Riverton, Oregon
Unincorporated community
Riverton is located in Oregon
Riverton
Riverton
Riverton is located in the United States
Riverton
Riverton
Coordinates: 43°09′26″N 124°16′28″W / 43.15722°N 124.27444°W / 43.15722; -124.27444
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyCoos
Elevation
23 ft (7 m)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code(s)458 and 541
GNIS feature ID1136691[1]
Coordinates and elevation from Geographic Names Information System

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]

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

References

  1. ^ a b "Riverton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  2. ^ Oregon Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme Mapping. 2008. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-89933-347-2.
  3. ^ United Press International (January 2, 1959). "Slide Blocks Highway 101 for 12 Hours". The Bulletin. p. 12. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Query, Charles Floyd (2008). A History of Oregon Ferries Since 1826. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-89288-291-5.
  9. ^ Reed, Ione (September 6, 1969). "A Festival That's the Berries". The Register-Guard.


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