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Towns by Geographical Regions

  • Garibaldi Harbor
    The area ports are working ports
    supported by commercial and
    recreational fishing and
    crabbing as well as the newer
    experience of whale watching.
    There are to be sure a few yachts
    moored here and there but most
    of the craft are working vessels.
  • Yachats Coast
    Storm watching, fishing, beach
    walking and cutesy shopping
    are prevalent activities. From
    the "world's smallest port" at
    Depot Bay to the huge Umpqua
    River estuary at Winchester
    Bay fishing, whale watching,
    clamming and crabbing are
    thriving businesses.
  • Coos River
    The south Oregon coast shares
    as much with northern
    California as it does with
    the rest of the Oregon Coast.
    The mountains often run
    right into the sea. Dairy
    farming and timbering are
    important economic pursuits.
  • Lower Columbia
    The lower Columbia is a
    very different place from
    the rest of Oregon. The
    dramatic vistas of the
    Gorge and the coast are
    missing. Instead one sees
    a powerful river pressing
    on to the sea.
  • Scotts Mills
    The north Willamette valley
    is the prosperous heart of
    Oregon. Yet many towns and
    settlements exist where time
    still moves slowly. Places
    like Dayton and Scotts Mills
    still seems miles away
    from the twenty-first century.
  • Santiam Mural
    Although the Mid-Willamette
    valley region contains the
    state capital it also contains
    a treasure of small towns.
    From the tumbling rapids of
    the Santiam river to the
    sweeping grass fields of the
    central valley the area
    beckons the explorer.
  • Lowell Bridge
    The Willamette valley is an
    old lake bed or inland sea.
    The outlet was and is the
    Willamette river running north
    into the Columbia. The valley
    floor is broken by frequent
    lava buttes, volcanic vents
    that died long ago.
  • Myrtle Creek
    The Umpqua river system drains
    a huge area, but there are no
    broad flat valleys. Every bend
    in the river does however
    produce a small valley, and
    there are many. I grew up in
    this area in Myrtle Creek
  • Rogue Valley
    The residents of the Rogue
    River Valley actually see
    themselves as living in a
    warm dry place. That is quite
    different from the rest
    of western Oregon.
  • Columbia Gorge
    Indian hieroglyphics
    are visible along the Columbia
    where Indian tribes would
    travel to trade their products
    for dried salmon. This
    exchange of goods spread their
    different cultures
    throughout the northwest.
  • Madras Mural
    Its a long way between
    settlements in this area,
    and the little towns are
    tucked at the bottoms
    of ravines and valleys
    to avoid the driving wind.
    Trees planted as wind breaks
    provide relief from the
    endless vistas, and
    usually mark the homesteads.
  • Blue Skies
    This is an amazing area.
    In seveal places at
    the foot of the Cascades
    full sized rivers bubble
    out of the ground and
    meander off. The many snow
    covered peaks of the
    Cascades dominate the
    scenery and hold back
    the Pacific weather fronts.
  • Goose Lake
    Sprawling Klamath lake
    straddles the state line
    and I am not sure the
    ranchers know or care which
    side they are on. Drainage
    is to the south by way of
    the Klamath river also.
    This is a huge waterfowl area.
  • Seven Devils
    The land is sparse and
    beautiful. The higher
    elevations grow pine trees
    and animal grazing is
    everywhere. The Wallowa
    river valley and
    especially Joseph have
    attacted adventuresome
    tourists and artists.
    Beyond that it is
    every man for himself.
  • Eastern Desert
    Around 1900 Baker City
    was the most important
    urban area between
    Salt Lake City and
    Portland, but they just
    couldn't keep up. Boise
    ran right past them.
  • South East Desert
    This area covers about
    one fifth of the state of
    Oregon, but has only a
    fraction of the population
    of the state, unless you
    count the livestock. That
    leaves a huge area for
    ranchers, livestock, and
    a handful of small towns.

Editor's Note: This entirely new version of SmallTownOregon is developed on a new platform that will provide greater flexibility for future developments. Other than layout the site has essentially the same information as before. I hope you enjoy the new look.

If you plan to travel Oregon backroads and want to know about Brothers or Riddle or Wheeler where do you turn? If your teacher asks you to report on the Fort Hill blockhouse, where do you look? Well, you have arrived at THE site. We offer here photos taken and observations made while exploring rural Oregon. Your hosts seek the "road less traveled" which takes us to interesting places like Imnaha, Plush and Yachats. We like to share our experience and invite you along. Maybe you can discover a ghost town you want to visit or a road you want to travel. The Towns By Name button is great to find your favorite town. The  Towns by Area button has geographical groupings of all towns in a region. Click any photo in the slide show to go to that area of the site. Hovering your mouse on the slide show pauses it to let you read the caption.