Cedar Valley (Oregon)

Cedar Valley (formerly Squaw Valley) is a valley in the Siskiyou Mountains of Curry County, Oregon, United States, northeast of Gold Beach.[1] The valley runs north from near the headwaters of Rumley Creek (a tributary of the Rogue River) along the course of Cedar Creek from its headwaters to its confluence with Miller Creek, about four miles south of Ophir.[1][2][3] The area is served by a volunteer fire department, which is known for its annual fundraising fish fry.[4]

Name change

By 2001, the word "squaw" was considered derogatory and a Senate joint memorial was passed by the Oregon State Legislature directing the Oregon Geographic Names Board to rename approximately 140-150 geographic features in Oregon containing the word.[5][6][7][8]

In 2001 and again in 2005, state legislation was passed preventing public bodies from using the word "squaw" in the names of public properties, with some exceptions.[9][10][11][12] In 2001, the deadline for the name changes was set as January 2, 2005, but the deadline was repealed in 2005.[9][10][11]

On January 1, 2005, Squaw Valley Road, which runs from the Rogue River along the valley to near Ophir, was renamed by the Curry County Commissioners to Cedar Valley Road.[2][13][14] The Cedar Valley Fire Department was recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as having changed its name from Squaw Valley Fire Department in 2010.[13][15]

On September 8, 2022 the USGS published an edit renaming the valley to Cedar Valley.[16]

References
  1. "Squaw Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  2. Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 58. ISBN 0-89933-347-8.
  3. Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon (2nd ed.). Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 106. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
  4. "Cedar Valley/North Bank Volunteer Fire Dept. Fish Fry". Travel Oregon. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  5. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 907. ISBN 978-0875952772.
  6. "Senate Joint Memorial 3". Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  7. Fattig, Paul (November 27, 2010). "Ore. 'squaw' geographic names still await changes". Mail Tribune. Native American Times. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  8. Loftesness, Kate (August 5, 2010). "Tribes, panel work to remove 'squaw' from Oregon place names". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  9. "Enrolled Senate Bill 488". Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  10. "Enrolled Senate Bill 362". Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  11. "Chapter 165 Oregon Laws 2005 (Senate Bill 362)". Oregon Laws 2005. Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  12. "ORS 271.600". Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Legislative Assembly. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  13. Lundquist, Bill (August 28, 2004). "Controversial Street Name to Be Changed". Curry Coastal Pilot. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  14. Merskin, Debra (Fall 2008). "The S-Word: Discourse, Stereotypes, and the American Indian Woman" (PDF). Research Matters. University of Oregon Center for the study of Women in Society. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  15. "Cedar Valley Fire Department". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. May 11, 2010.
  16. "Cedar Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved September 9, 2022.

42.520942°N 124.362046°W / 42.520942; -124.362046


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