Riverton is an unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, United States,[1] on Oregon Route 42S, about 12 miles (19 km) up the Coquille River from Bandon.[2] Route 42S is the former alignment of U.S. Route 101.[3]
Riverton, Oregon | |
|---|---|
  Riverton  Riverton | |
| Coordinates: 43°09′26″N 124°16′28″W / 43.15722°N 124.27444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Coos |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136691[1] |
| Coordinates and elevation from Geographic Names Information System | |
The townsite of Riverton was platted in 1889. Riverton post office was established in 1890 and named for its situation on the river.[4] Orlando A. Kelly, the first postmaster, was also said to have been the first settler there.[4]
In 1915 Riverton had a population of 200.[5] At that time Riverton shipped coal mined locally by steamboat to California.[5] The first coal mine opened in the county in 1854 and up to a quarter of people worked in what was then the region's most important industry.[6] Riverton served as a coal-mining center for more than 50 years.[6] In 1940, Riverton's population was 150, and the place served as a trading center for farmers who grew peas.[7] The post office closed in 1961.[4] Formerly Riverton Ferry crossed the Coquille there and as of 1969, it was still being operated by the county.[8][9] At one time the community had a high school and a grade school.[5] Circa 1901, there was a Christian Church and today there is a Riverton Community Church unaffiliated with the former one.[6] As of 2010 there are no stores in Riverton.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Riverton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme Mapping. 2008. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
- ^ United Press International (January 2, 1959). "Slide Blocks Highway 101 for 12 Hours". The Bulletin. p. 12. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0875952772.
- ^ a b c Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon (2nd ed.). Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 232. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
- ^ a b c d "Coastal Towns". Pioneer History to About 1900, Churches of Christ & Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest College of the Bible. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
- ^ Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Oregon (1940). Oregon: End of the Trail. American Guide Series. Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort. p. 383. OCLC 4874569.
- ^ Query, Charles Floyd (2008). A History of Oregon Ferries Since 1826. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-89288-291-5.
- ^ Reed, Ione (September 6, 1969). "A Festival That's the Berries". The Register-Guard.
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