Amity, Yamhill County, Oregon Genealogy

Amity, Oregon-Located in Yamhill county, but a short distance from the southern boundary, situated on a level plain and partly surrounded by a low range of hills, is the town of Amity. It is on the line of the West Side division of the Southern Pacific railroad, 57 miles south of Portland, and is within two and one-half miles of the line of the narrow-gauge system of the same company. Amity thus enjoys exceptional facilities for railroad connection with Portland and the larger valley towns. Two trains pass each way over the narrow-gauge lines daily, and one passenger train from the north and south stops at Amity's depot on the main line of the Southern Pacific.
     The population of Amity is about 400 and the place is incorporated. While no manufacturing is done here at the present writing, its advantages as a site for future manufacturing enterprise are worthy of attention. The town is located in the midst of the richest of farming districts. The principal crops of this tributary section are wheat and hops, with considerable attention paid by the farmers to the cultivation of vegetables and fruit. The locality is one that has been settled for many years and the farms are principally in a high state of development.
     One principal and an assistant have charge of the public school system of Amity, with an average number of pupils enrolled of 100. The Methodist, Baptist and Christian denominations maintain strong organizations and the congregation of each occupies a building of its own. The Odd Fellows hall is used for all public gatherings and has a seating capacity of about 200 people. The Amity Popgun handles the news features of the town in a truly effervescent style. Amity supports one hotel, and has a good livery stable for the accommodation of the traveling public.
     Good garden and farming lands can be bought adjoining the town limits of Amity at the rate of $80 per acre. The value of land becomes less, of course, in a fair ratio as the distance from the town is increased. Mr. John L. Watt, a long-time resident of Amity, is thoroughly conversant with property values in the vicinity of the town and he is able at all times to offer good land at the prices indicated above.

The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest, c. 1894