McDermitt is an unincorporated community straddling the Nevada–Oregon border, in Humboldt County, Nevada, and Malheur County, Oregon, United States.

History

The community, originally called Dugout, was named after Fort McDermit. It was named after Lt. Col. Charles McDermit, commander of the Military District of Nevada, who was killed by Native Americans in a skirmish in the area in 1865. It is not known why there is a discrepancy in the spelling. The township of Dugout was established as support for Fort McDermit.

Geography and climate

The community is on U.S. Highway 95, north of Winnemucca. The elevation of McDermitt is above sea level.

The McDermitt area boasts the longest climatic record in Nevada, with data beginning in 1866. The earliest Nevada climate stations were at Army posts. The U.S. Army Signal Corps was responsible for weather duty in the late 19th century and established the National Weather Service in 1870.

Demographics

For statistical purposes, the census bureau has allocated McDermitt two census-designated places (CDPs), McDermitt, Nevada and Fort McDermitt, Nevada. The Oregon portion of McDermitt is not part of the McDermitt CDP, but is included in the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Economy

thumb|Desert Inn Casino

McDermitt's economy has historically been based on mining, ranching and farming. In the period 1917 to 1989 it was home to four nationally significant mercury mines in the McDermitt CalderaBretz, Opalite, Cordero and McDermittwhich from 1933 to 1989 were the largest producers in North America. In 1985 of the 16,530 flasks of mercury (each containing produced in the US, 16,337 came from the McDermitt Mine. The closure of mercury mining in 1990 resulted in a significant decline in population.

Current development activities that may result in renewed mining are at Cordero (gold and silver), Cordero (gallium), Buckskin-National (gold-silver), Aurora (uranium) and Disaster Peak (gold). The largest employers in McDermitt are the Say When Bar, Restaurant & Casino and the McDermitt Combined School.

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service has a post office in McDermitt.

In 1978 law enforcement services were provided by a deputy sheriff from the county.

Health care

In 1978, the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation would send a paramedic in the case of a medical emergency. When it was open, food could be ordered and paid for in Oregon, avoiding the Nevada state sales tax.

Education

thumb|[[McDermitt Combined School]]

Humboldt County School District operates the McDermitt Combined School, a kindergarten–twelfth grade (K–12) school, in the Nevada side. The Nevada side, including the CDP, is zoned to that district.

The Oregon side is zoned to McDermitt School District 51, a school district, governed by a board of directors, which sends all of its students to McDermitt Combined in Nevada and which does not have any employees. Circa 2006, 16 students, of all grade levels, lived in the district. In 2006 the district possessed a school building that was no longer used.

Humboldt County is in the service area of Great Basin College. That college maintains the GBC Center in Winnemucca. The section of Malheur County in which McDermitt, Oregon is located in is not in any community college district.

McDermitt has a public library, a branch of the Humboldt County Library.

Transportation

  • McDermitt State Airport

See also

  • Fort McDermit
  • Denio, Nevada
  • Hatfield, California–Oregon

References

  • Historic images of McDermitt from Salem Public Library