Luper, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luper, Oregon
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 Luper, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Luper, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97448
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| GNIS feature ID | 1166735 |
Luper, Oregon is a fascinating ghost town located in Lane County, Oregon, United States. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty or abandoned. Luper was once an important stop along a railroad line.
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Luper's Location and History
Luper was originally a train station on the Oregon and California Railroad. This railway connected cities like Junction City and Eugene. The station was found near Meadowview Road, between Oregon Route 99W and Prairie Road. It was about 3.8 miles (6.1 km) south of Junction City.
How Luper Got Its Name
The community of Luper was named after a pioneer named James N. Luper. He was born in 1852 in Illinois. James Luper played a big part in the early days of this area.
James Luper's Contributions
James Luper's daughter, Rhea Luper, shared some memories in 1927. Rhea herself became an Oregon State Engineer. She recalled that her father bought land in the Luper area around 1870. After that, he built a warehouse and a special railroad spur. A spur is a short railway line that branches off a main line. This made Luper an important place for shipping goods, especially wheat.
The Luper Cemetery
Even though the town itself is now a ghost town, the Luper Cemetery still remains in the area. This cemetery is a reminder of the people who once lived and worked in Luper. In 1970, a group called the Oregon Genealogical Society counted 118 grave sites there.
