Bull Run, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bull Run, Oregon
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Bull Run Power Plant c. early 1900s
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 Bull Run, Oregon
Location in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Clackamas |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97055
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| GNIS feature ID | 1134659 |
Bull Run is a small, unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. It is located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of Sandy. Bull Run is near the Bull Run River and the old power plant that once belonged to the Mount Hood Railway and Power Company.
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Discovering Bull Run, Oregon
Bull Run is a historic spot in Oregon with an interesting past. It's known for its connection to the Bull Run River and its early days as a small settlement.
Where is Bull Run?
Bull Run is found in Clackamas County, in the state of Oregon, United States. It's about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of a town called Sandy. The community is near the Bull Run River. It's also close to where the old power plant of the Mount Hood Railway and Power Company used to be.
How Bull Run Got Its Name
There are a few stories about how Bull Run got its name.
- Wild Cattle Story: One idea comes from George H. Himes, a historian. He thought the name might be because wild cattle roamed along the river between 1849 and 1855. Another early settler, Charles B. Talbot, agreed with this. He said that cattle would escape from pioneers moving into the area. These cattle ran wild for several years, leading people to call the area "Bull Run."
- Frank Mognet's Bull: A different story from the 1920s Gresham Outlook newspaper tells of a man named Frank Mognet. In the 1860s, he was trying to catch a wild bull near Sandy. The bull ran into the stream, which didn't have a name yet. Since this happened right after the Second Battle of Bull Run (a famous battle in the American Civil War), and the bull gave him a "strong run," he named the stream "Bull Run."
Post Office History
The first post office in the area opened in 1893. It was first called Unavilla. No one knows for sure why that name was chosen.
In 1895, the post office name was changed to Bullrun. Later, in 1939, it became Camp Namanu. This post office was only open during the summer months. It finally closed its doors in 1953.
Life in Bull Run Long Ago
In 1915, Bull Run was a small community with about 100 people. It had a public school where children could learn. There was also a large farm that grew gladiolus flowers.
Bull Run was important for transportation too. It was the end point for the Mt. Hood division of the Portland Railway, Light and Power Company. This was an interurban railroad, which was like a streetcar that connected towns. By 1940, the population of Bull Run had become even smaller, with only 35 people living there.
