Riverton, Oregon

Riverton is an unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 42S, about 12 miles up the Coquille River from Bandon.[1] Route 42S is the former alignment of U.S. Route 101.[2]

The townsite of Riverton was platted in 1889. Riverton post office was established in 1890 and named for its situation on the river.[3] Orlando A. Kelly, the first postmaster, was also said to have been the first settler there.[3]

In 1915 Riverton had a population of 200.[4] At that time Riverton shipped coal mined locally by steamboat to California.[4] The first coal mine opened in the county in 1854 and up to a quarter of people worked in what was then the region's most important industry.[5] Riverton served as a coal-mining center for more than 50 years.[5] In 1940, Riverton's population was 150, and the place served as a trading center for farmers who grew peas.[6] The post office closed in 1961.[3] Formerly Riverton Ferry crossed the Coquille there and as of 1969, it was still being operated by the county.[7][8] At one time the community had a high school and a grade school.[4] Circa 1901, there was a Christian Church and today there is a Riverton Community Church unaffiliated with the former one.[5] As of 2010 there are no stores in Riverton.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Riverton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved 2010-00-00. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. ↑ United Press International (January 2, 1959). "Slide Blocks Highway 101 for 12 Hours". The Bulletin. p. 12. Retrieved 2010-01-17.
  3. 1 2 3 McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [First published 1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 9780875952772. OCLC 53075956.
  4. 1 2 3 Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon (2nd ed.). Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 232. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Coastal Towns". Pioneer History to About 1900, Churches of Christ & Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest College of the Bible. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  6. ↑ Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Oregon (1940). Oregon: End of the Trail. American Guide Series. Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort. p. 383. OCLC 4874569.
  7. ↑ Query, Charles Floyd (2008). A History of Oregon Ferries Since 1826. p. 8. ISBN 0-89288-291-3.
  8. ↑ Reed, Ione (September 6, 1969). "A Festival That's the Berries". The Register-Guard.

Coordinates: 43°09′26″N 124°16′28″W / 43.157332°N 124.274555°W / 43.157332; -124.274555


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