Silver Lake, Oregon

Silver Lake is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in western Lake County, Oregon, United States, along Oregon Route 31.[4] As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 149.[3] Facilities include a gas station and a small store,[5] a post office, and a public school, North Lake School, serving grades K-12.[6]

This article is about the community in Oregon. For the lake in Oregon, see Silver Lake (Oregon).
Silver Lake, Oregon
Census-designated place
Silver Lake
Silver Lake
Silver Lake
Coordinates: 43°7′41″N 121°2′49″W
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLake
Area
 • Total1.48 sq mi (3.83 km2)
 • Land1.48 sq mi (3.83 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation4,345 ft (1,324 m)
Population
 • Total149
 • Density100/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97638
FIPS code41-67600
GNIS feature ID2611778
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.[7] 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.[4] After receiving the message, Doctor Bernard Daly drove his buggy over bad winter roads for 24 hours to reach Silver Lake. Doctor Daly's efforts to reach and treat the victims earned statewide recognition.[8]

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.[7]

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.[7]

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.[9]

Transportation

Silver Lake is located 79 miles (127 km) southeast of Bend and 103 miles (166 km) north of Lakeview on Oregon Route 31. Silver Lake Forest Service Strip is an airport 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Silver Lake.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Places: Oregon". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  2. "Silver Lake Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Silver Lake CDP, Oregon". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  5. Christmas Valley Chamber of Commerce 2006-2007 Tourist Guide
  6. http://www.nlake.k12.or.us/
  7. http://www.nlake.k12.or.us/district_information.htm%5B%5D
  8. Cooper, Forest E., Introducing Dr. Daly, Lake County Historical Society. Maverick Publications: Bend, Oregon, 1986
  9. Climate Summary for Silver Lake, Oregon
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