Mountaindale, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mountaindale, Oregon
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Former Mountaindale Store at Mountaindale and Dairy Creek roads
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 Mountaindale, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Mountaindale, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Washington |
| Elevation | 194 ft (59 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
97133
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| Area code(s) | 503 and 971 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1163167 |
Mountaindale is a small community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It's an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Mountaindale is located about four miles northwest of North Plains. People started settling here in the 1850s. For a long time, it was known for its local store. Today, the area is part of the Washington County Fire District 2.
Contents
Mountaindale's Past
Long ago, the Atfalati tribe of Native Americans used to have a seasonal camp in this area. This was before people from Europe and America started arriving in the 1830s.
First Settlers
The first settlers from Europe and America arrived in the 1850s. Samuel B. and Mary Raffety came here in 1852. They traveled all the way on the famous Oregon Trail. They claimed land in northern Washington County, near the Oregon Coast Range mountains. This was part of a special law called the Donation Land Act.
The Raffetys were from Kentucky. They raised eight children on their 320-acre farm. One of their children, Charles H. Raffety, later became the mayor of East Portland. East Portland eventually became part of Portland.
Early School Days
The Mountaindale School District 41 was created on December 5, 1868. Alzada Cornelius was the first teacher. W. D. Pittenger was the first superintendent. The school was built around that time on the Dobbins family's land. A store was later built right in front of the school.
In 1885, a new schoolhouse was built for $200. It was 30 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 12 feet tall. This new school was first called the Raffety School. This is because Samuel Raffety donated the land for it.
Post Office and Store
The community's post office was set up in 1873. It was first called "Mountain Dale." The name was changed to "Mountaindale" in 1895. The name "Mountaindale" describes the area well. It's where the East Fork Dairy Creek flows out of the foothills. This is at the northern edge of the Tualatin Valley.
Charles Reynolds opened the first store in the community in 1896. In 1904, a new Mountaindale Store was built across the street from the first one. Reynolds also ran a freight line and a blacksmith shop. By 1915, Mountaindale had two sawmills. Much of the land around the area was used for logging.
Changes Over Time
The Mountaindale post office closed in 1935. In February 1953, the school district joined the North Plains School District. This district later joined the Hillsboro School District in 1996. The Mountaindale school building was used until 1954 or 1955. By 1976, the Stohr family owned the old school building.
By 1990, the only public buildings left in Mountaindale were the store and the closed schoolhouse. The store is now also closed.
The Mountaindale Airport is located about a mile southwest of the community.
Images for kids
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This picture shows the former school building in Mountaindale in 2010.
