Nye, Oregon
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyUmatilla
Population as of2000
Time zonePacific (PST) (UTC-8)
Time zone (DST)PDT (UTC-7)
Elevation2310 ft
Coordinates45°27′37″N 118°58′48″W[1]
Area codes458 and 541
GNIS feature ID1136587[1]

Nye is an unincorporated community in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States.[1] It is approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Pilot Rock, at the junction of U.S. Route 395 and Oregon Route 74.[2][3]

Nye was named for Adam Wirt "Ad" Nye, an early resident of Umatilla County.[4][5] Ad Nye named Happy Canyon (later Nolin), which lent its name to part of the festivities of the Pendleton Round-Up.[5] Nye post office ran from 1887 through 1917, after which mail was handled by Pilot Rock.[4][6] Nye took over the mail from Vinson (formerly Butter Creek) when that office closed in 1907.[6] Henry C. Wright, the postmaster of Nye from its founding through the 19th century, also ran a general store.[6][7] In 1889, the East Oregonian newspaper claimed it was the only town by that name in the United States.[8][9]

In 1915, Nye had a grade school and daily stages to Ukiah and Pilot Rock.[10] After the road from Pilot Rock to Nye was paved, a motorcoach ran on that part of the route, while a four-horse stagecoach was used between Nye and Ukiah as late at 1923.[11] Along with general farming, in 1915 the area was known for the raising of "high-class" livestock and wheat.[10]

Further reading

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer. 7th ed. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 74. ISBN 0-89933-347-8.
  3. ^ Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Oregon (1940). Oregon: End of the Trail. American Guide Series. Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort. p. 418. OCLC 4874569
  4. ^ p. 711.
  5. ^ "Echo's Cultural Inventory". City of Echo, Oregon. July 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  6. ^ "Nye". La Posta: A Journal of American Postal History. 10 (3). June 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  7. ^ "H.C. Wright, Dealer in General Merchandise, Nye, Oregon". East Oregonian. September 8, 1888. – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "28 Years Ago Today". East Oregonian. April 27, 1917. – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Note: Nye, Montana was established in 1887.
  10. ^ Burke, Thomas C. Burke (1915). The State of Oregon: Its Resources and Opportunities; Official Pamphlet Published for the Information of Homeseekers, Settlers and Investors. Oregon State Immigration Commission. p. 2589.
  11. ^ "Stagecoaches Not So Ancient". East Oregonian. April 11, 1939. – via Newspapers.com.