Plush, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plush, Oregon
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Store in Plush in 2007
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 Plush, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Plush, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lake |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,488 ft (1,368 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39 |
| • Density | 24.10/sq mi (9.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97637
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| FIPS code | 41-58550 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2611774 |
Plush is a small, quiet community in Lake County, Oregon. It is located in the Warner Valley, a dry and quiet part of the state. In 2020, about 39 people lived there.
The area around Plush has many marshes and small lakes. These lakes sometimes dry up. Native Americans lived here for thousands of years. Later, people started sheep and cattle farms. Today, Plush has a store, a school, and a church. You can visit places like Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area nearby.
Contents
History of Plush
Early People in Warner Valley
People have lived in the Warner Valley for over 10,000 years. Native Americans were the first to call this place home. They left behind rock carvings, also known as petroglyphs. They also left hunting spots and tools made from obsidian rock.
Later, the Kidütökadö band of Northern Paiute people lived in the valley. They also used the uplands of Hart Mountain for hunting and gathering.
Settlers and the Name "Plush"
In the late 1800s, settlers from Europe came to Plush. They started sheep and cattle farms. Many Catholics from Ireland came to work as shepherds. Their family names and churches are still part of the area's history.
The name "Plush" has an interesting story. It is said to have come from a poker game played in the 1800s. Someone mispronounced the word "flush", and it stuck!
The Plush post office opened in 1888. David R. Jones was the first postmaster. In 1898, Daniel Boone, a relative of the famous explorer, became postmaster. He also opened a general store.
Geography and Nature
Plush is about 39 miles (63 km) northeast of Lakeview. It is also about 18 miles (29 km) north of Adel. These towns are all in the Warner Valley in south-central Oregon.
Roads connect Plush to other areas. Plush–Adel Road runs through the valley. Plush Cutoff links Plush to Oregon Route 140. Hart Mountain Road goes east from Plush to the Warner Wetlands and the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.
Lakes and Mountains
Hart Lake is very close to Plush, about 1 mile (1.6 km) east. It sits at the base of Hart Mountain. Two creeks, Honey Creek and Schneider Creek, flow together. Schneider Creek then flows through a deep canyon and past Plush into Hart Lake.
Plush is about 4,488 feet (1,368 m) above sea level. Nearby, Abert Rim reaches about 5,800 feet (1,768 m). Hart Mountain is even taller, at about 8,000 feet (2,438 m).
Oregon Sunstones
Plush is famous for being near a large area where Oregon sunstones are found. Sunstones are beautiful feldspar crystals. They formed in lava beds millions of years ago.
Part of this area is on public land. It is called the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area. The Bureau of Land Management looks after it. Here, amateur geologists, also known as rockhounds, can look for sunstones. Sunstone is the official state gemstone of Oregon.
Climate
Plush has a semi-arid climate. This means it is quite dry. On average, only about 7 inches (178 mm) of rain falls each year.
July is the warmest month. The average high temperature is about 87°F (31°C). January is the coldest month. Low temperatures average about 20°F (-7°C).
Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 39 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Education
Plush School District 18 is one of five school districts in Lake County. Plush School teaches students from kindergarten to 3rd grade. These students then share classes with Adel School District 21 for grades 4–8. Together, the two schools have about a dozen students.
For high school, students usually go to Lakeview High School or Paisley School. In 1969, the Plush school had only nine students!
See also
In Spanish: Plush (Oregón) para niños
