Persist, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Persist, Oregon
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 Persist, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Persist, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Jackson |
| Elevation | 2,844 ft (867 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1161472 |
| Coordinates and elevation from Geographic Names Information System | |
Persist is a fascinating ghost town located in Jackson County, Oregon. A ghost town is a place where most or all people have left. It is now mostly empty or has very few residents. Persist is found in the mountains north of Lost Creek Lake. This lake is on the Rogue River, downstream from Prospect.
A Town That "Persisted"
The town of Persist got its unique name because the people living there "persisted" for many years. They kept trying to get a post office for their community. It took more than ten years for their request to be approved!
The Mail Story
Before the post office opened, getting mail was very hard for the people of Persist. Residents like William W. Willitts and his wife had to travel long distances. They would go to Trail, which was about 22 kilometers (14 miles) away. Or they would go to Prospect, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) away. Imagine walking or riding that far just to get your letters!
William W. Willitts was one of the main people who worked hard to get the post office. Because of his efforts, he became the very first postmaster when it finally opened in 1902. The post office served the community for many years. However, it eventually closed down in 1935. After that, the town slowly became a ghost town.
