large numbers of seasonal agricultural workers are hired in Malheur
County in connection with sugar beet, onion, potato, and other crop production and harvesting.
The following table indicates the levels of employment on a single
mid-month date and do not necessarily show either peak or average
employment for the month.
- 25 -
Table 32.
Number of Hired Seasonal Workers in Agriculture by Type of Worker,
1965 and 1971, Midmonth Figures, Ontario Area
Ontario Area
Intrastate
Migratory
Local
Month
1971
1965
mt e r state
Mi gr atory
1971
1965
1971
95
25
320
250
105
170
60
50
100
100
50
100
310
595
265
145
230
550
875
300
200
1,950
300
1965
1
265
May
June
July
August
September
October
SOURCE:
680
515
460
305
35Q
1,100
650
540
1,085
1,195
soo
Oregon State Department of Employment, 1965 Oregon Farm Labor Report, 1966.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, 1971 Annual
Rural Manpower Report, 1972.
Table 33.
Annual Average Labor Force in Maiheur and Neighboring Counties, 1968-1971 1/
Number of Persons
Industry
1968
Civilian labor force
Workers in labor management disputes
Unemployment
Percent of labor force
Employment
Agricultural
Nonagricultural
Self-employed, unpaid family and domestics
Wage and salary workers
Manufacturing
Lumber and wood
Food products
Other
Nonmanufacturing
Contract construction
Transportation, communication, utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Service and miscellaneous
Government
1/
25
1969
1971
1970
17,910
18,040
18,430
0
0
0
920
5.1
16,990
5,730
11,260
1,840
9,420
2,350
200
1,940
210
7,070
310
650
2,430
310
1,350
2,020
810
4.5
17,230
5,710
11,520
1,840
9,680
2,330
150
1,880
300
7,350
310
590
2,490
320
1,380
2,260
870
4.7
17,560
5,580
11,980
1,640
10,340
2,400
90
1,940
370
7,940
390
590
2,600
330
1,470
2,560
18,640
40
1,160
6.2
17,440
5,390
12,050
1,610
10,440
2,310
150
1,660
500
8,130
380
600
2,830
330
1,460
2,530
Payette and Washington Counties in Idaho reported with Maiheur County.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor Force
and Employment in Oregon by County 1968 through 1971 publications, Research
and Statistics Section, 1969, 1972.
SOURCE:
- 26 -
Table 34.
Median Earnings of Selected Occupation Groups, Maiheur County, 1959 and 1969
Occupation Group
1969
1959
Male, total with earnings
Professional, managerial, and kindred workers
Farmers and farm managers
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Farm laborers
Laborers, excluding farm and mine
$
3,475
5,855
2,850
4,104
3,705
2,030
2,939
$
5,676
8,593
5,469
6,350
5,305
3,542
4,205
Female, total with earnings
Clerical and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
$
1,427
2,194
1,294
$
2,383
2,583
2,186
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, 1960 and 1970 General Social
and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)-C39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1962 and 1972 editions.
Table35
.
Covered Payrolls and Employment by Industry
Maiheur County, 1970 and 1970
Average Employment
Industry
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
Mining
Contract construction
Lumber and wood products manufacturing
Food and kindred products manufacturing
Other manufacturing
Transportation, communication, electric
gas, and sanitary services
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance, insurance and real estate
services and miscellaneous
Government
Yearly total
1970
1971
85
78
1/
216
1/
Annual Payroll
1971
$
231,541
1/
176
1,479,528
1/
1,507
99
1,286
6,971,861
130
753, 157
284
382
130
288
2,046
170
479
10,421,533
1,090,880
1,617,231
5,057
5,066
28,736,282
1,817
169
463
753, 157
2,.24 2,460
1/
Not published.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Oregon
Covered Employment and Payrolls, 1970 and 1971, Summary Data, Research
and Statistics Section, 1971, 1972.
- 27 -
Table 36.
Number and Percent of Persons Unemployed in
Malheur and Bordering Counties, 1968 and 1971
Number of
People
County
1968
MALHEUR 1/
Baker
Grant
Harney
1/
920
290
150
110
Percent of
Labor Force
1971
1,160
400
170
170
1968
1971
5.1
4.8
4.8
3.3
6.2
6.4
5.6
5.1
Payette and Washington Counties in Idaho included in Maiheur figures.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor
Force and Employment in Oregon by County 1968 through 1971 publications,
Research and Statistics Section, 1969, 1972.
SOURCE:
Table 37.
Major Occupation Group of Unemployed, Maiheur County
1960 and 1970
Number of Persons
Occupation Group
Professional, technical, and kindred workers
Farmers and farm managers
Managers, officials and proprietors,
excluding farm
Clerical and kindred workers
Sales workers
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Service workers, including private household
Farm laborers
Laborers, excluding farm and mine
1960
1970
12
4
NA
1/
21 1/
8
NA
26
12
50
57
26
37
28
78
47
101
17
65
65
53
NA - not available.
1/
Includes managerial workers.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1960 and 1970
General Social and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1)C39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,
1962 and 1972 editions.
- 28 -
Table 38.
Local Government Employees and Payroll
Maiheur County, October, 1967
Employees and Earnings
Item
Employees
Full-time only
1,183
748
Full-time equivalent employment
Education
Teachers only
Functions other than education.
Highways
Public welfare
Hospitals
Health
Police protection
Fire protection
Sewerage
Sanitation other than sewerage
Parks and recreation
Natural resources
Housing and urban renewal
Correction
Libraries
Financial administration
General control
Water supply
Other local utilites
Other and unallocable
848
598
383
250
36
1
48
11
27
1
2
3
10
28
3
10
21
27
10
12
October payroll
$ 467,000
315,000
227,000
92,000
ducat ion
Teachers only
Functions other than education
Average monthly earnings, full time
employment
Teachers
Others
SOURCE:
$ 592
366
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol 3, No.
Compendium of Public Employment, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1969.
- 29 -
,
Income
Table 39.
Net Effective Buying Income Estimates, Maiheur County
1967 and 1970 1/
Net Dollars
Area
1967
Per Household
1970
1967
- - thousand dollars Oregon
Maiheur County
$5,224,888
45,011
-
$6,650,690
50,177
-
1970
- -
dollars - -
$8,113
6,252
-
$9,440
7,272
1/
Net effective buying income includes wages, salary, interest, dividends, profits,
and property income minus federal, state, and local taxes.
SOURCE:
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, 1972,
University of Oregon, 1972.
Table 40.
Bank Debits and Deposits, Malheur County, 1965-1970
Year
Bank Debits 1/
-
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
-
-
-
thousand dollars
$ 386,689
424,906
453,656
487,690
505,612
544,176
1/
Bank Deposits
$
45,617
40,643
42,127
46,647
50,035
49,979
Bank debits represent the dollar value of checks drawn against deposit accounts
of individuals and business.
Included are debits to demand deposit accounts
of individuals, business firms, and state and other political subdivisions,
and payments from escrow or trust accounts. Excluded are debits to U.S.
government, interbank, time and savings accounts, and several other categories of accounts.
SOURCE:
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics,
1968 and 1972, University of Oregon, 1969 and 1972.
- 30 -
Table 41.
Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups, Maiheur County, 1970
Item
Number
Mean Income
Families:
All races
Caucasian
Spanish Language
Black
Other
Unrelated individuals:
All races
Caucasian
Spanish Language
P1ack
Other
$8,561
8,736
5,871
2,750
10,501
Percent
1/
$3,204
3,277
1,783
1,214
2,829
Families by Family Income Class
All races:
under $3,999
1,251
964
2,295
1,211
5,721
21.87
16.85
40.11
21.17
100.00
988
794
2,115
1,069
4,966
19.90
15.99
42.58
21.53
100.00
$4,000-$ 5,999
194
154
$6,000-$ll,999
90
46
484
40.08
31.82
18.60
9.50
100.00
7
5
58.33
41.67
$4, 000-$5 ,999
$6, 000-$ 11, 999
$ 12, 000+
total
Caucasian:
under $3,999
$4,000-$5,999
$6,000-$ll,999
$ 12,000+
total
Spanish Language:
under $3,999
$ 12,000+
total
Black:
under $3,999
$4,000-$5,999
$6,000-$ll,999
$ 12,000+
total
Other:
under $3,999
$4, 000-$5,999
$6,000-$ 11,999
$l2,000+
total
- 31 -
O
0
12
100.00
62
11
90
96
259
23.94
4.25
34.75
37.06
100.00
0
0
Table 41, cont.
Income and Poverty Data for Racial Groups,
Maiheur County, 1970
Item
Number
Income below poverty level (bpl)
Families bpl
All races
Caucasian
Spanish Language,
Black
Other
Under 65
65 and over
Male family head, 14-64 yrs., bpl
Employed
Unemployed
Not in labor force
Female family heads bpl in labor
force with children below 6 yrs
Income source of families and
unrelated individuals bpl
Earnings
Social security or railroad
retirement
Public assistnance or welfare.
