Cornucopia, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornucopia
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Cornucopia 1913
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Elevation | 4,741 ft (1,445 m) |
| Time zone | Pacific |
Cornucopia is a ghost town in Eastern Oregon, USA. It was built in the 1880s when people rushed to find gold. It officially started in 1886 and was a busy mining town. People lived and worked there until 1942, when it became empty.
Today, Cornucopia is a popular place for tourists to visit. It sits high in the mountains of Pine Valley, east of Baker City. You can find it near Halfway, Oregon, on Oregon Route 86.
Contents
History of Cornucopia
In 1884, a man named Lon Simmons found gold in eastern Oregon. By July 1885, about 500 men lived in the area. They formed a town called Cornucopia, which means "horn of plenty." The town grew as it became richer.
The main mining companies were Last Chance, Queen of the West, Union-Companion, and Red Jacket. In 1902, a newspaper said that Cornucopia had the largest gold ore body in the Pacific Northwest. Around that time, about 700 men worked for Cornucopia Mines of Oregon. This made it the sixth-largest mining operation in the United States.
However, old equipment and relying only on horses for transport slowed the town's success. Also, in 1902, the mining companies didn't pay a large bill. This caused problems for the mine until 1905, when things improved.
Gold Strikes and New Technology
Big gold discoveries happened in November 1915 and late 1921. These kept the town thriving. By early 1922, new technologies arrived. These included electricity, special drills, and a railroad along the Snake River.
These advances, along with the 1921 gold strike, helped build a huge mill. This mill had twenty giant hammers to crush ore. It could process 60 tons of ore every day. After crushing, chemicals were used to get the gold out.
Decline and Abandonment
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was a big economic downturn. It caused mining to stop and many people to leave Cornucopia. By 1930, only 10 people lived there.
By 1934, the mines were working again. In 1938, the mining company was making good money. By 1939, Cornucopia produced 66% of all the gold in Oregon. In 1940, 352 people lived in the town. The mines were the 7th largest in the country.
But in early 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt closed all gold mines in America. He wanted miners to focus on producing metals for the war effort. Cornucopia was abandoned and never recovered. Over its history, about $18 million worth of precious metals were taken from its mines.
Life in Cornucopia
Because Cornucopia was so isolated, people had to create their own fun. Many learned to play instruments like the fiddle, piano, and drums. Miners worked 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Mill workers later worked 12 hours a day.
Because of the constant work, holidays were very important. Christmas and the Fourth of July were the biggest celebrations. Labor Day was also celebrated with a town picnic and contests like tug-of-war. At its busiest, Cornucopia had several general stores, a boardinghouse, saloons, a hotel, a post office, and a school.
Geography of Cornucopia
Cornucopia is in Baker County. It is north of Carson, Oregon and west of the Snake River. The closest city is Baker City, about 56 miles southwest.
Cornucopia has many creeks nearby, like Pine Creek, Elk Creek, and Panter Creek. East Fork Falls is a short distance north. The area is very mountainous and covered in fir trees. Because Cornucopia is high up (4,741 feet), it gets a lot of snow in winter. It is on the southern edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa Mountains. The gold mines are northwest of the town center.
You can only reach Cornucopia from the south using the Cornucopia Highway. This road starts in Halfway, Oregon. It connects Halfway, Jimtown, and Carson, Oregon, before reaching Cornucopia about 5.5 miles past Carson.
Tourism in Cornucopia
Cornucopia has become a popular place for tourists in Oregon. People visit because it's a famous ghost town. To help visitors, the Cornucopia Lodge was built in 2008.
