Austin is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either hav ...
, considered a
ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...
,
in
Grant County Grant County may refer to:
Places
;Australia
* County of Grant, Victoria
;United States
*Grant County, Arkansas
*Grant County, Indiana
*Grant County, Kansas
*Grant County, Kentucky
*Grant County, Minnesota
*Grant County, Nebraska
*Grant Co ...
,
Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. It is located north of
Oregon Route 7
Oregon Route 7 is an Oregon state highway which runs from Interstate 84 at Baker City to U.S. Route 26 at Austin Junction. OR 7 traverses several highways of the Oregon state highway system: Whitney Highway No. 71, part of the La ...
, near the
Middle Fork John Day River
The Middle Fork John Day River is a tributary of the North Fork John Day River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originates in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon in the Malheur National Forest near Austin and flows generally west to the North ...
in the
Malheur National Forest
The Malheur National Forest is a National Forest in the U.S. state of Oregon. It contains more than in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. The forest consists of high desert grasslands, sage, juniper, pine, fir, and other tree species. ...
.
History
Austin was named for Minot and Linda Austin, early settlers of the area.
The Austins operated a small store and hotel, Austin House. Austin House was started as a hotel and
stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
station by a Mr. Newton.
[ Austin post office was established in 1888 and closed in 1950.]Sumpter Valley Railway
The Sumpter Valley Railway, or Sumpter Valley Railroad, is a narrow gauge heritage railroad located in Baker County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Built on a right-of-way used by the original railway of the same name, it carries excursion train ...
reached Austin in 1905.Bates
Bates may refer to:
Places
* Bates, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Bates, Illinois. an unincorporated community in Sangamon County
* Bates, Michigan, a community in Grand Traverse County
* Bates, New York, a hamlet in the town of Ellingt ...
, a company town of the Oregon Lumber Company,Galena
Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver.
Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It cry ...
. Austin sawmill
A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logging, logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes ...
s supplied lumber for places such as Greenhorn
Greenhorn is a slang for an inexperienced person, or a slur against Portuguese people in New England, United States. It may also refer to:
Places
* Greenhorn, California, United States
* Greenhorn Mountain, a mountain in Colorado
* Greenhorn ...
and the Bonanza Mine, higher up in the Blue Mountains.[ At its height, the population was about 500 (some estimates say it was high as 5,000)][ and the community had three sawmills.][ The town also had a substantial jail and the offices of several doctors, lawyers and real estate operators.][ As the neighboring mining towns disappeared, however, Austin also went into decline.][
By 1997, a newer business called Austin House was the only business remaining in the Austin area, at Austin Junction where Oregon Route 7 meets U.S. Route 26. Built in 1959,]
Climate
See also
*List of ghost towns in Oregon
According to several historians, the U.S. state of Oregon contains over 200 ghost towns, more than any other state in the country. Professor and historian Stephen Arndt has counted a total of 256 ghost towns in the state, some well known, others ...
References
External links
*
Historic image of Austin
from the Oregon State Library
The State Library of Oregon in Salem, is the library for the U.S. state of Oregon. The mission of the State Library of Oregon is to provide leadership and resources to continue growing vibrant library services for Oregonians with print disabil ...
Modern image of Austin House
from the Oregon Scenic Images for Grant County from Oregon State Archives
The Archives Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of Oregon, or the Oregon State Archives, is an agency of the Oregon Secretary of State charged with preserving and providing access to government records. The Oregon State Archives is ...
Images of Austin
from ghosttowns.com
History of Austin and Bates
from Austin House Cafe & Country Store
from oregongenealogy.com, including biography of Minot Austin
{{Authority control
Ghost towns in Oregon
Unincorporated communities in Grant County, Oregon
1888 establishments in Oregon
Populated places established in 1888
Unincorporated communities in Oregon