Town of the Week, June 20, 1998

Take a visit to Reedsport, Oregon; just listen in.

Reedsport, Oregon

Visible to vessels for 20 miles out, Oregon's Umpqua River Lighthouse has been guiding ships for more than 100 years. Located 200 miles south of Portland, this 67 foot tower overlooks the Umpqua river and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area. Some of the highest sand dunes in the country are found here; with headquarters right on highway 101 in Reedsport.

This city of 4,800 and the Port of Umpqua are a major lumbering and shipbuilding area in Douglas County. Among the town's leading employers are International Paper's liner board plant; and Fred Wahl Marine Construction. Reedsport was named for Alfred Reed, a prominent businessman and state lawmaker, when the townsite was platted in the early 1900s.

By the way, the Umpqua were one of three Indian tribes which inhabited this area. With more than 20 restaurants and several art galleries, Reedsport is a favorite tourist destination, offering a newly constructed interpretive center with exhibits relating to the history and culture of the area. Its an outdoor lover's dream, home of the high school Braves,and our Town of the Week, Reedsport, Oregon.

...the deepest Lake in the U.S. is Oregon's own Crater Lake, located in Klamath County, with a depth of 1,932 feet. ...Historians say Oregon was most likely named after one of two rivers. The Columbia River was at one time called the Oregon or Ouragan, French for hurricane. Others believe the name was a mapmaker's error in the 1700s. The Wisconsin River was named the Ouisconsink and was picked up by travelers referring to the country west of the Great Lakes as Ourigan. ...Oregon has a geyser, named "Old Perpetua," located in at the north edge of Lakeview, in Lake county. The geyser blows water 60 feet into the air. ...Oregon has a long history of progressive legislation and citizen involvement in government. It was the first state in the Union to require statewide voter registration, enact initiative and referendum laws, provide for recall of public officials, elect U.S. Senators by vote of the people, recognize Labor Day, adopt a Workmans' Compensation Plan, enact the eight-hour working day for women, place all Oregon ocean beaches in public hands, place restrictions on non-returnable bottles and aerosol sprays and provide state funds for bicycle paths.

Official Tourism Web Site Oregon State Homepage The South Coast Area Network

Motto: She Flies With Her Own Wings Song: "Oregon, My Oregon" Nickname: Beaver State Animal: American Beaver Fish: Chinook Salmon Flower: Oregon Grape Rock: Thunderegg Tree: Douglas Fir Nut: Hazlenut Insect: Oregon Swallowtail Bird: Western Meadowlark Gemstone: Sunstone Seashell: Oregon Hairy Triton

Info for "D'ja Know?" and "Fun Facts" compiled from the Official Oregon Government web site.