Austin, Oregon

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Austin is an unincorporated community, considered a ghost town, in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 7, near the middle fork of the John Day River in the Malheur National Forest.

[edit] History

Austin was named for Minot and Linda Austin, early settlers of the area.[1] [2] The Austins operated a small store and hotel near the present site of Austin. Austin post office was established in 1888 and closed in 1950.[1]

The tracks of the Sumpter Valley Railway reached Austin in 1905.[2] The railway was built by Oregon Lumber Company and Austin became an important railroad logging community.[3] Austin was the hub of the area until Bates, a company town of the Oregon Lumber Company,[2] was built one mile to the west.[3] Austin was also a supply depot for local mining towns, such as Susanville and Galena. At its height, the population was about 500 and the community had three sawmills and a hotel. As the neighboring mining towns disappeared, however, Austin also went into decline.[4]

By 1997, there was only one business in the community, Austin House, which was a combination tavern, grocery store, restaurant and gas station.[1] As of 1997, the owners indicated they wished to move on and put Austin House up for sale.[1] Internet achives from 1997 indicate that the owners tried to give Austin House away in an essay contest.[5] As of 2002, approximately less than 35 people lived within a five mile radius of Austin.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1. 
  2. ^ a b c Johns, Sonja. Bates-Austin Remembered (a brief history). Bates & Austin Remembered. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c Galena Watershed Analysis - Supplement 2002. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
  4. ^ Austin. ghosttowns.com. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
  5. ^ Win a FREE TAVERN in Eastern Oregon. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.

[edit] External links


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