1/
919
647
212
100.00
70.40
23.07
12
1.31
5.22
48
3,824
Persons infamilies bpl
Unrelated individuals bpl
Percent
484
280
419
44
101
20
991
603
194
Blank spaces indicate a zero, suppressed data, or not applicable.
Valde, Gary R. and Robert 0. Coppedge, Income and Poverty Data for
Racial Groups: A Compiliation for Oregon Census County Divisions,
Special Report 367, Oregon State University, Corvallia, Oregon.
SOURCE:
- 32
Educat ion
Table 42.
Formal Education Facilities, Maiheur County, 1968-1969 and 1971
School District, Type School,
and Number of Each Type
Brogan School District #1
Elementary - 1
Rockville School District #2
1
Elementary
Jordan Valley District #3
Elementary - 1
Ontario School District #8
Elementary - 6
Junior high - 1
High school - 1
Juntura School District #12
Elementary - 1
Vale School District #15
Elementary - 1
Nyssa School District #26
Elementary - 1
Junior high - 1
High school - 1
Annex School District #29
Elementary - 1
Willowcreek School District #42
Elementary - 2
Adrian School District #61
Elementary - 1
High school - 1
Harper School District #66
Elementary - 1
High School - 1
Arock School District #81
Elementary - 1
Jordan Valley High #701
High School - 1
Vale Union High #703
High School - 1
County totals
Elementary - 18
Junior high - 2
High School - 6
County grand total - 26
1/
Enrollment 1968-69
1q71
High School
Graduates, 1971
21
17
16
12
67
48
1,525
766
639
1,493
767
715
28
16
647
622
705
225
384
727
236
388
134
145
112
101
311
149
286
135
32
78
37
72
27
7
29
28
47
40
13
383
373
99
3,672
991
1,640
6,303
3,567
1,003
1,678
6,248
214
93
449
449
Average daily membership.
Enrollments may vary from year to year partially
because student loads were shifted from one district to another.
SOURCES: Oregon Board of High Education, Summary of Pupil Personnel for the
Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1969 and 1971-72 Oregon School-Community
College Directory, and 1971 Oregon Public High School Graduates, School
Finance and Statistical Services.
1/
- 33 -
Racial and Ethnic Distribution of Public School Enrollment
Malheur County by School District, 1972
Table 43.
Anierican
District
White
Indian
Black
Spanish
Surname
Other
2-_I
Total
number of students
Adrian
Annex
Arock
Brogan
Harper
Jordan Valley
Jordan Valley UHS
Juntura
Nyssa
Ontario
-
-
-
-
43
41
24
15
-
-
-
-
148
30
18
-
-
-
-
18
97
51
47
27
774
-
-
-
-
97
-
-
-
-
51
-
1
-
-
48
-
1
-
-
28
-
2,286
10
18
2
461
463
23
173
1,268
2,942
10
-
-
-
-
10
631
368
Rockvili'e
Vale
Vale UHS
Willow Creek
Total
1/
426
359
92
30
549
344
101
-
5
-
2
64
12
13
10
-
2
-
2
105
4,785
28
13
1,084
260
6,170
Includes Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and others.
Compiled from Oregon Board of Education reports by OSU Extension Service.
SOURCE:
Table 44.
Years of School Completed by Population 25 Years and
Maiheur County, 1970
Education
Total, 25 years and over
No school years completed.
Elementary:
1-4 years
5-7
5-7 years
8 years
High School:
1-3 years
4 years
College:
1-3 rears
4 yrs. or more
Median school years completed
SOURCE:
Number
Males
Number
Females
6,062
6,172
59
90
292
524
1,037
985
1,800
696
638
156
368
834
1,209
2,263
904
379
12.1
12.2
Total
Percent
12,234
100.0
149
448
892
1,871
2,194
1.2
3.7
7.3
15.3
17.9
33.2
13.1
8.3
4,063
1,600
1,017
-
-
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social
and Economic Characteristics, Final Report (PC)-C39, Oregon, U.S.
Govermnent Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
- 34 -
Table 45.
Maiheur County Residents Enrolled in Oregon Higher Education
Institutions, Fall 1971
Institution
Number Enrolled
Total enrolled
Eastern Oregon College
Oregon College of Education
Oregon State University
Portland State University
Southern Oregon Coillege
University of Oregon
Oregon Technical Institute
University of Oregon Dental School
University of Oregon Medical School
Total in private and independent
institutions
Total in public community institutions
SOURCE:
735
77
13
115
10
29
87
9
5
7
29
354
Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, Post Secondary Enrollment in
Oregon, An Analysis of the Statewide Student Enrollment Data Survey,
1972.
Treasure Valley Community College is located at Ontario in Maiheur
County. The two year institution offers studies in liberal arts and
sciences as well as technical areas.
Enrollment has expanded from
under 1,000 during 1967-68 to over 2,500 in the fall of 1971.
Table 46.
Youth Organizations, Maiheur County
Organization
Membership
Boy Scouts
Camp Fire Girls
4-H
Future Farmers
Girl Scouts
YMCA
YWCA
NA
NA
1,051
227
213
1/
1/
NA - not available.
No chapter in county.
1/
SOURCES:
4-H, 1972 figures, Oregon State Extension Office, 4-H Division,
unpublished data; FFA, 1972 figures, Oregon State Department
of Education, unpublished data; Girl Scouts, 1972 figures,
Boise, Idaho Girl Scout Office, unpublished data.
- 35 -
Although Malheur County operates no correctional institutions of its
own, it is served by four state correctional institutions in Marion County.
These include training schools for socially maladjusted boys between 12
and 18 years of age and girls between the ages of 12 and 21.
Table 47.
Felonies and juvenile Delinquency, Malheur County, 1968
Subject
Number
Commitments to felony and correctional
institutions, 1967-68
Total commitments
Oregon State Penitentiary
Oregon State Correctional Instituion
MacLaren (boys' training school) 1/
Hillcrest (girls' training school) 1/.
Juvenile court cases, 1968
All cases
Delinquency
Traffic
Other
24
12
10
2
0
220
195
7
18
1/
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Children Services Division, Adolescent Population and Commitment Data by County, by Calandar Year 1967-1970, (1968 figures given).
SOURCE:
Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division,
District Facts, 1970.
Health and Vital Statistics
The following tables indicate the number of health facilities and
health personnel available to Malheur County residents.
Except for licensed practical nurses, there are fewer health professionals per capita in the county than for the state as a whole.
There are two hospitals in the county; both located in the northeastern
corner.
- 36 -
Table 48.
Existing Medical Facilities, Number of Existing Beds, and Number
of Beds Needed, Malheur County, 1971 1/
Category and Community
Number of Facilities Number of Beds
existing
needed existing needed
General Hospital
Nyssa
Ontario
28
16
68
68
30
120
36
70
120
50
1
Long-term care facilities
Nyssa
Ontario
Vale
Diagnostic and treatment centers
Nyssa
Ontario
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Mental Facilities:
the state plan of the Mental Health Division is made a
part of this plan by reference.
Tuberculoses Hospitals: None
Rehabilitation Facilities: No facilities are programmed beyond the services
in area hospitals.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility Planning and Construction
Section, Oregon State Plan for Construction and Modernization of Hospitals
Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annual Revision, 1971.
1/
Table 49.
Diagnostic or Treatment Center Facilities, Maiheur County, 1970 1/
Name
Malheur Memorial Hospital
Holy Rosary Hospital
Location
Nys sa
Ontario
1/
Outpatient Visits
during year
3,043
13,287
A diagnostic and treatment center takes outpatients, has facilities for
examination of patiens by a physician or dentist, or has x-ray and clinical laboratory services available.
SOURCE: Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility planning and Construction
Section, Oregon State Plan for Construction and Modernization of
Hospitals, Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annaul
Revision, 1971.
- 37 -
Table 50.
Percent Occupancy of Existing Medical Facilities, 1969
Name of Facility
General Hospitals
Maiheur Memorial Hospital
Holy Rosary Hospital
Long-term care facilities
Malheur Memorial Hospital
Presbyterian Nursing Home
Malhuer Nursing Home
Total
Capacity
Location
Percent of
Occupancy
Nys sa
28 1/
43
Ontario
68
63
Nyssa
Ontario
Vail
30 2/
80
36
80
94
105 3/
Tuberculosis Hospitals
None
Excludes long-term care beds.
Excludes acute care beds.
3/
Licensed capacity exceeds evaluation capacity resulting in a high percentage
of occupancy.
