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Nyssa Community Profile

Nyssa, "The Gateway to Oregon," was founded in 1883 near the Oregon Short Line Railroad as it pushed through southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. It served as a railroad watering station; a convenient point between Ontario and Parma for several years, and later grew into a trading station used by settlers along the Snake River and the Owyhee Ditch. Two stories claim different ways the town got its name; the first says Nyssa is the Indian word meaning sagebrush, and was given that name by early residents and the second story is that Nyssa was given the name of a town in Greece by a railroad section hand.

City Location

Image: Thumbnail MapEastern Oregon, on the Oregon/Idaho border. The city was incorporated in 1903.
Address 14 S. 3rd Street, Nyssa, OR 97913
Phone 541-372-2264
Fax 541-372-2377
Web Page http//www.nyssacity.org
Time Zone City resides in the Mountain Time Zone.
Nearest Major Highway and Distance I-84, 12 miles
Nearest Major City and Distance
  • Ontario, 12 miles
  • Estimated Drive Time 30 minutes
Distance to Portland 388 miles

Recreation

  
Parks/Recreatiion Fishing, water skiing, hunting, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, rock-hounding, Nyssa Nite Rodeo, Catfish and Crappie Carnival, Thunderegg Days, Frontier Days Festival, Lake Owyhee State Park, Succor Creek State Recreational Area, numerous city parks totaling 12 acres, 4 golf courses nearby.

Climate

  
Elevation 2,180'
Temperature
  • Monthly Ave. Low - 34°F
  • Monthly Ave. High - 91°F
Hottest Month July
Coldest Month January
Driest Month July
Wettest Month December
Average annual precipitation 10.400"
Humidity
(Hour 10, local time)
  • Average July afternoon humidity - 34%
  • Average January afternoon humidity - 77%

Public Safety/Emergency Services

  
Fire Station(s) serving community Nyssa Rural Fire Department, 1 station
Number of paid and volunteer firefighters 25*
*1998 data;
Rating by Insurance Services Organization (ISO) 8*
*number of firefighters unreported-last reported numbers; date last graded 1995
Police Department Nyssa Police Department
Number of paid and reserve officers 7
Nearest Hospital and distance Holy Rosary Medical Center, 12 miles in Ontario
Regional Hospital and distance Holy Rosary Medical Center, 12 miles in Ontario
Emergency services to community Ambulance Service
General Clinic(s) 2

Education

  
Public and Private Schools K–12 Nyssa Elementary K-5, Nyssa Middle 6-8, Nyssa High 9-12
Public School District Nyssa School District 26
School District Website http//www.nyssa.k12.or.us/
K-12 Enrollment 1204
Student/Teacher ratio Elementary 24:1
Student/Teacher ratio High school 17:1
Other Schools in the School District (Private, Parochial) 2 in Ontario

News/TV/Internet

  
Local Newspapers
Regional Newspapers
Radio Stations Local 1 FM, 1 AM stations; City receives Ontario stations Regional City receives Boise, ID stations
TV Stations City receives Boise, ID, area stations
Available Cable Television Chambers Cable
Telephone Service Provider(s) Malheur Bell
Local Internet Service Provider(s)

Library System

  
Public Librairies 1

Data Sources

  • Oregon Department of Transportation, State of Oregon Map; Oregon Blue Book
  • City Administration, local chamber of commerce, local convention and visitor bureau
  • Oregon Climate Service
  • Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon Fire Service Resource Directory 2000
  • City Administration
  • Oregon Department of Education 1998-99 enrollment, 1997 certified staff, 1998-99 Private and Parochial Schools reporting