Peel, Oregon facts for kids

Peel is a small, quiet place in Douglas County, Oregon, in the United States. It's not a city or town with its own government, but rather an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and buildings that are part of the larger county. Peel is located about six miles southeast of a place called Glide, close to the Little River.

What is Peel?

Peel is a community without its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the county it's in, which is Douglas County. Think of it like a neighborhood that's part of a bigger area, rather than a separate town with its own mayor and city council. It's nestled in the beautiful natural landscape of Oregon, near a river.

How Peel Got Its Name

The community of Peel got its name from a man named Samuel W. Peel. He was a "congressman" from Arkansas. A congressman is a person elected by people to represent them in the United States Congress, which is where laws are made for the country. The Peel post office, which was a place where mail was sent and received, was set up in 1888 and named after him.

Interestingly, Peel is one of the few places in the western part of the United States that was named after a "Confederate soldier." During the American Civil War (a big war in the U.S. many years ago), soldiers fought for either the Union or the Confederacy. Samuel W. Peel was associated with the Confederate side.

A Look at Peel's History

In the past, Peel was a bit more active. In 1915, the community had its own public school, where children went to learn. There was also a daily "stagecoach" service to Roseburg. A stagecoach was like an old-fashioned bus, a horse-drawn carriage that carried passengers and mail between towns before cars were common.

The post office in Peel, which had been a central part of the community, closed down in 1921. This often happens in small communities as populations change or services become available in nearby larger towns.

Just about a mile south of Peel, you can find the Cavitt Creek Bridge. This is a special "covered bridge" that was built in 1943. Covered bridges are unique bridges with roofs and walls, often built to protect the wooden structure from the weather.