Gravelford, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gravelford, Oregon
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 Gravelford, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Gravelford, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Coos |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1121336 |
Gravelford is a small, unincorporated community in Coos County, Oregon, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's located about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Myrtle Point. Gravelford sits right where two rivers meet: the North Fork Coquille River and the East Fork Coquille River.
Contents
Gravelford's Name and History
How Gravelford Got Its Name
The name Gravelford comes from a natural "ford" in the stream. A ford is a shallow place in a river or stream where you can cross by walking or driving. This particular ford had a lot of gravel, which gave the community its name.
The Old Post Office
A post office was opened in Gravelford in 1878. It was first called Gravel Ford (two words). Solomon J. McCloskey was the very first postmaster. Even though official post office records used the two-word spelling, maps from the post office and the USGS (United States Geological Survey) often showed it as one word, "Gravelford." The post office eventually closed in 1934. After that, people in Gravelford received their mail through Myrtle Point.
What Gravelford Was Like
In 1915, Gravelford was a busy little community. It had two factories that made cheese, two churches, and even an Adventist school. There was also a public school for the local children.
Gravelford Today
Today, Gravelford is much smaller than it used to be. By 1990, only two houses remained from the original community. However, Gravelford still has a volunteer fire department. This fire station is a satellite, or smaller branch, of the Myrtle Point fire department. The Gravelford Cemetery, where many early residents are buried, was started in 1884.