SOURCE: Oregon State Board of Health, Health Facility Planning and Construction
Section, Oregon State Plan for Construction and Modernization of Hospitals,
Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971 Annual Revision, 1971.
1/
2/
Table 51.
Number of Licensed Medical Personnel and Ratio of Population Per
Professional, Maiheur County, 1969
Profession
Maiheur County
Ratio
Number
State
1,186
2,264
361
830
1,660
770
1,470
276
1,002
1,375
Medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy
Dentists
Registered nurses
Licensed practical nurses
Pharmacists
1/
21
11
69
30
15
Ratio 1 /
Ratio figure equals population per professional in particular category.
Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District
Facts, 1970.
SOURCE:
Table 52.
Number of Admissions to State Psychiatric Hospitals and Mental Health
Clinics and Ratio per 100,000 Population, 1968-69
Maiheur County
Ratio
Number
Facility
Psychiatric hospitals
Mental health clinics
SOURCE:
30
66
120
265
State
Ratio
134
460
Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District
Facts, 1970.
- 38 -
During the 1969 fiscal year Maiheur County allocated $98,446 to
its health budget or $3.95 per capita.
This compares with $5.70 spent
per capita on the average by all counties in the state.
1/
From 1968 to 1971 Maiheur County's birth rate rose slightly more
than its death rate to a level about 15 percent higher than the over
all state birth rate.
In 1971 the county's accidental death rate was well above the
state rate.
Table 52.
Births and Deaths by Major Category, Maiheur County and
State of Oregon, 1968 and 1971
Category
All births 1/
All deaths 1/
Illegitimate births 2/
Premature births 2/
Infant deaths 2/
Accidental deaths 3/
Maiheur County
Number
Rate
State
Rate
1968
1971
1968
1971
1971
424
213
416
21
32
19
17.1
8.6
49.5
75.5
21.2
56.6
17.9
9.0
45.7
40.9
16.8
107.7
15.6
9.4
78.1
57.4
18.4
61.3
209
17
9
7
14
25
Rates per 1,000 population
Rates per 1,000 live births
Rate per 100,000 population
SOURCE:
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, State Health Division,
Vital Statistics Section, 1968 Statistical Report, 1969, and Vital
Statistics Annual Report, 1971.
1/
2/
3/
1/
Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District
Facts, 1970.
- 39 -
Table 53.
Health Statistics, Maiheur County, 1971
Item
Morbidity
Tuberculosis
Syphilis
Gonorrhea
Influenza
Hepatitus - infectious
Measles (Rubella)
Deaths from all causes
Malignant neoplasms (cancer)
Diabetes mellitus
Heart diseases
Cerebrovascular diseases
Arteriosclerosis
Other cardiovascular diseases.
Influenza and pneumonia
Bronchitis, emphysema, asthma.
Peptic ulcer
Cirrhosis of liver
Congenital anomalies
Certain infancy mortality
causes
All other diseases
Accidents
Suicide
Maiheur County
Number
Rate _/
State
Rate
/
6
21.5
4.3
116.3
508.2
23.6 2/
11.6
5.3
442.0
1,171.7
45.1 2/
18.1
209
42
9.0 3/
186.9 -
9.4 3/
168.4
13.3
349.6
110.9
21.2
17.3
26.4
26.9
4.3
15.8
8.2
5
1
27
118
3
65
30
2
12.9
279.9
129.2
8.6
3
3
34.5
17.2
8.6
12.9
12.9
3
12.9
14.7
22
19
94.7
81.8
12.9
61.3
8
4
2
3
Homic ides
76.9
14.9
3.8
Rate per 100,000 population
1966-68 average, taken from the Office of the Governor, Planning Division,
Health Facts, 1969
3/
Rate per 1,000 population
SOURCE:
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, State Health Division,
Vital Statistics Section, Vital Statistics Annual Report, 1970.
1/
2/
- 40 -
Public Welfare
Table 54.
Average Monthly Public Welfare Payments by Type of Service,
Malheur County, Fiscal Years 1968-69 and 1971-72
Average Payment Per Case
1968-69
1971-72
Type of Service
I
Old Age Assistance
Aid to the Disabled
Aid to the Blind
General Assistance
Aid to Dependent Children 1/
UN 2/
Basic 2/
$ 54.63
76.10
74.44
47.04
$ 53.82
77.52
90.43
34.38
37.87
43.86
43.64
44 .44
Payment per person, not case.
The UN figure represents payments to families where the male parent is
in the home but unemployed. The basic figure represents all others.
SOURCE:
Unpublished data received from Sondra Lipman, Oregon Public Welfare
Division, Research and Statistics Section, May 1973.
1/
2/
Table 55.
Public Welfare Payments for Assistance, Malheur County,
August, 1972
Category
Cases
Cases receiving non-medical payments
Old Age Assistance
Aid to the Blind
Aid to the Disabled
Aid to Dependent Children 1/
General assistance
Foster care
Physicians services 1/
OAA
AB
AD
ADC
GA
FC
Hospital Payments
OAA
AB
AD
ADC
GA
121
NA
$ 53.06
70.00
73.25
46.49
41.66
NA
26
$ 11.44
36
189
24
10
19.36
23.56
32.22
9.90
6
$ 59.40
6
19
294.03
458.53
420.75
1,164.40
4
81
828
67
8
FC
1
- 41 -
Average payments
Table 55, cont.
Public Welfare Payments for Assistance
Maiheur County, August, 1972
Category
Average Payments
Cases
J
Drug Payments
OAA
1/
103
AB
AD
ADC
GA
FC
$ 26.96
14.35
19.55
9.75
6.93
7.64
2
39
146
17
2
NA - not available.
1/
Persons not cases.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Public Welfare
Division, Public Welfare in Oregon, August, 1972.
The state of Oregon operates three special schools for the handicapped, all located at Salem in Marion County. The School for the Blind
provides special education for approximately 100 children with acute
vision problems in a boarding school situation. The School for the
Deaf provides parallel training for severely handicapped children from
four years of age through high school.
Oregon Fairview Home provides
in-and-out patient training for mentally deficient minors and adults.
Housing
Table 56.
Housing, Occupancy, and Facilities for Places with over
Inhabitants, Maiheur County, 1970
Nyssa
2,500
Ont ario
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Occupancy
All year-round housing units
Owner occupied
Renter occupied
Vacant year-round
852
564
222
66
100.0
66.2
26.1
7.7
2,230
1,292
827
111
100.0
57.9
37.1
5.0
Facilities
Telephone available
Air conditioning
618
235
72.5
27.6
1,729
1,002
44.9
Median gross rent of renter
occupied 1/
$66
Subj ect
1/
77.5
$86
Excludes one family homes on 10 acres or more.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1970 Detailed Housing
Characteristic,, Final Report HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
SOURCE:
- 42 -
Table 57.
Housing Occupancy and Facilities, Maiheur County, 1970
Malheur County
Number units
Percent
Sub ject
Occupancy
All housing units
Vacant-seasonal or migratory
Owner occupied
Renter occupied
Vacant year-round
Population in housing units per
unit
Owner occupied
Renter occupied
Persons per room
All occupied units
1.00 or less
1.01-1.50
1.51 or more
Facilities
Lacking some or all plumbing
facilities
Telephone available
Air conditioning
Median number of rooms
Median value 1/
-
2/
7,856
327
4,754
2,210
565
100.0
4.2
60.5
28.1
7.2
State
Percent
100.0
1.3
61.3
31.5
5.9
2.6
3.0
6,964
6,116
514
334
348
5,698
2,598
- number 4.7
$12,400
$82
100.0
87.8
7.4
4.8
5.0
72.5
37.3
-
100.0
94.7
4.2
1.1
3.6
89.5
10.3
- number 5.0
$11,300
$107
Specified owner occupied. Limited to one-family homes on less than 10 acres
and no business on property.
2/
Specified renter occupied. Excludes one-family homes on 10 acres or more.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1970 Detailed Housing
Characteristics, Final Report, HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing, Washington, D.C., 1972.
1/
- 43 -
THE COUNTY' S ECONOMY
Agriculture, food processing, and recreation are the major industries
in Malhuer County.
In recent years over 95 percent of the value added
It also was
by manufacturing in the county was from food processing.
the major manufacturing employer.
Mining and wood products manufacturing also employed some persons
in the county.
Agriculture
In 1970 agriculture contributed over $50 million in sales to Malheur
The county's 1970 agricultural sales ranked second
County's economy.
in the state. The county's agricultural production supplies its important food processing industry with raw materials. Much of the 4,500
acres of fresh vegetables and 21,000 acres of potatoes raised in the
county in 1970 was also processed there. Sugar beets are also produced
and refined in the county.
Non-irrigated land is used primarily for livestock grazing.
Livestock salesaccounted for about 44 percent of all agricultural
income in 1970. Much of the income came from cattle and:alf sales, but
dairying was also important.
