Olene, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olene, Oregon
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 Olene, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Olene, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Klamath |
| Elevation | 4,153 ft (1,266 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1124978 |
| Coordinates and elevation from Geographic Names Information System | |
Olene is a small community in Klamath County, Oregon, in the United States. It is an "unincorporated community," which means it does not have its own city government. Instead, it is part of the larger county. Olene is located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Klamath Falls. You can find it along Oregon Route 140.
Today, Olene has a general store. In the past, it was a busy place with a school. It was also known for its successful dairy farms and potato fields. In 1940, about 62 people lived in Olene.
What's in a Name?
The name Olene comes from the Klamath language. It means "eddy place" or "place of drift." An eddy is a small swirl in water.
O. C. Applegate chose this name in 1884. This was when the first post office was set up. The original post office was further up the Lost River. The post office closed in 1966. It was then located near a narrow part of the Lost River called The Gap. This area is also known as Olene Gap. You can also find the Olene Hot Springs nearby.
Old Railroad, New Trail
Olene used to be along a railroad line. This line was operated by two companies: Southern Pacific and Burlington Northern. The railroad line reached Olene in 1918. It was originally built by the Oregon, California and Eastern Railway.
Today, this old railroad line has been changed into a trail. It is now called the OC&E Woods Line State Trail. This is a "rails to trails" project. It means an old railway track has been turned into a path for walking or biking. This trail passes right through Olene.
Tapping into Earth's Heat
In early 2013, a special drilling project was finished near Olene. This project was looking for geothermal energy. Geothermal energy uses heat from inside the Earth. The well they drilled produced very hot water, over 280°F (138°C).
There are plans to drill two or three more wells. These wells would help create a commercial power plant. This plant would use the Earth's heat to make electricity. The goal is to produce 21 megawatts of electricity. This is enough power for many homes.
