Drewsey, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Drewsey, Oregon
Unincorporated community
Drewsey post office
Drewsey, Oregon Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Drewsey, Oregon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Harney
Elevation	4,148 ft (1,264 m)
Time zone	Official: Pacific Unofficial: Mountain
ZIP Code	97904
Area code(s)	541
Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey

Drewsey is a small, unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, in the United States. It is located along the Malheur River, about 45 miles (72 km) east of Burns. Drewsey is found just off U.S. Route 20. Its ZIP Code is 97904.

History of Drewsey

Long ago, the area around Drewsey was home to Paiute tribes. They fished for salmon in the river and hunted and gathered food on the land. When white settlers began to arrive, there were conflicts between the two groups.

In 1872, the Malheur Indian Reservation was created. This reservation included the Drewsey area. The idea was for the Paiutes and other tribes to learn about white culture and become farmers. However, more problems arose, and the Native Americans were later moved to other reservations.

By the early 1880s, settlers started building homes and farms in the Drewsey area. In 1883, a man named Abner Robbins opened a store here. He first named the place "Gouge Eye" after a local disagreement. When he wanted to open a post office, the postal service did not like that name. So, he changed it to "Drusy". But when the post office officially opened in 1884, it was registered as "Drewsey".

Drewsey grew quickly in the late 1800s. Its economy relied on farming and ranching. Big companies like the Pacific Livestock Company and two lumber mills did well here until the 1920s. However, Drewsey was not on the main railway line or the main highway. Because of this, its population dropped during the Great Depression and afterward. Today, Drewsey is a small community. It has a few homes, a garage and store with a post office, a tavern and restaurant, two churches, and an elementary school.

Geography and Climate

Drewsey has a steppe climate. This means it is generally dry with hot summers and cold winters.

Time Zones in Drewsey

Officially, Drewsey is in the Pacific Time Zone. This is the time zone used by businesses and the Oregon Department of Transportation. However, some people in Drewsey unofficially use the Mountain Time Zone. This is because they live very close to Malheur County, which is in the Mountain Time Zone.

Education in Drewsey

Buildings in Drewsey

Drewsey is home to Drewsey Elementary School. This school teaches children from kindergarten through 8th grade. There is also Pine Creek Elementary School, which has a Drewsey address. In 1969, Pine Creek Elementary had 8 students.

After 8th grade, high school students from Drewsey attend Crane Union High School. This school is part of the Harney County Union High School District 1J. Harney County does not have its own community college district. However, it has an agreement with Treasure Valley Community College. This college operates an outreach center in Burns, which is nearby.

Transportation in Drewsey

Today, Drewsey is a stop on the Eastern Public Oregon Intercity Transit (POINT) bus line. This bus travels between Bend and Ontario. The bus stops once a day in each direction.

Two main roads lead to Drewsey for cars and trucks. Drewsey Road connects the community to U.S. Route 20, which is to the south. Drewsey Market Road connects Drewsey to other rural places to the west, along the Malheur River.