Hampton Buttes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hampton Buttes |
|
|---|---|
 Hampton Buttes
Location in Oregon
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Hampton Butte |
| Elevation | 6,352 ft (1,936 m) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| Topo map | USGS Hampton Butte, Hampton, West of Hampton, Long Barn |
The Hampton Buttes are a group of small mountains or hills in Oregon, United States. They are mostly located in Crook County. However, some parts of the buttes also reach south and west into Deschutes County. This area is in Central Oregon, close to a small community called Hampton. A main road, U.S. Route 20, runs along the south side of the buttes. The upper South Fork Crooked River flows north near the eastern part of the range.
Exploring Hampton Buttes
The tallest point in the Hampton Buttes is called Hampton Butte. It stands about 6,352 feet (1,936 meters) above sea level. This makes it a notable landmark in the area.
How Hampton Buttes Got Its Name
The peak, the entire mountain range, and the nearby community of Hampton were all named after a local person. His name was Joe Hampton. He moved to this area in 1870 from near Eugene.
Protecting the Land at Hampton Buttes
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helps manage the land around Hampton Buttes. They look after two special areas called wilderness study areas (WSAs). WSAs are public lands that the U.S. Congress is thinking about protecting as wilderness. This means they would be kept wild and natural.
- The Hampton Butte WSA covers about 10,600 acres (4,290 hectares).
- The Cougar Well WSA is further south and covers about 17,315 acres (7,007 hectares).
The BLM also manages a fun area at Hampton Buttes where people can go rockhounding. This means searching for interesting rocks and minerals. The Hampton Buttes area is especially known for its petrified wood. Petrified wood is ancient wood that has turned into stone over millions of years.
