Culp Creek, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Culp Creek, Oregon
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 Culp Creek, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Culp Creek, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Elevation | 961 ft (293 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
97434
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| Area code(s) | 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1140531 |
Culp Creek is a small, quiet place in Oregon, USA. It's not a city or town with its own government. You can find it in Lane County, near the Row River. It's located between the communities of Dorena and Disston.
Contents
Where is Culp Creek?
Culp Creek is nestled in the lower parts of the Cascade Range mountains. It sits about 961 feet (293 meters) above sea level. The community is found where a smaller stream, also called Culp Creek, flows into the Row River. Just north of Culp Creek is Hawley Butte, a hill that stands 2,992 feet (912 meters) tall.
A Look at Culp Creek's Past
How Culp Creek Got Its Name
The stream called Culp Creek was named after an early settler named John Culp. This happened just before the year 1900. Later, a place where people worked cutting down trees was set up nearby. It was called Culp Creek Camp. When a new post office opened in 1925, it was named Culp Creek after this camp.
The Logging Industry and Railways
For a long time, the main way people made a living in Culp Creek was through the logging industry. This means cutting down trees for wood. A big company called Bohemia, Inc. had a sawmill here. It operated from 1959 until around 1990. Bohemia's main office was in Culp Creek until another company bought it in 1991.
In the past, there were more than 20 sawmills along the Row River. A train line, the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway (OP&E), was built through Culp Creek in the early 1900s. This railway helped move wood, supplies, and people.
The Row River Trail Today
Today, the old OP&E train line has been turned into a special path. It's called the Row River National Recreation Trail. This trail opened in 1997 and is a great place for walking or biking. It ends just past Culp Creek. After the big sawmill closed, the only store in Culp Creek also closed down.
Culp Creek in the Movies
In 1926, a famous silent film actor named Buster Keaton filmed a big scene for his movie The General near Culp Creek. He spent a lot of money, about $40,000, to build a temporary wooden bridge over the Row River.
During the movie scene, the bridge was set on fire and fell apart as a train went over it. The parts of the bridge and the train were left in the river for 15 years. They were finally taken out in 1941 to be used as scrap metal during World War II.
Post Office Changes
The Culp Creek post office closed in 2009. Now, people who live in Culp Creek get their mail through the Dorena post office.
Learning in Culp Creek
The schools in this area are part of the South Lane School District. Culp Creek is home to the Childs Way Charter School. This is a public charter school that serves about 35 students. It teaches students from sixth through twelfth grade.
The old Culp Creek Elementary School closed in 1989. Its students then went to a school in Dorena. In 1994, the old school buildings became the new home for the Childs Way Charter School.