Table 58.
Farm Size and Value, Maiheur County, 1959,1964, and 1969
Subject
Approximate acres of land area
Proportion in farms
Total number of farms
Acres in farms
Average size of farms
Value of land and buildings
Average per farm
Average per acre
SOURCE:
1959
6,316,800
24.1
1,993
1,523,2T4
764.3
$47,602
$71.48
1964
1969
6,311,050
25.0
1,737
1,580,950
910.1
6,309,760
$73,036
$ 79.94
$97,928
$ 97.69
21.6
1,357
1,360,195
1O02.3
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1969, Vol.1,
Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1964, 1972.
Average farm size in Malheur County was over 1,000 acres in 1969.
About 29 percent of the county's farms were 260 acres or larger.
- 44 -
Table 59.
Number and Percent"of Farms by Size:
Malheur County
Number
Size
Less than 10 acres
10 to 49 acres
50 to 69acres
70 to 99 acres
100 to 139 acres
140 to 179 acres
180 to 219 acres
220 to 259 acres
260 to 499 acres
500 to 999 acres
1,000 to 1,999 acres
2,000 or more
Total farms
SOIJRCE:
1959, 1964, and 1969,
Percent
1959
1964
1969
1959
1964
1969
120
341
106
360
235
245
96
60
165
62
44
159
95
282
105
269
186
191
91
71
176
82
208
62
173
165
143
153
57
144
74
46
124
6.0
17.1
5.3
18.1
11.8
12.3
4.8
3.0
3.1
2.2
8.0
5.5
16.2
6.0
15.5
10.7
11.0
5.2
4.1
10.1
4.3
2.5
8.8
6.0
15.3
4.6
12.7
12.2
10.5
5.8
4.2
10.6
5.4
3.4
9.1
1,993
1,737
1,357
100.0
100.0
100.0
79
7'S
/43
8.3
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Vol.
1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington D.C., 1967, 1972.
Classification of farms by economic class considers only those classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "Commercial farms".
In general, all farms with a total value of products sold amounting
to $2,500 or more are classified as commercial. Farms with sales of
$50 to $2,499 are classified as commercial if the farm operator was under
65 years of age and (1) he did not work off the farm 100 or more days
during the year and (2) the income received by the operator and members
of his family from nonfarin sources was less than,'the value of all farm
products sold.
-
Table 60.
Farm Operators by Tenure, Maiheur County, 1959, 1964, and 1969
Tenure
1959
1964
1969
Full owners
Part owners
Managers
Tenants
1,212
461
1,082
425
871
349
Total operators
1,993
SOURCE:
12
15
308
215
137
1,737
1,357
1
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969,
Vol. 1, Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C., 1967, 1972.
- 45 -
Table 61.
Farms by Economic Class, Maiheur County, 1959, 1964, and 1969
Number
Economic Class
Commercial farms
Class I (sales of $40,000
or more)
Class II (sales of $20,000
to $39,999
Class III (sales of $10,000
to $19,999).,
Class IV ( sales of $5,000
to $9,999)
Class V (sales of $2,500
to $4,999)
Class IV (sales of $50
to $2,499)
Other farms
Part-time
Part-retirement
Abnormal
Total farms....
1/
1959
Percent
1964
11969
1959
1964
1969
1,708
1,460
1,186
87.3
84.1
87.4
224
225
256
11.4
[2.9
18.8
164
221
275
8.4
12.7
20.3
438
381
258
22.4
21.9
19.0
535
328
204
27.3
18.9
15.0
309
234
157
15.8
13.5
11.6
38
71
36
1.9
4.1
2.6
249
152
91
6
211
176
99
171
125
42
2
4
12.5
7.8
4.6
0.3
15.9
10.1
5.7
0.1
12.6
9.2
3.1
0.3
1,957 1/1,737
1,357
100.0 100.0
100.0
Discrepancy between total farms and total farms reported elsewhere.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Area
Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C., 1967 and 1972.
SOURCE:
Table 62.
Farm Operators by Age and Years of School Completed
Malheur County 1959, 1964, 1969
Subject
Average age (years)
65 years and over
Years of school completed:
Elementary:
0-4 years
5-7 years
8 years..
High School:
1-3 years
4 years
College:
1-3 years
4 years or more
1959
1964
1969
48.6
265
49.6
50.8
192
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
22
124
230
446
338
631
122
54
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA - not available.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1964 and 1969, Vol. 1
SOURCE:
Area Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,1967 and 1972.
- 46 -
Income from the sale of crops and livestock in Malheur County
was over $50 million during 1970. Crop sales accounted for about 56
percent of the income.
Important income crops were: vegetables, 12
percent of all sales; speciality field crops, 13 percent; potatoes,.
19 percent; and seed crops, 4.3 percent.
Livestock and livestock products sales contributed 44.2 percent
of all 1970 agriculture income. Cattle and calves accounted for 32.3
percent alone. Dairy products added 9.1 percent.
Table 63.
Value of Farm Products Sold 1/, Maiheur County, 1966-1970
Product
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
thousand dollars
All crops, livestock and
livestock products
All crops
All grain, hay and seeds
All seed crops
All grain and hay
All hay
All grains
Wheat
Barley
Vegetables, fresh and for
proces sing
All berries
All tree fruits and nuts.
Speciality field crops
Speciality horticultural
crops
Potatoes
All livestock and livestock
products
Dairy products
Poultry products
Cattle and calves
Sheep and lambs
Hogs
43,253
46,596
43,305
52,515
51,221
25,257
5,100
2,066
3,034
1,515
1,519
740
578
28,841
5,811
2,790
3,021
1,092
1,929
1,099
601
23,530
4,829
1,497
3,332
1,422
1,910
1,128
527
30,812
5,254
1,728
3,295
1,194
2,101
1,060
778
28,597
5,852
2,226
3,626
1,326
2,300
1,296
693
8,185
7,585
6,000
9,893
6,039
24
109
24
20
161
25
176
28
119
6,746
8,260
6,593
9,869
5,094
156
6,120
343
5,902
9,047
95
5,679
95
7,209
17,755
3,914
287
12,593
487
243
19,775
4,176
318
14,282
556
230
21,703
4,536
17,996
3,747
321
12,786
556
251
98
1/
2/
390
15,743
557
238
97
22,624
4,657
372
16,537
512
283
Crop year includes quantities sold or held for sale.
Preliminary.
SOURCE:
OSU Extension Service and USDA cooperating, "Oregon Commodity Data
Sheets", Oregon State University, 1971-72.
- 47 -
Table 64.
Acres of Crops Harvested, Malheur County, 1969 and 1970
Crops Harvested
Corn for grain
Small grains
Wheat
Oats
Barley
Hay crops
Field seed crops
Alfalfa
Fall potatoes
Vegetables
Sweet corn
Berries
Strawberries
1969
1970
4,000
5,000
15,800
2,800
17,000
92,500
17,000
2,500
18,000
93,500
9,400
15,500
8,960
21,000
5,500
4,500
2/
2/
Tree fruits, nuts, and grapes 3/
NA
288
Preliminary.
Not reported, either little or no acreage.
From U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1969.
NA - not available.
SOURCE:
OSU Extension Service and USDA cooperating, "Oregon Commodity
Data Sheets", 1971-72.
1/
2/
3/
While the number of dairy cattle in Malheur County declined from
1950 to 1970, the number of all cattle and calves increased nearly 55
percent.
The number of sheep and lambs and hogs in the county also
declined during this period.
Table 65.
Category
1/
All cattle
Dairy cattle
Sheep and lambs
Hogs
Chickens
Turkeys raised
Livestock and Poultry Numbers, Malheur County,
1950, 1960, 1969, and 1970
1950
1960
I
113,000
14,200
40,000
9,200
NA
NA
169,000
16,500
58,000
8,500
NA
NA
I
1969
175,000
11,700
26,000
4,200
22,000
200
1970
175,000
11,400
23,000
NA
24,000
100
Numbers as of January 1, unless otherwise indicated.
Preliminary figures.
SOURCE:
OSU Extension Service and USDA cooperating, "Oregon Commodity
Data Sheets", 1971-72.
1/
2/
- 48 -
The Ontario Livestock Commission Company has the largest livestock
commission sales volume in Oregon and as such brings many buyers and
sellers of livestock to Ontario.
Nyssa has always been an important shipping center and in 1962 it
was designated as a terminal point for the Union Pacific Railroad.
Population centers in the Boise Valley provide outlets for milk and
other livestock products.
Other agricultural products are processed locally and marketed throughout the United States. Manufacturing related to food and kindred products
is reported in detail in the following table.
