Meacham, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meacham
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 Meacham
Location in Oregon
Meacham
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Umatilla |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.27 sq mi (5.87 km2) |
| • Land | 2.27 sq mi (5.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,740 ft (1,140 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 85 |
| • Density | 37.49/sq mi (14.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97859
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| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| FIPS code | 41-46800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2805457 |
Meacham is a small, unincorporated community in Umatilla County, Oregon. It's a place that isn't officially a city or town. Meacham is found along the old U.S. Route 30, just off Interstate 84. It sits within the beautiful Umatilla National Forest.
Meacham is also very close to the Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area. This area is important because it's part of the historic Oregon Trail. In 2020, about 85 people lived in Meacham.
Meacham's History
Meacham has a long and interesting past. It started as a station on the Union Pacific Railroad. This was a train stop near the top of the Blue Mountains.
Early Beginnings
In 1844, a military officer named Major Henry A. G. Lee set up a camp here. It was known as Lee's Encampment. Later, in the 1860s and 1870s, two brothers, Harvey J. and Alfred B. Meacham, ran a stage station. This was a place where horse-drawn coaches could stop. The area was then named after them.
The first post office opened in 1862. It was called "Encampment." But in 1890, the name was changed to "Meacham."
Presidential Visit
A very special event happened in Meacham on July 3, 1923. The President of the United States, Warren G. Harding, visited the community. He stopped during his "Voyage of Understanding" trip.
President Harding was there to celebrate a big anniversary. It was the 80th year since the Oregon Trail began. He gave a speech in nearby Pendleton the next day. His wife, Florence Harding, received a special blanket shawl. It was made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. This design became very popular.
There's a local story that President Harding said Meacham was the nation's capital "all day long." However, records of his speech don't show him saying that.
Meacham's Climate
Meacham has a climate with cold, snowy winters. Its summers are mild. This type of weather is called a dry-summer humid continental climate.
In February 1933, many people thought Meacham set a record. They believed it was the coldest place in Oregon. The temperature was reported as −52 °F (−47 °C). However, another town, Seneca, was even colder. It reached −54 °F (−48 °C).
