[2] In 1909, a railroad station and townsite at this locale were named for James E. Robinette, a native of Maryland.

[3] By 1940, when Robinette had a population of 46, it was the northern terminus of a branch line of the Union Pacific Railroad (Oregon Short Line) that ran along the Snake River from Huntington, and served the Pine Valley and Eagle Valley agricultural areas to the north.

[2][4] The line had previously extended 25 miles (40 km) further north to Homestead, but that section, which was used to haul ore from the Cornucopia area mines, was later abandoned and the railroad grade was converted into a highway.

[2][4][5] The Robinette railhead of the Union Pacific branch line "probably generated most of the freight hauled by the railroad.

[6] Richland, the closest city to Robinette, was formerly accessible by a road along the Powder River that has since been flooded by the reservoir.