The Ore-Ida Foods processing plant is the largest single employer
in Malheur County and is also one of the largest food processing plants
in the country. From 1968 to 1970 employment by this firm increased
from 1,119 to 3,000. There are a number of wholesale packing houses
in Ontario which handle potatoes and onions. The Amalgamated Sugar
Company and the Idaho Canning Company together employed another 470
persons in 1970.
Table 66.
Food and Kindred Products Manufacturing, Maiheur County, 1968 amd 1970
Major Group
Number of firms
1968
Meat products
Meat packing plants
Dairy products
Canning and preserving fruits and
vegetables
Canned fruits and Vegetables
Frozen fruits and vegetables
Grain mill products
Food for animals and fowls
Bakery products
Bread and miscellaneous bakery
products
Beverages
Sugar
Beet sugar
Miscellaneous food preparations and
kindred products
1970
4
Employment
1968
197.0
3
21
NA
1
2
44
1,119
3,000
33
34
44
3
0
Total
1
1
425
425
1
2
4
7
20
15
1,635
3,537
NA - Not availab.e
SOURCE:
Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division,
Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968 and 1970 editions.
- 49 -
Logging and Wood Products
Logging and wood-using industries are less important to Maiheur
County's economy than they are to most Oregon counties.
There are only a few thousand acres of commercial forest land
within the county and it has no sawmill or plywood mills.
In 1970, 54 pecple were employed by prefabricated wooden building
manufacturers in the county.
Table 67.
Lumber and Wood Products Manufacturing Excluding Furniture,
Malheur County, 1968 and 1970
Employment
Number of firms
Product Group
Logging camps and contractors
Sawmills and planing mills
Veneer and plywood mills
Prefabricated buildings
Wooden containers
Total
1968
1970
1968
1970
3
3
54
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
43
1
0
NA
4
3
46
57
NA - not available.
Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory
SOURCE:
of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968 and 1970 ediditions.
From 1960 through 1970, timber harvested in Malhuer County varied
from virtually none in 1964 and 1962 to 2,500,000 board feet in 1966.
The annual average for the 1960-1970, eleven year period was about
560,000 board feet. Most log production is exported to Baker County
for processing.
Table 68.
Timber Harvest by Ownership, Maiheur County, 1970 1/
Production 2/
Ownership
Total timber harvest
Private 3/
Bureau oT Land Management 4/
National forest 5/
State 3/
Percent of Total
4
100.0
4
100.0
Includes volume removed as logs but not volume removed for poles,
piling, and woodcutting operations.
2/
Scribner Log Rule - thousand board feet.
3/
Compile.dby the State Forestor.
4/
Compiled y the Bureau of Land Management.
5/
Compiled by the U.S. Forest Service.
USDA Forest Service Resource Bulletin PNW-38, "1970 Timber
SOURCE:
Experiment Station, 1971.
Harvest", Pacific Northwest Range
1/
- 50 -
Log Consumption in Thousand Board Feet by Species and Industry
Maiheur County 1/
Table 69.
Veneer and
Species
Sawmills
P1 ywood
Shake and
Shingle
FIGURES NOT REPORTED
FOR
MALHEUR COUNTY
SOURCE:
Table 70.
Manock, Eugene R., Grover A. Choate, and Donald R. Gedney, Oregon
Timber Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption and Mill Characteristics,
Oregon State Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service,
Salem, Oregon, 1968.
Installed 8-hour Capacity of Wood-Using Industries, Malheur County, 1968
Industry
Capacity
FIGURES NOT REPORTED
FOR
MALHEUR COUNTY
Sawmill-lumber 1/
Veneer and plywood 2/
Pulp and board mills 3/
Scribner log rule, board feet
Square feet, 3/8 inch basis.
24 hour capacity in tons.
SOURCE:
Manock, Eugene R., Grover A. Choate, and Donald R. Gedney, Oregon
Timber Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption and Mill Characteristics,
Oregon State Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service,
Salem, Oregon, 1968.
1/
2/
3/
Manufacturing
Table 71.
Value Added by Major Manufacturing Industries
Maiheur County, 1967
Value Added
Item
All manufacturing
Food and kindred products
SOURCE:
$22,700,000
21,600,000
Percent of Total
100.0
99.6
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Manufactures, 1967, Area
Series:
Oregon, MC67(3)-38, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1970.
- 51 -
Manu acturiiig, Other than Lumber and Wood Products; Food and Kindred
Table 72.
Products and Mineral, 1etal, and Related Products Manufacturing, Malheur County,
1968 and 1970
Number of Firms
Product Group
Ordnance and accessories.
Textile mill products
Finished products from fabrics
Printing, publishing, and allied
industries
Newspapers
Commercial Printing
Chemicals and allied products
Fertilizers
Machinery except electrical
Farm machinery and equipment
1970
8
3
11
-
10
1
10
1
1
3
3
3
3
NA
17
o
0
0
1
-
-
2
2
26
49
1970
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
Conveyor s
1
Miscellaneous machinery
Electrical machinery
Transportation equipment
Boat building and repairing
Professional, scientific, and
controlling instruments
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries
Lapidary work
Total
Employment
1968
1968
NA - not available.
SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Commerce, Economic Development Division,
Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968.
Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division,
Dirctory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1970
Mining - Mineral and Metal Industries
Most of the income from mineral production in Malheur County is
derived from sand, gravel, and stone, and varies considerably from year
to year, depending on the current construction activities within the
county.
Mercury, clay, lime, gold, and silver also contribute to the
county's economy.
- 52 -
3
Table 73.
Mineral, Metal and Related Manufacturing, Malheur County,,
1968 and 1970
Number of firms
Product Group
1968
Petroleum refining and related
industries
Stone, clay, glass, and concrete
products
Concrete products exc. block
and brick
Concrete block and brick
Ready-mixed concrete
Fabricated metal products
Structural metal product
Fabricated metal product not
elsewhere classified
Table 74.
Employment
11968
1970
4
0
2
2
3
1
1
7
7
27
27
3
Total
SOURCE:
1970
1
3
3
14
1
1
3
3
8
10
43
55
Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division, Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1968.
Oregon State Executive Department,Economic Development Division,
Directory of Oregon Manufacturers, 1970.
Value of Mineral Production, 'h1heur County, 1963, 1965, 1970
Year
Value
r
1963
1965
$
1970
796,000
1,690,000
1/
Minerals Produced in Order of Value
NA
Sand
gravel, lime, mercury, stone,
gold, silver
Lime, sand E gravel, stone, mercury
NA - not available.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of Mines, Minerals Yearbook, Bureau of Economic Research,
Oregon Economic Statistics, various years, University of Oregon.
1/
Figures withheld to avoid disclosure.
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation is becoming more important to the economy
of the county. Although there are relatively few developed recreation
areas there are huge areas of public land for camping, hunting,
fishing, and sight-seeing.
It has been estimated that over 200,000 recreation visitors came
to the county each year. 1/
Mountain lakes, reservoirs, and streams provide fishing in
several areas of the county.
1/
Oregon State Water Resources Bzard, Malheur-Owyhee Basin, 1969.
- 53 -
In addition to four state recreation facilities and two Bureau
of Land Management camps, both Ontario and Nyssa maintain developed
city parks.
Hunting is a major outdoor activity in the county. Nearly
30 percent of all antelope hunters in the state hunted in that area
during the 1971 season. Several hunters also hunted deer, pheasant,
quail, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, and ducks in the county.
Looking for Indian artifacts and rare stones are also popular
activities n the county.
Table 75. Maiheur County Park and Recreation Facilities
Ownership
Name
State Park
Crooked Creek State Wayside..
Lake Owyhee State Park
Ontario State Park
Sucker Creek State Recreation
Area
Acres
274.00
730.00
35.35
1,910.00
Bureau of Land Management
Chuckar
Cow Lakes
Facilities
Activities 1/
NA
B, C, F, P,
B,. P
C, R
F, R, Tc
F, Tc
U.S. Forest Service
None
NA - not available.
1/
Facilities and Activities:
B - boating
P - picnicking
C - camping
R - rockhounding
F - fishing
Tc - trailer camping
SOURCES: Oregon State Departmen of Transportation, State Highway
Division, State parks and Recreation, "State Park Acreages",
1972, and Travel Information Section, "Oregon Parks", 1972.
- 54 -
Table 76.
Attendance at State Parks in Maiheur County
Park and Use
Lake Owyhee
Day visitor attendance
Overnight camping
Ontario State Park
Day visitor attendance
Sucker Creek State Recreation
Area
Overnight camping
1968 -69
Attendance
1969-70
1970-7 1
52,768
4,442
95,926
4,262
104,328
4,563
91,984
5,547
108,728
98,085
95,798
144,338
NA
326
638
1,040
1971-72
NA - not available.
SOURCE: Oregon State Department ofllansportation State Highway Division,
"Day Visitor Attendance" and "Overnight Camping by the Public",
State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Table 77.
