West Union, Oregon
Encyclopedia
West Union is an unincorporated community
in Washington County
, Oregon
, United States
. Founded in 1851, the community had the first school district in the county, and also contains the oldest cemetery in the state and the oldest Baptist church
west of the Rocky Mountains
. It is located north of Hillsboro
near the intersection of West Union Road and Cornelius Pass Road
north of the Sunset Highway
. The name comes from a grove of five oak trees that was used as a meeting place of early settlers, or the "union of the west." West Union had a post office
from 1874 to 1894.
. The community is located 249 feet (75.9 m) above sea-level.
The general community of West Union encompasses a larger area that includes areas to the north and east of the county-defined community area. Since 1983, portions of the community planning area have been annexed into the city of Hillsboro. The population in 1983 was 35 people.
for municipal sewer, and fire protection is provided by Washington County Fire District #2. West Union lies within District 4 of the Washington County Board of Commissioners and is represented by Andy Duyck. Municipal water service is available from the Tualatin Valley Water District.
, James W. Chamberlain, and Caleb Wilkens, and the school was built on the land claim
of the Holcomb family. Classes began in October 1852 after a school was completed on May 17, 1852. Miss E. H. Lincoln was paid $100 for a 12-week term to be the first teacher at the school.
In 1892, the original school was replaced; this second building remained in use until 1949. The current school building opened in 1948. The school district was merged into the Hillsboro School District
in 1996. Liberty High School
was built in the area in 2003.
West Union Baptist Church was founded in 1844 and the current building was completed in 1853, making it the oldest Baptist
church west of the Rocky Mountains. The adjoining cemetery is the oldest in the state. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, 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...
. Founded in 1851, the community had the first school district in the county, and also contains the oldest cemetery in the state and the oldest Baptist church
West Union Baptist Church
West Union Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation and historic church structure in West Union, Oregon, United States.-History:The Baptist congregation was founded in 1844 and met in the home of pioneer David Thomas Lenox until 1853, when he donated of his land for a church and cemetery...
west of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. It is located north of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
near the intersection of West Union Road and Cornelius Pass Road
Cornelius Pass Road
Cornelius Pass Road is an arterial road over Cornelius Pass in the Tualatin Mountains west of Portland, Oregon, USA. Running north–south, the road stretches between U.S. Route 30 on the north and Oregon Route 8 on the south...
north of the Sunset Highway
Sunset Highway (Oregon)
The Sunset Highway No. 47 , in the state of Oregon, is an official designation for the portion of U.S. Route 26 between its western terminus, south of Seaside, and the interchange with Interstate 405 in downtown Portland...
. The name comes from a grove of five oak trees that was used as a meeting place of early settlers, or the "union of the west." West Union had a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
from 1874 to 1894.
Geography
As defined by the county, the community is located south of West Union Road and north of the Sunset Highway (U.S. Route 26). The eastern boundary is Cornelius Pass Road. West Union is situated on small hills and flat plains with Dawson Creek and Waible Gulch draining the area, both part of the drainage area of the Tualatin RiverTualatin River
The Tualatin River is a tributary of the Willamette River located in Oregon in the United States. The river is approximately long, and it drains a fertile farming region called the Tualatin Valley southwest and west of Portland at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley...
. The community is located 249 feet (75.9 m) above sea-level.
The general community of West Union encompasses a larger area that includes areas to the north and east of the county-defined community area. Since 1983, portions of the community planning area have been annexed into the city of Hillsboro. The population in 1983 was 35 people.
Government
There is no community government for West Union. The community is served by Clean Water ServicesClean Water Services
Clean Water Services is the water resource management utility for more than 500,000 residents in urban Washington County, Oregon and small portions of Multnomah County, Oregon and Clackamas County, Oregon, in the United States...
for municipal sewer, and fire protection is provided by Washington County Fire District #2. West Union lies within District 4 of the Washington County Board of Commissioners and is represented by Andy Duyck. Municipal water service is available from the Tualatin Valley Water District.
School
West Union started the first school district in Washington County. The first meeting of the school board was on November 12, 1851. School District No. 1 was directed by David Thomas LenoxDavid Thomas Lenox
David Thomas Lenox was an American pioneer who settled in the Oregon Country where he organized the first Baptist Church west of the Rocky Mountains. A native of New York, he lived in Illinois and Missouri before he was captain of the first wagon train over the Oregon Trail to what became the...
, James W. Chamberlain, and Caleb Wilkens, and the school was built on the land claim
Donation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
of the Holcomb family. Classes began in October 1852 after a school was completed on May 17, 1852. Miss E. H. Lincoln was paid $100 for a 12-week term to be the first teacher at the school.
In 1892, the original school was replaced; this second building remained in use until 1949. The current school building opened in 1948. The school district was merged into the Hillsboro School District
Hillsboro School District
The Hillsboro School District 1J is a unified school district located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The district operates 26 elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Founded in 1851, the school district covers Hillsboro, Scholls, Reedville, North Plains, West Union,...
in 1996. Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Hillsboro, Oregon)
For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is located in Hillsboro, Oregon, just west of Portland. It opened in 2003, with only freshmen, sophomores and juniors...
was built in the area in 2003.
Church
West Union Baptist Church was founded in 1844 and the current building was completed in 1853, making it the oldest Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church west of the Rocky Mountains. The adjoining cemetery is the oldest in the state. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.