McDermitt, Nevada-Oregon
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McDermitt is an unincorporated town straddling the Nevada-Oregon border, in Humboldt County, Nevada and Malheur County, Oregon. The town, originally called Dugout, was named after Charles McDermit (sic), a commander of the Military District of Nevada in the 1860s. It was originally established to protect a stagecoach route from Virginia City, Nevada to Boise, Idaho.
As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 269, a precipitous decline from the 373 people enumerated in the census a decade earlier.
The town is on U.S. Highway 95. Its economy has historically been based on ranching and farming, and home to a mercury mine until 1990. Mining may start up in the area again, courtesy of Canadian firm Gold Canyon Resources [1] (http://www.gcu-vse.com/). Samples from a former mercury mine in the area suggest that it could become home to the world's only gallium mine, which is normally produced as a by-product of aluminum and zinc mining.
The state line goes through the White Horse Inn, a now-abandoned saloon, hotel, and reportedly, brothel [2] (http://www.baberfamilytree.org/Notes/4.htm#138). When it was open, you could order your food in Oregon, thus avoiding Nevada sales tax [3] (http://www.scs.unr.edu/~sjbarnes/mcdermit.html).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 34.1 km² (13.2 mi²). None of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 269 people, 90 households, and 60 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 7.9/km² (20.4/mi²). There are 107 housing units at an average density of 3.1/km² (8.1/mi²). 262 (97.4%) of the population is Native American; seven people (2.6%) are White. Two people (0.74%) are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 90 households out of which 24.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% are married couples living together, 25.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% are non-families. 30% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.99 and the average family size is 3.85.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 108.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $16,563, and the median income for a family is $17,396. Males have a median income of $25,625 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $6,399. 33.0% of the population and 37.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.9% of those under the age of 18 and 35.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Gold Canyon Resources (http://www.gcu-vse.com/)
- Newspaper story about the town (http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2003/04/15/39531.php)