Bourne, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bourne, Oregon
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Former unincorporated community
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Raymond Hotel in Bourne
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 Bourne, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Bourne, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Elevation | 5,374 ft (1,638 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136088 |
Bourne is a ghost town located in Baker County, Oregon. It's about 7 miles (11 km) north of Sumpter in the beautiful Blue Mountains. You can find it along Cracker Creek, inside the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.
Bourne was once a busy gold mining town. It was officially planned out, or "platted," in 1902. Today, it's known as a ghost town because most people have moved away, and many buildings are gone or in ruins.
Discovering Bourne, Oregon
Bourne is a fascinating place to learn about Oregon's past. It sits high up in the Blue Mountains. This area was once full of people hoping to strike it rich by finding gold.
A Gold Mining Boomtown
In the early 1900s, Bourne was a lively "boomtown." This means it grew very quickly because of a sudden discovery, in this case, gold. Miners came from all over, hoping to find their fortune. The town was officially laid out in 1902 to help organize the growing community.
How Bourne Got Its Name
Bourne was first called "Cracker City." But later, it was renamed after Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr.. He was a politician who was interested in the mines of Eastern Oregon for a while. The town's name changed to honor his connection to the area.
Life in Bourne
Life in Bourne was busy during its gold mining days. The town even had its own post office. The Bourne post office opened in 1895 and served the community for many years. However, it closed down in 1927 as the gold mining slowed.
In 1910, the town of Bourne had a population of 77 people. This shows that while it was a busy mining spot, it was still a small community. As the gold ran out, people moved away, turning Bourne into the ghost town it is today.