Game
Pheasant
Quail
Chukar partridge
Hungarian partridge.
Blue and ruffed grouse.
Mourning dove
Ducks
Geese
Deer 1/
Elk 2/
Antelope 1/
Malheur County Game Harvest
Hunters
Percent of
Number IState Total
Number
9,183
3,537
4,408
1,215
70,596
30,924
31,862
3,512
22
491
2,180
750
8,160
790
345
12.73
13.51
26.62
23.75
0.29
3.00
3.90
2.67
2.92
1.05
28.87
L-Iarvest
22
4,703
13,590
1,150
3,700
138
192
Days
Percent of
State Total Hunted
29.00
19.50
27.67
22.08
0.13
2.39
2.38
1.80
4.21
1.34
29.67
47,833
15,995
15,796
5,019
24
1,593
10,430
2,670
NA
4,580
834
NA - not available.
1/
Figures for Owyhee, Beulah, Whitehorse State Game Management Units which are
not completely contained within Malheur County's borders and do not include
all of the county.
2/
Figures for Beulah State Game Management unit which covers only a portion of
Maiheur County and which is not completely contained within the county.
SOURCE:
Oregon State Game Commission, "1966 Upland Game Questionnaire", 1967;
"Water Fowl Estimates, 1969-70 Season", 1970; Oregon State Game Cominision Bulletin, May
1972.
- 55 -
Business
Table 78.
Retail and Wholesale Trade, Maiheur County, 1967
Kind of Business
Establishments
Lumber, building materials, hardware
farm equipment dealers
Total 2/
General merchandise group stores
Total 2/
Food stores
Total 2/
Automotive dealers
Total 2/
Gasoline service stations
Total
Apparel, accessory stores
..........................
Total
Furniture, home furnishing, equipment stores
Total
Eating, drinking places
Total 2/
Drug stores, proprietary stores
Total 2/
Other retail stores
Total
Nonstore retailers
Total 2/
Merchant wholesalers
Wholesale trade, total
Merchant wholesalers
Merchant wholesalers 3/
Other operating types 3/
'
Sales
number
$1,000
285
1,077
42,556
24
NA
6,680
12
NA
1,787
39
NA
9,456
23
NA
8,613
41
NA
2,126
17
NA
2,208
9
NA
1,392
50
NA
2,641
5
NA
736
56
NA
6,465
9
NA
452
56
529
41,787
24
32
NA
NA
16,924
24,863
number
Retail trade, total
Paid 1"
Employees
NA - not available.
1/
Excludes active proprietors of unincorporated businesses
2/
Only counties with 500 or more establishments are reported by specific
kinds of businesses.
3/
Only counties with 100 or more establishments are reported by specific
kinds of businesses.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967 Retail Trade:
Oregon, BC67-RA39; U.S. Census of Business, 1967 Wholesale Trade:
Oregon, BC67-WA39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C., 1969.
- 56 -
Table 79.
Selected Services, Maiheur County, 1967
Paid
Employees
Kind of Business
number
Selected services, total
176
Hotels, motels, tourist courts,
camps, total 2/
Personal services, total 2/
Miscellaneous business services,
total 2/
Auto repair, services, garages,
total 2/
Miscellaneous repair services,
total
2/
Motion pictures, total 2/
Amusement, recreation services,
exc. motion pictures, total 2/
1/
2/
$1,000
4,733
number
270
29
55
24
31
24
3
10
'V
Excludes active proprietors of unincorporated businesses.
Only counties with 300 or more establishments are reported by
specific kind of business.
NA - not available.
SOURCE:
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967, Selected
Services, Oregon, BC67-SA39, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1969.
- 57 -
PUBLIC SERVICES
Transportation
Federal Interstate highway 80 cuts across the northeastern
corner of Maiheur County and passes through Ontario. Federal highways 20 and 26 also cross the northern portion of the county, join
at Vale, and continue eastward out of the county into Idaho.
Federal highway 95 enters the county at the Nêvãda border and
travels northward about one third of the county's length
Then it
meets state highway 78, which runs southeast from Flarney County,
and turns eastward to cross the county and continue into Idaho.
Several bus lines operate on the county's major roadways.
The Union Pacific Railroad serves the county with regularly
scheduled trains.
Commercial airline and charter flights are available from
Ontario's municipal airport.
Table 80.
Miles of Roadway in Maiheur County, 1970
Agency
Miles
Federal agency roads
State agency roads
County and public usage roads 1/
City streets
407
3,020
Total
3,763
1/
269
67
Public usage roads are roads under county jurisdiction but generally
privately- maintained.
SOURCE:
Transportation Research Institute, Oregon State University,
Functional Classification of Public Roads and Streets in
Oregon, 1970.
- 58 -
Table 81.
Motor Vehicle Registration, Malheur County, 1970 and 1972
1970
Passenger vehicles
Buses
Trucks
Trailers
Motorcycles
Recreational
Snowmobiles
of Vehicles
Numbe
Vehicle
1972
15,195
1/
Total vehicles
16,716
11
1
2,455
1,074
733
966
2,690
586
682
1,344
NA
54
0,434
22,073
NA - not available.
1/
Includes campers and travel trailers.
SOURCES:
Oregon State Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicles Division, 1970 figures taken from Bureau of Business and Economic
Research, Oregon Economic Statistics, 1972, University of Oregon; 1972 figures from a telephone interview with State Motor
Vehicles Division.
Table 82.
Number of Aircraft and Boats in Malhuer County, 1968
Subject
Number
Aircraft
45
Boats
SOURCE:
788
Oregon State Executive Department, Local Government Relations
Division, District Facts, 1970
Communication
There is only one radio station located at Ontario and many other
stations available from outside the county. There are no television
stations within the county although stations are available from surrounding areas.
Newspapers are published at Vale, Nyssa, and Ontario. In addition,
the Oregonian and Oregon Journal from Portland are available daily.
- 59 -
Communication Facilities, Maiheur County
Table 83.
Type Service
Radio stations
KSRV
Telephone
Owyhee Telephone Company
United Telephone Company
of the Northwest
Malheur Home Telephone
Company
Mountain Bell
Newspapers
Daily Argus-Observer
Gate City Journal
Maiheur Enterprise.
Portland and Boise
papers available
Location
Ontario
Network
Affiliation 1/
ABC/DIN
Jordan Valley
Harper, Juntura
Nyssa, Ontario, Vale
(Office, Payette, Id)
Ontario
Nyssa
Vale
Television
No stations located within
county, but stations from
outside the county are
received.
ABC - American Broadcasting Company
IMN - Intermountain Network
Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Directory of Radio and
SOURCES:
Television Stations for the State of Oregon, 1972
Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Myers, Secretary
of State, Oregon Blue Book, 1972-74, January 1973.
Pacific Northwest Bell, unpublished data.
1/
- 60 -
Table 83.
Residential Communication Facilities, 1960 and 1970
Malheur County
Number of Housing Units
Facilities
1960
1970
NA
NA
5,844
1,169
4,812
1,844
5,698
1,266
1,038
5,324
294
340
5,641
1,032
NA
NA
2,493
4,180
Battery radio sets
Yes
No
Telephone available
Yes
No
Television sets
None
One
Two or more
UHF equipped
Yes
No
NA - not available.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing:
1960 and 1970
Detailed Housing Characteristics, Final Report HC(l)-B39, Oregon,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1972.
Library Facilities
During the 1969-1970 fiscal year, Malheur County provided $42,399 and
cities in the county provided $47,273 to support libraries within the
county.
Expenditures for the year totaled $83,603.
The county's circulation.per capita of 7.4 volumes and expenditure per
capita of $3.36 compare with average figures for all counties in Oregon
of 6.3 and $3.48.
- 61 -
Table 85.
Malheur County Libraries, by City of Location, 1969-1970
City
Volumes
Circu-
Ontario..
Nyssa
Vale
Extension
Service.
67,947
10,883
6,047
1 at ion
108,222
47,980
13,917
Circ./
Capita
Hrs. Open
Per Week
16.8
19.0
8.2
63
32
18
Operating
Expend.
Expend.!
Capita
$62,976
18,250
2,377
$9.76
7.23
83,603
3.36
1.40
14,747
County
total..
84,877
184,866
7.4
Treasure
Vally
Comm.
College
1/
38,901
21,985
City Libraries
Oregon State Library, Directory of Oregon Libraries, annual
statistics for the year ending June 30, 1970
SOURCE:
Utilities
Table 86.
Housing Units by Water Supply and Sewage Disposal,
Malheur County, 1970
Subj ect
Water source
Public or private co...
