Dee, Oregon facts for kids

Dee is a small, unincorporated community in Hood River County, Oregon. It's located on Oregon Route 281, about 11 miles south of the city of Hood River. Long ago, Dee was a special kind of town called a "company town," built and owned by a large business.

A Town Built for Lumber

Dee began in 1906 when the Oregon Lumber Company built a big sawmill there. A sawmill is where logs are cut into lumber. The town was named after Thomas Duncombe Dee, who was a business partner of David Eccles, one of the company's owners.

Dee was also a stop on the Mount Hood Railroad, which David Eccles also owned. Because it was a company town, the lumber company provided many things for the people who lived and worked there. Dee had its own water system and electricity. There was also a general store where people could buy supplies, plus shops and even a hotel.

Over the years, the number of people living in Dee changed. In 1915, about 250 people lived there. By 1940, the population was around 100. In 1958, another company, the Edward Hines Lumber Company, bought Dee. They eventually took apart many of the town's buildings.

Japanese Families in Dee

Besides cutting down trees, Dee's economy also relied on growing fruit, especially in the Hood River Valley. This area was an important place for Nikkei families. Nikkei refers to Japanese migrants and their descendants.

The first Japanese people in the area worked on the Mount Hood Railroad. They also worked at the sawmill and lived in company housing near the East Fork Hood River. In the 1920s, about 35 Nikkei families lived in Dee. They created the Dee Japanese Community Hall, a place for their community to gather.

Where Dee Is Located

The fruit orchards in the area are found between the east and west forks of the Hood River. This flat area is known as Dee Flat.

Local Businesses

For 20 years, Wayne Fawbush, who was a state senator in Oregon, ran a blueberry farm in Dee. This farm is still in operation today.