Dallas Oregon

 

"Dalles is the county town, though for size and business Independence is a close second, if it is not first. Dalles is the older, and being the capital of the county ever since its organization is entitled to the special notice of this page. Its location is twelve miles westward from Salem, the capital of the State, and several miles distant from the Willamette River. It lies close up to the Coast Range of mountains, which gives it a uniqueness among the Oregon cities that is not unpleasing. Its population reaches about that of Corvallis, though its business is hardly as extensive. Its resources are more within itself than are those of the other places we have named, as it has no public institutions to give it prominence or patronage. But as the capital of one of the best and most beautiful counties of the State it is worthy of this special notice." 
An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon, 1893

    
     Dallas, the county seat of Polk County, was named Cynthia Ann or Cynthian originally.  It was renamed Dallas after the Vice President of the United States, George Dallas. In 1845 it was settled on the north side of Rickreall creek, but was moved in 1856 due to the water supply. In 1874 it was incorporated and ranked a city in 1901.
 

Louis Gerlinger, Sr., incorporated the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the Willamette River at Salem to the mouth of the Siletz River on the Oregon Coast, a distance of 65 miles.

"In 1902, Louis's nephew George T. Gerlinger organized a group of investors to build railroad lines in the area.

On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to Falls City. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile, forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.

In 1906, George Gerlinger and his investors purchased a lumber mill and several stands of timber in the area. The business's name was changed to Willamette Valley Lumber Company and, in 1967, became Willamette Industries."

Wikipedia

Facts:

Population at 2000 census: 12, 459

City has a total area: 4.4 Square Miles

Located at 44.921144, -123.316342
 

 

 

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