Individual well
Other or none
Sewage disposal
Public sewer
Septic tank or cesspool
Other or none
1/
Malheur County
Number
Percent
State
percent
3,515
3,911
46.7
51.9
94
1.2
79.8
16.9
3.3
3,435
3,798
287
45.6
50.4
61.0
37.5
3.8
1.5
/
Percent of all year-round housing.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing
Characteristics, Final Report HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
SOURCE:
- 62 -
Table 87.
Housing Units by Water Supply and Sewage Disposal, for Places
with over 2,500 Inhabitants, Malheur County, 1970
Ontario
Number
Percent 1/
Subj ect
Water source
Public system or private
company
Individual well
Sewage disposal
Public sewer
Septic tank or cesspool.
Other or none
1/
Nyssa
NumberiPercent 1/
2,045
184
91.7
8.3
841
98.7
11
1.3
2,094
93.9
5.7
0.3
839
98.5
128
7
-
13
1.5
Percent of all year-round housing units.
IJ.S.Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing: 1970 Detailed Housing
Characteristics, Final Report HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
SOURCE:
Table 88.
Types of Fuels for Heating, Cooking, Number of Housing Units,
Maiheur County, 1960 and 1970
Types of Fuels
Utility gas
Fuel oil, kerosene, etc
Coal or coke
Wood
Electricity
Bottled, tank, or LP gas
Other fuel
None
All occupied housing
units
SOURCE:
Home Heating
Water Heating
Fuel
1960
1970
Fuel
1960
744
3,990
1,383
234
44
197
43
21
6,656
Cooki ng
Fue 1
1970
1960
1970
280
625
I
2,266
3,174
583
140
573
22
99
22
19
244
108
438
40
-
450
-
-
44
65
5,645
6,172
5,585
6,149
239
129
133
181
321
-
-
-
-
64
44
38
-
459
7,013
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing, 1960 and 1970 Detailed
Housing Characteristics, Final Report, HC(1)-B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
Maiheur County is served with electric power primarily by Idaho Power
Company. Adequacy of out-of-county power and lack of good undeveloped
power sites have prevented development of hydroelectric plants within
the county.
Dam construction has been to provide irrigation water for
the area's agriculture
63 -
Table 89.
Selected Items of Local Government Finances, Maiheur County, 1966-67
Item
Maiheur County
Per Capita
Amount
State
Per Capita
Amount
dollars---
- $1,000 -
General revenue, exc. interlocal
Intergovernmental revenue
From state government
From local sources
Taxes
Property
Other
Charges and miscellaneous
$7,769
2,320
2,316
5,449
3,685
3,657
$321
$308
96
96
225
152
151
97
83
210
156
28
1
5
1,764
73
54
Direct general expenditure
Capital outlay
Other
Education
Other than capital outlay
Highways
Other than capital outlay..
Public welfare
Hospitals
Other than capital outlay.
Health
Police protection
Fire protection
Sewerage
Other than capital outlay.
Sanitation other than sewerage.
Parks and recreation
Natural resources
Housing and urban renewal
Correction
Libraries
Financial administration
General control
General public buildings
Interest on general debt
Other and unallocable
7,360
537
6,824
4,772
4,578
455
399
31
239
236
304
22
282
197
189
316
62
254
180
152
30
39
144
43
83
62
11
71
623
-
19
16
151
20
2
1
10
10
6
-
2
4
6
2
12
9
3
8
3
3
0.44
2
3
10
26
-
4
4
25
1
2
225
136
125
65
113
162
9
3
6
5
3
5
8
3
5
6
21
Water supply revenue
Water supply expenditure
261
211
11
9
12
13
General debt outstanding
Long-term
Local schools
Other
17,354
17,327
2,052
15,275
717
716
85
631
214
203
101
101
SOURCE:
7
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Government, 1967, Vol.4, No. 5:
Compendium of Government Finances, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1969.
- 64 -
Table 90.
Summary of Assessment Rolls for 1971-72 Fiscal Year Real Property
Personal Property, and Utilities, Maiheur County
Assessed
Value
I tern
Percent of
Total
Class
Real property
Lands inside corporate limits
Lands outside corporate limits
Improvements inside corporate limits
Improvements outside corporate limits
Timber (excludes land)
Less veterans exemptions
Less senior citizens residence
exemptions
Taxable read property
Personal property
Merchandise and stock in trade
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Farm machinery and equipment
Other machinery and equipment
Livestock
Miscellaneous
Less veterans exemptions
Less senior citizens residence
$ 11,304,102
57,199,739
45,644,328
4.2
32.7
21.4
17.1
(1,375,950)
0.5
(705,461)
0.3
74.6
87,308 ,813
199,375,571
13,246,335
1,378,326
9,309,516
4,314,415
14,400,971
976,715
4.9
0.5
3.5
1.6
5.4
0.4
(28,704)
expeintions
1/
29
(12,318)
Taxable rersonal prQperty
Total taxatle real and personal property'..
Utilities
Airline companies
Electric companies
Express compnaies
Gas companies
Heating companies
Pipeline companies
Railroad companies
Tank and private car companies
Telegraph companies
Water companies
Water transportation compnaies
Taxable utility property
16,500
8,912,878
y
1/
3.3
--
3,716,296
1.4
- -
560,187
6,284,120
203,073
8,600
1,500
Total taxable real, personal, and utility
property
0.2
2.3
0.1
1/
1/
--
--
24,271,313
9.1
267,232,140
Less than 0.05 percent.
SOURCE: Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax
1/
Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property
Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
- 65 -
Table 96.
Summary of 1971-72 Property Tax Levies and Assessments,
Maiheur County
Amount in Dollars
I tern
Levies
County......................................
Cities
..........................
Community colleges
Elementary and Secondary School Districts
Intermediate
Education joint
Elementary and unified. .
Union high
County unit
Total school districts
Special Districts
Cemetery
Fire protection
Hospital
county...........
$
664 ,516
539,574
522,498
1,567,924
32,331
1,907,348
215,418
3,772,751
31,009
12,271
60,831
Parkand recreation
Port
Road
Sanitary
Water supply
Other
Total special districts
Total gross ad valorem levies
Special Assessments
Fire patrol
Forest fee
Diking and drainage
Irrigation
Lighting
Other
Total special assessments
Total gross levies and relief money
Less property relief money
Senior citizens
Game commission
Total net ad valorem levies
Net ad valorem taxes by class
Real property
Personal property
Utility property
SOURCE:
158,673
262,784
5,712,123
910
23,514
6,101
30,525
5,742,648
(17,459)
5,694,664
4,291,602
900,892
502,169
Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax
Rolls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property
Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
- 66 -
Table 97.
City Valuation, Tax Rates and Taxes Extended in Malheur County,
for 1971-72 Fiscal Year
Ontario
Item
Vale
Nyssa
f
Population
True Cash Value (TCV)
Per capita TVC
City tax
Consolidated tax
Per capita tax
City
Consolidated
Percentage of total levy..
County
City
School
Other
Average rate/$TVC basis
County
City
School
Other
Total
Item
Population
True Cash Value (TCV)
Per capita TCV
City tax
Consolidated tax
Per capita tax
City
Conslidated
Percentage of total levy
County
City
School
Other
Average rate/$TVC basis
County
City
School
Other
Total
SOURCE:
6,950
$63,249,676
9,101
369,378
1,499,017
2,650
$13,287,662
5,014
107,099
365,145
1,650
$6,399,735
3,879
61,181
192,184
53
216
40
138
116
10.5
24.6
64.9
9.0
29.3
58.0
3.7
8.3
31.8
58.6
1.3
2.48
2.48
9.56
17.61
0.38
30.03
0
2.48
5.84
15.38
8.06
15.93
1.01
27.48
0
23.70
Jordan Valley
$
37
Juntura
200
55
1,058,371
5,292
1,916
19,146
$349,739
6,359
--
4,624
--
10
96
84
13.7
10.0
74.4
1.9
18.8
2.48
1.81
13.46
0.34
18.09
0
81.2
0
2.48
0
10.74
0
13.22
Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax Rolls
for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
- 67 -
Table 98.
Amount and Percent of Unpaid 1970-7T Property Tax,
As of June 30, 1971, Maiheur County
Total
Amount
I tern
Amount
Unpaid
Percent
Unpaid
Property taxable
Real
Personal
Public utilities
Western Oregon additional
timber tax
Yield tax
Other
Total for collection
SOURCE:
$4,030,632
854,003
496,673
$476,318
47,437
13,577
11.8
5.6
2.7
21,525
5,402,833
537,332
9.9
Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax
olls for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property
Tax Collections, Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
- 68 -
Selected List of Agencies
The following list gives names and addresses of agencies that have
served as data sources for this publication and may provide further or more
current data on subjects of interest.
