Oregon's Chinese Heritage: A Legacy of Places: Malheur County

Malheur County

Jordan Creek Chinese Massacre Site. Malheur County.

Jordan Creek in Jordan Valley, Malheur county, was the location of the murder of approximately 50 Chinese who were travelling to the Owyhee mines in 1864. Paiute Native Americans were thought to have been the culprits. Reference: Hanley, 1980: 15, 53, 212; “History of Avalanche.”

References

Hanley, Mike and Ellis Lucia.1980. Owyhee Trails. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton printers, Ltd.

“History of the Avalanche.” n.d. http://www.owyheepublishing.com/history.php/ Accessed 1/23/11.

Change/Create a Place Name

To change an inappropriate place name or create a place name of a
natural feature, the following is suggested:

1. Document its
history (written/oral records, photographs, maps, etc.).

2. Garner local
support (petitions, organization endorsements, official support
letters, etc.).

3. Learn about the
Oregon Geographic Names Board:

https://www.ohs.org/about-us/affiliates-and-partners/oregon-geographic-names-board/index.cfm

4. Complete the Name
Proposal Form:

https://www.ohs.org/about-us/affiliates-and-partners/oregon-geographic-names-board/upload/DGNR_Name-Proposal-Form.pdf

5. Mail the form and
supporting documentation to:

Oregon
Geographic Names Board

Oregon Historical Society

1200
S.W. Park Avenue

Portland, OR 97205

About me

I am Professor Emeritus who has spend the last 35 years researching the Chinese in California, Oregon and Washington State from the mid 1800's to mid 1900's. Since graduate school in the early 1970's, I have been involved with the Chinese community, to include serving as the president of the Southern California Chinese Historical Society. After one of many presentations about the Chinese legacy, an elderly Chinese woman said "Thank you--you have given me a history." The comment prompted me to create this site which is a companion to California's Chinese Heritage and Washington State's Chinese Heritage.