Ortley, Oregon facts for kids
Ortley was once a small town in Wasco County, Oregon, in the United States. Today, it is no longer a town. You won't find any buildings or signs of it there.
Ortley was located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Rowena. It was also about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Mosier. The land where Ortley used to be is now private property. Even though the town is gone, the USGS (United States Geological Survey) still lists it as a "populated place." This means it was once a place where people lived.
The Story of Ortley
How Ortley Began
Ortley was created by a company called the Hood River Orchard & Land Company. In 1911, they made a special map called a plat. This map showed how they planned to divide the land into lots for houses and businesses. They named the new town "Ortley" after a type of apple called the Ortley apple.
The company sold these land lots. They also sold small pieces of land for orchards, where people could grow fruit trees. Many people bought land, and Ortley quickly grew. At its busiest, about 300 people lived there. The town had important places like a post office, several shops, and even a hotel.
Why Ortley Disappeared
Sadly, the land around Ortley was not good for growing apples. There were strong winds that blew often. Also, there wasn't enough water for the apple trees to grow well. Because of these problems, the apple orchards did not do well.
By 1922, most people had left Ortley. The town became almost empty. In that same year, the post office closed down. This was a sign that the town was no longer active. Ortley became what is known as a "ghost town."
