Ortley is a former town in Wasco County, Oregon, in the United States.[1] It was about 1 mile (2 km) south of Rowena and about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Mosier;[2] the site is now on private land and no evidence of the townsite exists today.[3] It is still classed as a populated place by the USGS.[1]

Modern-day road to Ortley, Oregon (private property)

History edit

Ortley was originally developed by the Hood River Orchard & Land Company,[citation needed] which filed a plat for the townsite in 1911, naming it for the "Ortley" apple.[4] The company sold town lots and small orchard parcels, and Ortley quickly grew to a population of 300.[5] The community included a post office,[4] several shops and a hotel.[citation needed] However, the land proved unsuitable for apple production because of the prevailing high winds and scarcity of water.[citation needed] By 1922, the town was all but abandoned,[citation needed] and in that year the post office closed.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Ortley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  2. ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 25. ISBN 0-89933-347-8.
  3. ^ "Cultural Resources" (PDF). Wasco County Comprehensive Plan. Wasco County, Oregon. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 732. ISBN 978-0875952772.
  5. ^ "History" (PDF). Wasco County Comprehensive Plan. Wasco County, Oregon. August 25, 1983. Retrieved March 31, 2012.

Further reading edit

  • McNeal, William H. (1954). History of Wasco County, Oregon. The Dalles, Oregon: Optimist. p. 207.

External links edit

45°39′21″N 121°17′17″W / 45.655953°N 121.288128°W / 45.655953; -121.288128