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Vale Community Profile

Pioneers heading west departed from Fort Boise following the Oregon Trail northward. Crossing the Malheur River they camped at the present day site of Vale, often stopping long enough to rest and do laundry in the hot springs before heading on their way. The first house built by white men in Vale was constructed by John Reed and six others in 1813. The building was later discovered and burned by Indians, forcing the men to relocate to the Boise River. As miners retraced the Oregon Trail looking for gold in western Idaho, some settled in Vale, including Jonathon Keeney. Louis Rhinehart, later called the "Father of Vale", purchased Keeney's property in 1870 and built the Stone House which still stands.

City Location

Image: Thumbnail MapNortheastern Oregon, 12 miles west of the Oregon/Idaho border. Incorporated in 1889.

Address

252 B Street, West, Vale, OR 97918

Phone

541-473-3133

Fax

541-473-3895

Web Page

http//www.ci.vale.or.us/

Time Zone

City resides in the Mountain Time Zone.

Nearest Major Highway and Distance

I-84 | 16 miles

Nearest Major City and Distance

Ontario, 16 miles, Estimated Drive Time 20 minutes

Distance to Portland

376 miles

Recreation

 

Parks/Recreation

Vale Municipal Pool, Vale 4th of July Rodeo, Malheur Gun Club, 17 expertly painted murals depicting Oregon Trail Life, the Emma Humphrey Memorial Library, Bully Creek County Park, playground, rodeo grounds, group picnic facilities, Hisotric Downtown, museum, baseball and softball, soccer, horseshoe pits, trap shooting, hunting, fishing.

Climate

 

Elevation

2,244'

Temperature
  • Monthly Ave. Low - 18°F
  • Monthly Ave. High - 94°F

Hottest Month

July

Coldest Month

January

Driest Month

July

Wettest Month

December

Average annual precipitation

9.770"

Humidity
(Hour 10, local time)
  • Average July afternoon humidity - 34%
  • Average January afternoon humidity - 77%

Public Safety/Emergency Services

 

Fire Station(s) serving community

Vale Fire Department, Vale Rural Fire Inc.

Number of paid and volunteer firefighters

15*

Rating by Insurance Services Organization (ISO)

6-0-0*
*Unreported since 1996.

Police Department

Malheur County Sheriff Office (MCSO)

Nearest Hospital and distance

Holy Rosary Medical Center, 16 miles

Regional Hospital and distance

Holy Rosary Medical Center, 16 miles

Emergency services to community

Ambulance Service, Life Flight Service

General Clinic(s)

1

Education

 

Public and Private Schools K–12

Vale Elementary K-6, Willowcreek Elementary K-8; Vale Middle 7-8; Vale High 9-12

Public School District

Vale School District 84

School District Website

http//www.vale.k12.or.us/

K-12 Enrollment

1123

Student/Teacher Ratio
Elementary

18:1

Student/Teacher Ratio
High school

12.8:1

Other Schools in the School District (Private, Parochial)

Timberline Elementary School (SDA) K-8

News/TV/Internet

 

Local Newspapers

Malheur Enterprise

Regional Newspapers

Radio Stations

City receives Ontario and Boise, ID, stations

TV Stations

City receives Boise, ID, area stations

Available Cable Television

Chambers Cable

Telephone Service Provider(s)

Malheur Bell (Ontario)

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