Mount Halo (previously known as Swastika Mountain) is a summit in Lane County, Oregon, in the United States.[3] It is located within Umpqua National Forest.[4]

Mount Halo
Swastika Mountain
Mount Halo is located in Oregon
Mount Halo
Mount Halo
Location in Oregon
Highest point
Elevation4,197 ft (1,279 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence160 ft (49 m)[2]
Coordinates43°41′32″N 122°36′12″W / 43.692242211°N 122.603352081°W / 43.692242211; -122.603352081[1]
Geography
LocationLane County, Oregon, U.S.
Topo mapUSGS Holland Point

The mountain took its previous name from the extinct town of Swastika (1909), which was reportedly so named because a rancher there branded his cattle with the image of a swastika.[5][6]

A fire lookout tower stood atop Mount Halo until the 1950s.[4]

In August 2022, the Oregon Geographic Names Board confirmed that the name of the mountain would be changed from Swastika Mountain, to avoid association with the Nazi Party. Two proposals for a new name, "Umpqua Mountain" (referring to the national forest which the mountain is located in) and "Mount Halo" (referring to Chief Halito,[7] leader of the Yoncalla Kalapuya tribe), were submitted.[8][9] The name of Mount Halo was chosen on April 13, 2023.[10][11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Swastika". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Swastika Mountain, Oregon". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "Swastika Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Swastika Mountain Lookout Site". Former Fire Lookout Sites Register. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Swastikas weren't always evil". Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. November 8, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Friedman, Ralph (January 1, 1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caxton Press. p. 752. ISBN 978-0-87004-332-1.
  7. ^ Lewis, David (February 21, 2021). "Halito (Chief Halo) (?-1892)". Oregon Encyclopedia. Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Swastika Mountain in Oregon to get new name". KIRO-TV. Associated Press. August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Yahoo! News.
  9. ^ Arden, Amanda (August 24, 2022). "Swastika Mountain in Lane County will get new name". KOIN. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Oregon's Swastika Mountain is officially renamed after Indigenous chief". CNN. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. ^ "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2023.