Castle Rock, Morrow County, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castle Rock, Oregon
|
|
|---|---|
|
Historic unincorporated community
|
|
 Castle Rock, Morrow County, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Castle Rock, Morrow County, Oregon
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Morrow |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1164257 |
| Coordinates and elevation from the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | |
Castle Rock was a historic place in Morrow County, Oregon, Oregon. It was once a small community, a post office, and a train station. This area was named after a low cliff along the Columbia River that looked like a castle.
Contents
What Was Castle Rock?
Castle Rock was not an official town. It was a small, historic community in Morrow County, Oregon. People there could send mail from its post office. Trains also stopped at its railway station.
Why Was It Called Castle Rock?
The name "Castle Rock" came from a special rock formation. There was a low cliff, or "bluff," along the Columbia River. From the river, this bluff looked like a castle. That's how the area got its unique name.
A Changing Landscape
The Castle Rock train station first opened in 1881. The post office served the community from 1883 until 1926.
In 1968, a big change happened. The John Day Dam was built on the Columbia River. This dam created a new body of water called Lake Umatilla. The rising water from the lake covered the original bluff. It also flooded the train tracks and the nearby highway.
Because of the flood, the train station had to be moved. It was relocated about a mile south to higher ground. This new location was then renamed "Castle." The original Castle Rock was about 269 feet (82 meters) above sea level. The new "Castle" is higher, at 325 feet (99 meters).
Where Was Castle Rock Located?
Both Castle Rock and the new "Castle" are located west of Boardman, Oregon. They are also directly south of Crow Butte. Crow Butte is across the river in Benton County, Washington, in the state of Washington.
Today, Interstate 84 runs along the Columbia River. This highway passes right by the area where "Castle" is now located.
