Copperfield, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Copperfield, Oregon
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Former unincorporated community
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Copperfield, 1907
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 Copperfield, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Copperfield, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Elevation | 1,722 ft (525 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| GNIS feature ID for Copperfield Campground | 1156619 |
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Copperfield was once a small town in Baker County, Oregon. It was located on the west bank of the Snake River. This spot was also on the north bank of Pine Creek. Today, the old town site is a park. It is called Copperfield Park and is managed by Idaho Power.
Contents
Copperfield: A Town's Story
How Copperfield Began
The town of Copperfield started around 1898. It was first known as "Copper Camp." People thought there was a lot of copper ore in the area. However, some writers say there wasn't much copper at all. Instead, the town grew because of two large construction projects nearby.
A post office opened in Copperfield in 1899. By 1910, about 1,000 people lived there. This growth happened because a railroad company and the Idaho Power Company were digging tunnels. These projects brought many workers to the area.
When Things Got Wild
By early 1913, the construction jobs began to slow down. Fewer workers were needed in Copperfield. This caused problems among the businesses in town. The town became known for being a bit wild and disorderly.
The local government had trouble controlling the situation. So, the Governor of Oregon, Oswald West, decided to act. He sent his secretary, Fern Hobbs, to Copperfield. She brought a special order called a declaration of martial law. Martial law means the military takes over law enforcement.
The people in Copperfield were surprised. They thought Fern Hobbs was traveling alone. But she arrived with state militia (a type of military force). She read the declaration to the townspeople. The militia then helped to bring order back to Copperfield. A few months later, a fire destroyed some buildings. After that, the town became much quieter.
Becoming a Ghost Town
After the governor's intervention, Copperfield had two more fires. The post office closed in 1927. This meant Copperfield slowly became a ghost town. A ghost town is a place where most people have left.
However, in 1965, a new community called Oxbow was founded nearby. This happened when the Idaho Power Company was building the Oxbow Dam. Today, the original site of Copperfield is a park. It is managed by Idaho Power.
