Greenhorn, Oregon
Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Greenhorn is a nearly unpopulated city in Baker and Grant counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. It straddles the Blue Mountain ridge, so that it is located in both Grant County and Baker County. As most of the city is situated in Baker County, and the early residents considered Baker City to be more convenient, for administrative purposes it is considered to be in Baker County.
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 0, with 7 housing units. As of the 2010 census, the population was 0, with 10 housing units.<ref name="2010 occupancy table">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The population had increased to 3 by 2020.<ref name="api.census.gov">https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:41&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108 Template:Bare URL inline</ref>
History
Greenhorn was first populated in the 1860s as miners prospected for gold in the area. It was platted in 1904, though it lost two-thirds of its population between 1900 and 1910.<ref name=Main>Template:Cite book</ref> The mining district was composed first of placer mines, but soon many lode gold mines developed. The city was incorporated in 1903 and had a population of 28 in 1910.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It continued as a viable community until 1942 when gold mining was made illegal by Federal Public Law 208 during World War II.
In later years, the old Greenhorn Jail (dating to around 1910) was removed to Canyon City under suspicious circumstances. A court case ensued for its return, but because the city straddles the Blue Mountain ridge, the district attorneys of Baker County and Grant County could not even agree in which court house it should be held. The case was eventually heard by the Circuit Court for Grant County in Canyon City, Oregon. The jail remains in Canyon City, Oregon.Template:Citation needed
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The city is in the Greenhorn Mountains, a small range within the broader Blue Mountains, and is surrounded by the Malheur National Forest and Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.
At Template:Convert above sea level,<ref name=gnis/> Greenhorn is the highest incorporated city in Oregon.<ref name=oe>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> It is also unique in that the city was established on land that was originally patented from the United States for the purpose of platting the city (rather than being homesteaded by individuals). (See Town of Greenhorn v. Baker County, 596 F2D 349.)
Demographics
Template:US Census population As of the census of 2000, there were no people living in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same was true in 2010.<ref name="2010 occupancy table"/> As of 2013, the Baker City Herald reported that Greenhorn had two "year-round" residents.<ref name=Firefighters>Template:Cite news</ref> The Herald reported at that time that the community had about 13 cabins and 20 part-time residents.<ref name=Firefighters/> Three residents lived in the town as of the 2020 census.<ref name="api.census.gov"/>
Government
As of 2015, Zack Koellermeier and Brad Poyser of Oregon City, Nathan Wright of La Grande, and Keith Rofinot of Tigard serve on the city council.<ref name=Firefighters/> Mayor Dale McLouth lives in Molalla.<ref name=Firefighters/>
See also
References
External links
- Entry for Greenhorn in the Oregon Blue Book
- Template:Cite news
- Ghost town of Greenhorn Oregon from PNWPhotoblog.com