Kinzua, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Kinzua is a former company town
and ghost town
in Wheeler County
, Oregon
, United States
that existed from 1927 to 1978. Kinzua lies directly east of Fossil
and uses a Fossil mailing address.
The community was founded by Pennsylvania
lumberman Edward D. Wetmore to support the sawmill
operations of the Kinzua Pine Mills Company. At one time Kinzua was the most populous community in Wheeler County and 330 people worked at the mill.
In 1929 the company built the Kinzua & Southern Railroad to ship forest products from the mill to Condon
, 30 miles (48.3 km) to the north. From Condon a Union Pacific feeder line went north to Arlington
on the Columbia River
. Through 1952 the Kinzua & Southern carried mail and passengers via a self-powered rail bus
called "The Goose". The line closed entirely in 1976.
In 1965 Kinzua included 125 homes, a community hall, church, library, store, and the golf course. When the mill closed in 1978, the buildings were removed and the townsite was planted with trees, mainly ponderosa pine
. The six-hole golf course of the Kinzua Hills Golf Club occupies part of the site. The nearby Kinzua landing strip
and Kinzua Mountain retain the name as well.
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
and ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Wheeler County
Wheeler County, Oregon
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,547 people, 653 households, and 444 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile . There were 842 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that existed from 1927 to 1978. Kinzua lies directly east of Fossil
Fossil, Oregon
Fossil is a city in and the county seat of Wheeler County, Oregon, United States. The name was chosen by the first postmaster, Thomas B. Hoover, who had found some fossil remains on his ranch. The population was 473 at the 2010 census.- History :...
and uses a Fossil mailing address.
The community was founded by Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
lumberman Edward D. Wetmore to support the sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
operations of the Kinzua Pine Mills Company. At one time Kinzua was the most populous community in Wheeler County and 330 people worked at the mill.
In 1929 the company built the Kinzua & Southern Railroad to ship forest products from the mill to Condon
Condon, Oregon
Condon is a city in Gilliam County, Oregon, United States. The population was 759 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gilliam County. It is located on Oregon Route 19....
, 30 miles (48.3 km) to the north. From Condon a Union Pacific feeder line went north to Arlington
Arlington, Oregon
Arlington is a city in Gilliam County, Oregon, United States. The account of how this city received its name varies: one tradition claims it was named after the lawyer Nathan Arlington Cornish; another tradition claims that the Southern inhabitants of this city had enough clout to rename the city...
on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. Through 1952 the Kinzua & Southern carried mail and passengers via a self-powered rail bus
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
called "The Goose". The line closed entirely in 1976.
In 1965 Kinzua included 125 homes, a community hall, church, library, store, and the golf course. When the mill closed in 1978, the buildings were removed and the townsite was planted with trees, mainly ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
. The six-hole golf course of the Kinzua Hills Golf Club occupies part of the site. The nearby Kinzua landing strip
Kinzua Airport
Kinzua Airport is a private airport located 1 mile northeast of Kinzua in Wheeler County, Oregon, USA....
and Kinzua Mountain retain the name as well.