Silver Lake, Oregon

Silver Lake is an unincorporated community in western Lake County, Oregon, United States, along Oregon Route 31.[1] Facilities include a gas station and a small store,[2] a post office and a public school, North Lake School, serving grades K-12.[3]

This article is about the community in Oregon. For the lake in Oregon, see Silver Lake (Oregon).
Silver Lake, Oregon
Silver Lake
Coordinates: 43°7′41″N 121°2′49″W
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLake County[1]
unincorporated communityDecember 9, 1875
Elevation
4,345 ft (1,324 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific)
Community church in Silver Lake
Cowboy herding cattle on Highway 31 near Silver Lake

History

The community of Silver Lake is located in the high desert of Central Oregon.[4] The town is named for a lake of the same name that is 6 miles (10 km) east of town. On December 9, 1875, the post office was established. The post office location has moved at least twice, depending on where the house of the postmaster was at the time.

According to Oregon Geographic Names, "The most important happening in the history of the community was a fire that occurred on December 24, 1894, in which 43 people lost their lives in the burning of one building." A fire broke out at a Christmas Eve celebration inside the crowded second-floor hall above a store. Ed O'Farrell rode 100 miles (160 km) to Lakeview for medical help.[1] After receiving the message Doctor Bernard Daly drove his buggy over bad winter roads for twenty-four hours to reach Silver Lake. Doctor Daly’s efforts to reach and treat the victims earned statewide recognition.[5]

North Lake School in Silver Lake serves approximately 260 students from the towns of Silver Lake, Christmas Valley, and Fort Rock and consists of a single K-12 school building, which opened in 1991.[4]

Sparsely populated, but seeing an increase as Bend grows, the area is ideal for those interested in the outdoors; hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, and bird watching are favorite activities of local residents. Wildlife is abundant in the area, such as mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, coyotes, badgers, eagles, and hawks.[4]

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Silver Lake has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[6]

Transportation

Silver Lake is located 75 miles (120 km) southeast of Bend and 95 miles (150 km) north of Lakeview on Oregon Route 31. Silver Lake Forest Service Strip is an airport located near Silver Lake.

References
  1. McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (Seventh ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. Christmas Valley Chamber of Commerce 2006-2007 Tourist Guide
  3. http://www.nlake.k12.or.us/
  4. http://www.nlake.k12.or.us/district_information.htm%5B%5D
  5. Cooper, Forest E., Introducing Dr. Daly, Lake County Historical Society, Maverick Publications: Bend, Oregon, 1986
  6. Climate Summary for Silver Lake, Oregon
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