Placer, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Placer, Oregon
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 Placer, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Placer, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Josephine |
| Elevation | 1,431 ft (436 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
97497
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| GNIS feature ID | 1125461 |
Placer is a small, unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. It is located along Grave Creek, a few miles east of Interstate 5. Placer was first settled during a time when many people came to the area looking for gold. Today, it is often called a ghost town, meaning most people have moved away.
History of Placer
Placer began unofficially in 1885 and was first known as "Tom East." In 1898, a pioneer named L. M. Browning officially mapped out the town. He had arrived in the area back in 1870.
Who Was Tom East?
Tom East was an early miner in southwest Oregon. He came to the United States from England when he was young. By 1855, he was already mining for gold in Josephine County. Several creeks in the area, including three called Tom East Creeks, were named after him. In the 1870s, he explored and mined along the Rogue River. He eventually settled near where the community of Marial would later be. He lived there until he passed away in 1897.
The Post Office and New Name
In 1893, a man named Newell Fillmore Inman wanted to open the first post office in the area. He asked for it to be named Tom East. However, the Post Office Department decided to change the name to "Placer." The name "Placer" came from the type of gold mining done there, called placer mining. This is where miners look for gold in riverbeds or gravel. The Placer post office operated from 1894 until 1924. After that, mail for the area went to Leland.
Placer's Busy Days
Placer was an important place for miners to get supplies. It served the Tom East and Upper Grave Creek mines. The town was also a stop on the stagecoach route between New Leland and the Greenback Mine. During its busiest time, Placer had many businesses. There were two large hotels, two big stores called mercantiles, and three saloons. These were the only saloons on Upper Grave Creek. Other small businesses also operated, and there was even a newspaper run by Nellie Anderson. Placer grew quickly as the Columbia placer mine and the Greenback quartz mine became very active. The Greenback mine was the richest mine in Oregon based on how much tunnel was dug.
