PAGE SIX
THE BEND BULLETIN, BEND, OREGON
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1949
Population of Prineville and Environs Estimated at 6,000
Growth of City Is Revealed ,
By Picture from Viewpoint '
How big is Prineville? Census figures this coming year
will provide the answer, but in the meantime there are many
guesses. The figure most frequently used for Prineville and
' its sprawling environs is 6,000.
Motorists who visit the Crooked river viewpoint, on the
high rim directly west of Prineville, and look out over the
broad valley below have little reason to doubt this figure.
Prineville of pioneer days is mostly hidden in the miniature
forest of poplars near the center of the picture. On all sides
of this historic center, new additions are taking shape. Vis
ible to the left, on the terrace overlooking Ochoco creek and
Crooked river valley, is the new section known as Ochoco
Heights. Upstream are other additions that do not appear in
the picture. To the left, also out of the picture, the new Prine-ville-Madras
highway is a city street for its first mile.
- Bridge Also Pictured
In the immediate foreground is the new Crooked river
bridge, constructed this past year. Also in the left fore
ground is the state highway department's new grade separa
tion project. The former highway is the long street at the
right of the new route through town. v ,
Flowing past the western fringe of Prineville is Crooked
river, now carrying water to the Deschutes that will even
tually be impounded for the reclamation of- more lands in
the broad valley.
There are four major sawmills and some six smaller plants
, in Prineville. When the picture was taken this week, a stiff
north wind was blowing smoke from mills across the city.
' Timber Is Hauled In
Far in the right background are white peaks of the Ocho
cos, from which timber is being hauled to Prineville to be
milled. Timber is also coming in from McKay creek.
Above Prineville, to the right, on Ochoco creek is the big
Ochoco reservoir, to be rehabilitated this year by the bureau
of reclamation at a cost of more than f 1,000,000.
This picture was taken by Web Iky, The Bulletin pho
tographer, who set his tripod on the rimrock lavas that
frown down on the thickly populated valley from the western
heights.
Prineville, named for Barney Prlne, was founded as a
rangeland town, serving a stock area, and for years the city
was known as the cowboy capital of the northwest. The his-,
i tory of the town goes back to the days of the vigilantes, and
'the "Moonshiners", an organization that opposed the vigil
antes. In the back country, range wars flared in the early
years of the century, and cattlemen warred on sheepmen, in
the struggle for range.
History is Traced
; Before Bend was on the map of Oregon, Prineville was a
flourishing town, and center of a sprawling county, Crook,
that covered most of Central Oregon. Jefferson and Des
. chutes counties were created from Crook.
Prineville started its present growth with the coming of
big sawmills, and the influx of population resulted in a rapid
growth of the city. Practically all mill operations of the
county are centered around Prineville.
; This year, Prineville will be the center of additional activ
ity, with the Ochoco dam, nearby, to be rehabilitated at a
cost of more than a million dollars.
A
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4.
Crook Countyi Seat Now Mill Center
vr. . 12 ,iiir'V?e".k..'-a.-i' -
vj, - , . T- l AC',
Prineville's fewest School
Growth Shown By New Additions
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Four large Sawnjl,ls and I six .smanerTTo lnlX ' al'uLn'; 'tTftZ
icluipd here, across n in nmw (u thn ai.w,, v....."i..". , LVl (U inc,
""MHiiin-imvm')' JlliilU.
Pilnevllle's new Ochoco Rrade school is one of the most modern
siliool structures m upstate Oregon.
No Longer Oregon's Rangeland Capital
v . ..... . , '... 'V. ,
Pnnevil es tapW growth Is attested by its many new additions. H(.re is a nv WentfwHon
in the Ochoco Heights area, on a broad terrace overlooking the Ochoco vaUey
Ochoco Inn Far-Famed as Convention Headquarters
For year's knoun as Oregon's rangeland nipltTWnTht Hh , 1
wars, Is now a bus.Ung city catering , bigPlpt m'i 'KS, V'ho S "i'sTLSThisu'.'e '1?," " ,hp '
is north on one ol the main s.rteu P lTll""B posts arc gone. This view
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vac j rkif.vtw.k jv. s-'t .. ' Iff
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k.viwM(i rt " k t . l ' t - J
Prlnexmes H,go,t bu.ldmg is the Ochoco Inn onToToreBoTrr
many convenuon conference, and banquets. PrMe Tfi 'JCZX f " Pn,,"'y
American Legion. Headquarters were at the Ochoco Inn. department convention of the