Butte Valley, an area of about 130 Square miles which includes the city of Dorris, and the communities of Macdoel and Mt. Hebron, has dropped down between faults in this volcanic area and is completely surrounded by volcanoes to form a closed drainage basin. The down-faulted valley has subsequently been filled to it’s present elevation of 4,250 feet by alluvial debris washed into the valley from the surrounding volcanic mountains, by lava flows and by lake deposits.
The history of the Modoc Indians in Butte Valley has been traced back approximately 7000 years through archaeological discoveries at Nightfire Island, adjacent to the banks of Sheepy Creek. Although their homeland is considered to be the Lost River and Tule Lake area, the Modocs roamed throughout the Butte Valley area. There are petroglyphs on Indian Point road and signs of a Modoc camp in the Pleasant Valley area.
he remaining Modocs, including the Hot Creek Band, was rounded up and sent to Oklahoma. The change in cultural environment and living conditions basically destroyed the Modoc culture.