Mitchell, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mitchell, Oregon
City
Main Street as seen from High Street
Location in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Wheeler
Incorporated	1891; 134 years ago (1891)
Area
• Total	1.28 sq mi (3.31 km2)
• Land	1.28 sq mi (3.31 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	2,777 ft (846.4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	138
• Density	107.98/sq mi (41.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP code	97750
Area code(s)	541
FIPS code	41-49150
GNIS feature ID	1146370

Mitchell is a small city in Wheeler County, Oregon, in the United States. In 2020, about 138 people lived there. The city was started in 1873 and got its name from John H. Mitchell, who was an important politician.

Mitchell is close to the Painted Hills, which are part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. This famous natural area is about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of the city. Mitchell also has its own public school, Mitchell School, which teaches around 70 students.

Mitchell's Past: A Look at Its History

How Mitchell Began

Mitchell started as a small community in 1873. A blacksmith named William "Brawdie" Johnson asked for a post office to be set up there. He became the first postmaster. Johnson suggested naming the town after John H. Mitchell, a U.S. Senator from Oregon. Senator Mitchell served in the Senate for many years during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The town was officially mapped out in 1885 and became an incorporated city in 1893. This meant it had its own local government. The first school in Wheeler County was built near Mitchell in 1872. Two years later, in 1874, it moved right into the town.

Life in Early Mitchell

Over the years, Mitchell grew into a busy little town. It had a general store, two churches, and two hotels. There were also five saloons and places like a flour mill and a pharmacy. The town even had two newspapers, The Sentinel and The News.

The main business area, including the saloons, was built along Bridge Creek. People called this part of town "Tiger Town." The churches and most of the homes were built higher up on a hill, which was known as "Piety Hill." Sadly, about half of Mitchell was destroyed by a big fire in 1899. But the people of Mitchell worked together and rebuilt their town.

Major Floods in Mitchell's History

Mitchell has faced three very serious flash floods from Bridge Creek, which flows right through the city. These floods caused a lot of damage in 1884 and 1904.

The third big flood happened on July 13, 1956. A strong thunderstorm hit the hills south of Mitchell. Bridge Creek is usually very shallow in July, but after the storm, a huge wall of water, about 50 feet (15 meters) high, rushed through the city. This flood destroyed or badly damaged 20 buildings and several bridges. Eight people lost their lives, including a family of four who were swept away. The flood caused about $709,000 in damage, which was a lot of money back then.

Oregon's First Dinosaur Discovery

In 2018, an exciting discovery was made near Mitchell. A scientist from the University of Oregon found a fossilized toe bone from a plant-eating dinosaur. This was a big deal because it was believed to be the first dinosaur fossil ever found in Oregon!

About 100 million years ago, the area around Mitchell was actually the coast of the Pacific Ocean. There is another claim about dinosaur fossils found near the Rogue River. These were fragments from a duck-billed dinosaur.

Mitchell's Location and Weather

Mitchell is located in the southwestern part of Wheeler County. It sits on U.S. Route 26, just east of where it meets Oregon Route 207. By road, Mitchell is about 47 miles (76 km) east of Prineville and 60 miles (97 km) west of John Day.

South of the city are the Ochoco Mountains, where Bridge Creek begins. The creek flows through Mitchell and then north through the famous Painted Hills before reaching the John Day River. You can also see the remains of ancient volcanoes, like Black Butte and White Butte, from town. These were once as big as Mount Hood.

Panorama of the Painted Hills, northwest of Mitchell

The city of Mitchell covers an area of about 1.26 square miles (3.26 square kilometers), and all of it is land. The weather in this area gets less rain because of a "rain shadow" effect. This happens when mountains, like the Cascade Range and the Ochoco Mountains to the west, block rain clouds. In winter, much of the rain falls as snow.

Mitchell's Population Over Time

Downtown Mitchell

According to the 2010 census, 130 people lived in Mitchell. There were 61 households, and 39 of these were families. The population density was about 103 people per square mile (40 people per square kilometer). Most of the people living in Mitchell were White. A small number were Native American or of two or more races.

The average age of people in Mitchell was about 51.7 years old. About 15% of the residents were under 18 years old, and about 30% were 65 years or older.

Education in Mitchell

Mitchell School

The local school system for Mitchell is the Mitchell School District. This district serves the students in the area.

Fun Things to Do in Mitchell

Trading post

Mitchell hosts two fun festivals every year that bring the community together:

• The Painted Hills Festival: This festival happens every Labor Day weekend. It includes a half marathon, 5K and 10K races, a parade, and a motorcycle show. There are also games, watermelon eating contests, and live music. You can find craft vendors and food stalls along the street and in the city park. A quilt show is also held at the Community Hall. The day usually ends with a street dance.
• Tiger Town Music Festival: This music festival takes place every year on the second weekend in June. It features bands from all over the Pacific Northwest, playing music from morning until night.

See also

In Spanish: Mitchell (Oregón) para niños