Dant, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dant, Oregon
|
|
|---|---|
 Dant, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Dant, Oregon
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Wasco |
| Elevation | 1,014 ft (309 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 541 and 458 |
| Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey | |
Dant is a small, unincorporated community in Wasco County, Oregon. This means it's a place that doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town.
Dant is located right next to the Deschutes River. It sits between the northern edge of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and the small city of Maupin. You won't find Dant on a main paved highway.
Contents
Discovering Dant, Oregon
Dant is a quiet spot in Oregon with an interesting past. It's known for its connection to a special type of mining and the history of railways.
How Dant Got Its Name
Dant was named after a person named Thomas Dant. He was the president of a company called Dant and Russell. In 1950, his company opened a mine in this area.
The Lady Frances Mine
The mine was called The Lady Frances. It dug for a mineral called perlite. Perlite is a type of volcanic glass. When it's heated, it expands a lot, like popcorn! This expanded perlite can be used to make things like acoustical tile, which helps to absorb sound.
The mine had buildings for processing the perlite. There was also a plant that made the acoustical tiles.
From Frieda to Dant
Before it was called Dant, this area had a railway station named Frieda. This station was built in 1911. A post office also opened here in 1950, also named Frieda. Later in 1950, both the station and the post office were renamed Dant, in honor of Thomas Dant. The perlite mine has since closed down.
The Old Railway
The railway that ran through Dant was called the Oregon Trunk Railway. This railway line was very important for transportation in Oregon.
A Race to Build Tracks
The Oregon Trunk Railway stretched about 150 miles (240 km) from the Columbia River all the way to Bend. Two big railway companies, the Great Northern Railway and the Union Pacific, both wanted to build tracks through the Deschutes Canyon.
In 1909, they started building at the same time, on opposite sides of the river! But instead of continuing to compete, they decided to work together. They agreed to share the tracks built by the Great Northern Railway.
Nearby Railway Stations
Dant was one of several stations along this railway line. To the north, you would find stations like Nena, Cambrai, and Maupin. To the south, there were stations named Dixon, Nathan, and North Junction. These stations were important stops for trains and people traveling through the area.
