Salt Creek, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Salt Creek is an unincorporated
historic locale in Polk County
, Oregon
, United States on Oregon Route 22 about six miles northwest of Dallas
. As an early European American
settlement of the Oregon Country
, the cemetery at Salt Creek has graves dating back to 1847. Salt Creek, a tributary of the South Yamhill River
, was named by early settlers for the salt lick
s found on its banks. The Salt Creek post office, named after the creek, was established in 1852 and closed in 1903. James B. Riggs, who arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail
and the Meek Cutoff in 1845, was the first postmaster. Riggs previously been the first postmaster of Yoncalla
, followed by Jesse Applegate
.
Salt Creek is where Jesse, Lindsay
, and Charles Applegate first settled after arriving in Oregon. James B. Riggs was their neighbor.
44.9956722°N 123.3528825°W
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
historic locale in Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States on Oregon Route 22 about six miles northwest of Dallas
Dallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
. As an early European American
European American
A European American is a citizen or resident of the United States who has origins in any of the original peoples of Europe...
settlement of the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
, the cemetery at Salt Creek has graves dating back to 1847. Salt Creek, a tributary of the South Yamhill River
South Yamhill River
The South Yamhill River is a tributary of the Yamhill River, approximately long, in northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range, as well as part of the Willamette Valley west of the Willamette River.-Course:...
, was named by early settlers for the salt lick
Salt lick
A mineral lick is a natural mineral deposit where animals in nutrient-poor ecosystems can obtain essential mineral nutrients...
s found on its banks. The Salt Creek post office, named after the creek, was established in 1852 and closed in 1903. James B. Riggs, who arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and the Meek Cutoff in 1845, was the first postmaster. Riggs previously been the first postmaster of Yoncalla
Yoncalla, Oregon
Yoncalla is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,052 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.61% is water.-Demographics:...
, followed by Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate was an American pioneer who led a large group of settlers along the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country. He took part in the early government of Oregon, and helped establish the Applegate Trail as an alternative route to the Oregon Trail.-Early life:Jesse Applegate was born in Henry...
.
Salt Creek is where Jesse, Lindsay
Lindsay Applegate
Lindsay Applegate was a pioneer known for blazing the Applegate Trail, an alternative end of Oregon Trail in the U.S. state of Oregon. The trail was blazed with his brothers Charles and Jesse in 1846.-Early life:...
, and Charles Applegate first settled after arriving in Oregon. James B. Riggs was their neighbor.
External links
- Historic image of Salt Creek Baptist Church from Salem Public Library
- Historic image of James Berry Riggs House from the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
digital collections - Salt Creek Cemetery burial listing from Ancestry.com
44.9956722°N 123.3528825°W