Minam, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Minam is an unincorporated
community in northwestern Wallowa County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is located at the confluence of the Minam
and Wallowa
rivers, north of the Wallowa Mountains
on Oregon Route 82. Minam is approximately 20 miles (32 km) Northeast of La Grande
.
Minam was named after the Minam River, which in turn was named for the Native American
name for the locality E-mi-ne-mah, which described a valley or canyon where a plant used for food that resembled a small sunflower was abundant. The form "Minam River" was used as early as 1864. Minam post office was established in 1890, closed in 1891, and was reestablished in 1910. Minam was plat
ted in 1907; a railroad branch through the community to Joseph
, completed in 1908, probably prompted the reopening of the post office. As of 2006, Minam no longer has its own post office.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in northwestern Wallowa County
Wallowa County, Oregon
Wallowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the origins of the county's name are uncertain, with the most likely explanation being that it is derived from the Nez Perce term for a...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at the confluence of the Minam
Minam River
The Minam River is a tributary of the Wallowa River, long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. It drains a rugged wilderness area of the Wallowa Mountains west of La Grande....
and Wallowa
Wallowa River
The Wallowa River is a tributary of the Grande Ronde River, approximately long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. It drains a valley on the Columbia Plateau in the northeast corner of the state north of Wallowa Mountains. It rises in southern Wallowa County, in the Wallowa Mountains in...
rivers, north of the Wallowa Mountains
Wallowa Mountains
The Wallowa Mountains are a mountain range located in the Columbia Plateau of northeastern Oregon in the United States. The range runs approximately 40 mi northwest to southeast in southwestern Wallowa County between the Blue Mountains to the west and the Snake River to the east. The range is...
on Oregon Route 82. Minam is approximately 20 miles (32 km) Northeast of La Grande
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
.
Minam was named after the Minam River, which in turn was named for the Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
name for the locality E-mi-ne-mah, which described a valley or canyon where a plant used for food that resembled a small sunflower was abundant. The form "Minam River" was used as early as 1864. Minam post office was established in 1890, closed in 1891, and was reestablished in 1910. Minam was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1907; a railroad branch through the community to Joseph
Joseph, Oregon
Joseph is a city in Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. Originally named Silver Lake and Lake City, in 1880 the city formally named itself for Nez Perce Chief Joseph. The population was 1,054 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, completed in 1908, probably prompted the reopening of the post office. As of 2006, Minam no longer has its own post office.