Austin, Oregon

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.

History

Austin was named for Minot and Linda Austin, early settlers of the area.cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1| pages = ] cite web
last = Johns
first = Sonja
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Bates-Austin Remembered (a brief history)
work = Bates & Austin Remembered
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.precious-testimonies.com/TestimonyLivesOn/Bates.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-11-23 ] 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.

The tracks of the Sumpter Valley Railway reached Austin in 1905. The railway was built by Oregon Lumber Company and Austin became an important railroad logging community.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Galena Watershed Analysis - Supplement 2002
work =
publisher = United States Forest Service
date =
url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/malheur/projects/galena/chpt3.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-11-23 ] Austin was the hub of the area until Bates, a company town of the Oregon Lumber Company, was built one mile to the west. 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.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Austin
work =
publisher = ghosttowns.com
date =
url = http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/or/austin.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-11-23 ]

By 1997, there was only one business near the community. Austin House, on U.S. Route 26 about two miles from the original site of Austin,Fact|date=July 2007 was a combination tavern, grocery store, restaurant and gas station. As of 1997, the owners indicated they wished to move on and put Austin House up for sale. Internet archives from 1997 indicate that the owners tried to give Austin House away in an essay contest.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Win a FREE TAVERN in Eastern Oregon
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.totalobscurity.com/vault/spam/spam17.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-11-23 ] As of 2002, approximately less than 35 people lived within a five mile radius of Austin.

References

External links