Waconda, Oregon
Unincorporated community in Oregon, United States
45°4′31″N 122°58′37″W / 45.07528°N 122.97694°W / 45.07528; -122.97694Waconda is a historic unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States, near the crossroads of River Road Rd NE and Waconda Road NE on the French Prairie.[2]
Waconda was once a station on the Oregon Electric Railway and it formerly had a post office by the same name.[3][4] The station was named when the railroad was built through the area in 1907, and the post office was established in 1912.[3] There was previously a community called Waconda about a mile south of Gervais established in 1870 on the former line of the Oregon & California Railroad (now owned by Union Pacific).[3] The name may come from the Great Plains Native American word "Wakonda" (something consecrated).[3] Waconda was one of a series of OE stations with Native American names; one station to the south was named for Chinookan leader Comcomly and the next one to the north was named for Kalapuyan "Chief" Quinaby.
In 1915, Waconda had a store and a population of 40.[1][5] An American Foursquare house near the ruins of the OE station once served as the post office and is still standing.[5]
Agriculture in the area includes the growing of hops, berries, fruit, and the production dairy products.[1]
Further reading
- Mabey, Kaylyn (February 17, 2019). "Old Waconda". Willamette Heritage. (originally in the Statesman Journal)
References
- ^ a b c Burke, Thomas C. Burke (1915). The State of Oregon: Its Resources and Opportunities; Official Pamphlet Published for the Information of Homeseekers, Settlers and Investors. Oregon State Immigration Commission.
- ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 28. ISBN 0-89933-347-8.
- ^ a b c d McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 997-998. ISBN 978-0875952772.
- ^ Sullivan, Wes. "Electric Railway Waconda". Willamette Heritage. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 474. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
External links
- Historic images of Waconda from Salem Public Library
- 1963 Aerial photo of Waconda from the University of Oregon digital archives
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Municipalities and communities of Marion County, Oregon, United States
County seat: Salem
communities
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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