In addition, a number of local and county offices are available to offer
local information and assistance, including:
Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation
Assess or
City Library
Corrections and Parole
County Engineer
County Extension
County Surveyor
Employment Division
Game Commission
Health Department
Public Welfare
Soil Conservation Service
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Univerity of Oregon, Eugene,
Oregon 97403
Center for Population Research and Census, Portland State University,
724 S.W. Harrison, Portland, Oregon 97201
Children Services Division, Oregon State Department of Human Resources,
Public Services Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Department of Environmental Quality, 1234 S.W. Morrison, Portland, Oregon
97204
Economic Research Service, U.S.D.A. Extension Hall, Oregon State University,
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Extension Service, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
Fish Commission of Oregon, 1400 S.W. 5th St., Portland, Oregon 97201
4-H Youth Office, Extension Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis,
Oregon 97331
Forest Service, U.S.D.A., 319 S.W. Pine St., Portland, Oregon 97204
Governor's Office, Economic Development Special Projects, State Capitol
Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
- 69 -
Local Government Relations Division, Oregon Executive Department,
240 Cottage S.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Allen Hall, University of Oregon,
Eugene, Oregon 97403
Oregon Board of Higher Education, School Finance and Statistical
Services, 942 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, 1400 S.W. 5th St.,
Portland, Oregon 97201
Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, 4263 Commercial S.E., Salem,
Oregon 97310
Oregon State Department of Revenue, State Office Building, Salem, Oregon
97310
Oregon State Employment Division, Community Manpower, Research and
Statistics, or Rural Manpower sections, Labor and Industries Building,
Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Game Commission, 1634 Alder, Portland, Oregon 97214
Oregon State Health Division, Department of Human Resources, 1400 S.W.
5th, Portland, Oregon 97201
Oregon State Highway Division, State Parks and Recreation Section, 8009 E.
Burnside, Portland, Oregon 97215
Oregon State Lands Division, 502 Winter N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Library, State Library Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Oregon State Public Welfare Division, Department of Human Resources,
Public Services Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service,
809 N.E. 6th St., Portland, Oregon 97232
Secretary of State's Office, State Capitol Building, Salem, Oregon 97310
Soil Conservation Service, U.S.D.A., 1218 S.W. Washington, Portland,
Oregon 97205
State Water Resources Board, 1158 Chemeketa N.E., Salem, Oregon 97310
U.S. Department of Commerce, 921 S.W. Washington, Portland, Oregon 97204
(for copies of U.S. Census publications)
- 70 -
Selected Bibliography
Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Oregon Economic Statistics
1972, University of Oregon, 1972.
Carolan, LB. Jr., Federal Land Oregon, Oregon State University, 1963.
Coppedge, Robert 0., Agriculture in Oregon Counties - Farm Sales and
General Characteristics, Special Report 330, Oregon State University
Extension Service, Corvallis, Oregon, 1971.
Center for Population Research and Census, Population Estimates of
Counties and Incorporated Cities of Oregon, Portland State University,
July 1972.
Legislative Fiscal Committee, Inventory of State-Owned Real Property,
By County, Sec 7, 115 State Capital, Salem, Oregon, 1970
Manock, Eugue R., Grover A. Choate, Donald R. Gedney, Oregon Timber
Industries, 1968, Wood Consumption and Mill Characteristics, Oregon State
Department of Forestry jointly with U.S. Forest Service, Salem, Oregon,
1968.
Nielsen, Alice M., Editor, Directory of Oregon Libraries, annual statistics
for the year ending June 30, 1970, Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon.
Office of the Governor, Planning Division, Health Facts, 1969.
Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Directory of Radio and Television
Stations for the State of Oregon, 1972.
Oregon Board of Higher Education, 1969 School Directory and 1971-72 Oregon
School-Community College Directory, School Finance and Statistical Services.
Oregon Conservation Needs Committee, Oregon Soil and Water Conservation
Needs Inventory, U.S.D,A. Soil Conservation Service and Oregon State
University Extension Service, 1971.
Oregon Department of Planning and Development, Resources for Development,
1964.
Oregon Educational Coordinating Council, Post Secondary Enrollment in
Oregon, An Analysis of the Statewide Student Enrollment Data Survey, 1972.
Oregon State Board of Census, Components of Population Growth, Population
Bulletin P-3, 1961.
Oregon State Board of Health, Oregon Plan for Construction and Modernization of Hospitals, Public Health Centers and Medical Facilities, 1971
Annual Revision, Health Facility Planning and Construction Section, 1971.
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71
Oregon State Department of Employment, 1965 Oregon Farm Labor Report, 1966.
Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Control
In Oregon, Oregon Sanitary Authority, 1970.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Children Services Division,
Adolescent Population and Commitment Data by County, by Calendar Year
1967-1970.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Labor
Force and Employment in Oregon by County 1968 through 1971 publications,
Research and Statistics Section, 1969, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, 1971
Annual Rural Manpower Report, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Employment Division, Oregon
Covered Employment and Payrolls, 1970 and 1971, Summary Data, Research
and Statistics Section, 1971, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon Public Welfare Division,
Public Welfare in Oregon, various editions.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon State Health Division,
Implementation and Enforcement Plan for the Public Waters of the State
of Oregon, Oregon Sanitary Authority, Portland, Oregon, 1967.
Oregon State Department of Human Resources, Oregon State Health Division,
Vital Statistics Annual Report, Vital Statistics Section, 1971.
Oregon State Department of Revenue, First Biennial Report 1968-70.
Oregon State Department of Revenue, Summary of Assessment and Tax Rolls
for the 1971-72 Fiscal Year and 1969-70 and 1970-71 Property Tax Collections,
Research and Special Services Division, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "Day
Visitor Attendance", State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "Overnight Camping by the Public", State Parks and Recreation Section, 1972.
Oregon State Department of Transportation, State Highway Division, "The
State Park Visitor in Oregon", State Parks and Recreation Division.
Oregon State Executive Department, Clay Meyers, Secretary of State,
Oregon Blue Book, 1973-74, January 1973.
Oregon State Executive Department, Economic Development Division,
Directory of Oregon Manufacturers - 1970.
72 -
Oregon State Executive Department, Program Planning Division, District
Facts, 1970.
Oregon State Fisheries Commission, 1968 and 1971 Annual Report.
Oregon State Game Commission, 1968 and 1971 Annual Report, Oregon State
Game Commission.
Oregon State Game Commission, "Oregon State Game CommissionBulletin",
May 1972.
Oregon State Water Resources Board, River Basin Reports.
Simenson, C. H., E. G. Knox, H. W. Hill, and R. W. Mayko, General Soil
Map Reports with Irrigable Areas, Oregon State University Agricultural
Experiment Station with U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service in cooperation
with Oregon State Water Resources Board.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, 1969, Vol. 1, Area
Reports, Part 47, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
D.C., 1972.
Oregon,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967 Retail Trade:
BC 67 - RA 39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1969.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967 Wholesale Trade:
Oregon, BC 67 - WA 39, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,
1969.
41.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol. 4, No. 5:
Compendium of Government Finances, U .S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1969.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Governments, 1967, Vol. 3, No. 2,
Compendium of Public Employment, U.S Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1969.
1970 Detailed Housing
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Housing:
Characteristics, Final Report HC(l) - B39, Oregon, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Manufacturers, 1967, Area Services:
Oregon, MC 67(3) - 38, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,
1970.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, General Demographic
Trends for Metropolitan Areas, 1960 to 1970, Final Report PHC(2) - 39,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Population
Characteristics, Final Report PC(1) - B39, Oregon, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C., 1971.
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U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970 General Social
and Economic Characteristics, Final Report PC(1) - C39, Oregon, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1972.
U.S.L.A. and Oregon State University Extension Service cooperating,
"Oregon Commodity Data Sheets", Oregon, State University, 1971-72.
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Environmental Data Service, Climatological Data, Annual Summary 1971,
Vol. 77, No. 13, 1971.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, Decennial Census of U.S.
Climate, Supplement for 1951 through 1960, Oregon No. 86-31, 1965.
U.S. Forest Service, Forest statistics publications for various Oregon
regions, Resource Bul1tins, Pacific Northwest Experiment Station.
U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey Reports.
Valde, Gary R. and Robert 0. Coppedge, Income and Poverty Data for
Racial Groups
A Com'ilation for Oreon Census Count Divisions,
Special Report 367, Oregon State University Extension Service, Corvallis,
Oregon, 1972.
Wall, Brian R., "1970 Timber Harvest", U.S.D.A. Forest Service Resource
Bulltin PNW-38, U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range
Experiment Station, Portland, Oregon, 1971.
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I
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
EXTENSION
ri SERVICE
Extension Service, Oregon Slate tMkeveky Corvalfie, JoeephR. Con, director TMsp*flonilgnwaspreduced
and distributed In furtherance of the Acts at Congress at May 8 and June 30, 1914. ExtensIon work Is a
cooperative progrss of Oregon State University the U S
parhnent of Agriculture, and Oregon counilas.