Henry Miller settled in the area in August 1862. In 1870, Miller's Stagecoach Station was established[citation needed] before the coming of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company rail line in 1884, and was platted in 1885 or 1886.[5] It soon became the primary shipping point for the cattle country to the south. Miller built the Stage Tavern, known for many years as "Miller Station". It was on the overland route that had been established in the valley, and had become well known to all who traveled in pioneer days.[6] According to Oregon Geographic Names, Huntington was named for J.B. and J.M. Huntington, brothers who purchased Miller's holdings in 1882.
Huntington, c. 1890
The Huntingtons maintained a small trading post on their land.[citation needed] In 1884, the rails of the Oregon Short Line and the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company line were joined in Huntington.[7][8] Since that time, Huntington has been an important railway division point.[7] With the advent of the railroad came J.T. Fifer, who had been selling general merchandise to the construction crews moving his goods from town to town as the work progressed. Shortly after Fifer arrived, the Huntingtons closed up, leaving him alone in the general merchandise business.[citation needed] The Oregon Construction Company followed soon, with a stock of general merchandise, a blacksmith shop, the Pacific Hotel, several boarding houses and restaurants and a number of saloons.
In 1898, the Northwest Railroad Company began extending a short line down the Snake River. It reached Homestead about 1910. This increased transportation at Huntington and gave an outlet for Eagle and Pine Valley fruits, cattle, lumber and ore. This line was flooded by water from Brownlee Dam.[citation needed]
Huntington became the only incorporated city in Baker County on the Oregon Trail in 1891 with Home Rule Law.[9]
Evidence of the hardships and tragedies of the pioneer movement still exists: a small iron cross, visible from Route 30, marks the location where Snake River Shoshone Indians killed a number of emigrants in 1860.[9]
At the end of the 19th century, Huntington developed a reputation as "Sin City", a rugged frontier town having its share of saloons, Chinese opium dens, and gunslingers.[9]
Governor Oswald West was motivated to clean up the city, along with the community of Copperfield, in 1912–14.[9]
Huntington's two marijuana dispensaries, which opened in 2016, had almost $15 million in sales in 2017, and were on pace to top $25 million in 2018, mostly serving Idahoans.[11]
As of the census of 2010, there were 440 people, 211 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density was 586.7 inhabitants per square mile (226.5/km2). There were 272 housing units at an average density of 362.7 per square mile (140.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 0.2% African American, 3.9% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.[4]
There were 211 households, of which 16.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.9% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.78.[4]
The median age in the city was 54 years. 16.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 30.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.8% male and 48.2% female.[4]
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 515 people, 232 households, and 150 families residing in the city. The population density was 700.8 inhabitants per square mile (270.6/km2). There were 301 housing units at an average density of 409.6 per square mile (158.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.39% African American, 0.97% Native American, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.[4]
There were 232 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.73.[4]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.1 males.[4]
The median income for a household in the city was $25,132, and the median income for a family was $30,781. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,396. About 10.7% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.[4]
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