Ritter, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Ritter is an unincorporated
community in Grant County, Oregon
, United States, ten miles down the Middle Fork John Day River
from U.S. Route 395
, between Dale and Long Creek
. At one time the locale was also known as Ritter Hot Springs.
When a post office was established in this locale, it was named for the Rev. Joseph Ritter, a pioneer
Baptist minister of the John Day Valley
, on whose ranch it was situated. The post office was originally near the mineral hot spring
s there, formerly known as McDuffee Hot Springs but now known as Ritter Hot Springs. In 1988, the post office had moved to the old schoolhouse across the river. As of 2009, Ritter no longer had its own post office; Ritter's mail is addressed to Long Creek.
The springs were discovered by William Neal McDuffee, an early-day packer
who traveled between Umatilla
and the John Day Valley mines.
44.8923750°N 119.1435911°W
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 Grant County, Oregon
Grant County, Oregon
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. In 2010, its population was 7,445. It is named for President Ulysses S. Grant, who served as an army officer in the Oregon Territory, and at the time of the county's creation...
, United States, ten miles down the Middle Fork John Day River
Middle Fork John Day River
The Middle Fork John Day River is a tributary of the North Fork John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon in the Malheur National Forest near Austin and flows generally west to the North Fork about above Monument...
from U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 395 traverses the desert and rural areas on the eastern side of the state. The largest cities that US 395 passes through are Pendleton, the county seat of Umatilla County, and Hermiston, also in Umatilla County....
, between Dale and Long Creek
Long Creek, Oregon
Long Creek is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. The population was 228 at the 2000 census. The city is named after John Long, a prominent miner who came to Grant County in 1862 during the Canyon City rush of that same year. Located in a high valley of the Blue Mountains, ranching has...
. At one time the locale was also known as Ritter Hot Springs.
When a post office was established in this locale, it was named for the Rev. Joseph Ritter, a pioneer
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
Baptist minister of the John Day Valley
John Day River
The John Day River is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately long, in northeastern Oregon in the United States. Undammed along its entire length, the river is the third longest free-flowing river in the conterminous United States. There is extensive use of its waters for irrigation. Its...
, on whose ranch it was situated. The post office was originally near the mineral hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s there, formerly known as McDuffee Hot Springs but now known as Ritter Hot Springs. In 1988, the post office had moved to the old schoolhouse across the river. As of 2009, Ritter no longer had its own post office; Ritter's mail is addressed to Long Creek.
The springs were discovered by William Neal McDuffee, an early-day packer
Outfitter
An outfitter is a shop or person that sells men's clothes . More specifically, it is a company or individual who provides or deals in equipment and supplies for the pursuit of certain activities. The term is most closely associated with outdoor activities such as rafting, hunting, fishing,...
who traveled between Umatilla
Umatilla, Oregon
Umatilla is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. It is named for the Umatilla River, which enters the Columbia River on the side of the city. The river is named after the Umatilla Tribe. The city is located on the south side of the Columbia River, and is located on U.S...
and the John Day Valley mines.
External links
- Ritter Hot Springs, current hot springs resort business in Ritter (site has many contemporary and historic photots)
- "The Ritter Hot Springs", reprint of November 23, 1972 Blue Mountain Eagle article by Jo Southworth
44.8923750°N 119.1435911°W