Sumner, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sumner, Oregon
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Country | United States |
State | Oregon |
County | Coos |
Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
GNIS feature ID | 1136798 |
Coordinates and elevation from Geographic Names Information System |
Sumner is a small, unincorporated community located in Coos County, Oregon, United States. It's not a city with its own local government, but rather a group of homes and businesses. You can find Sumner about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of the larger city of Coos Bay. It sits along the path of the old Coos Bay Wagon Road, a historic route.
Contents
Discovering Sumner's History
Sumner has a fascinating past, though some of its early details are a bit unclear. It was named after an important person in American history.
Who Was Sumner Named After?
The community of Sumner was named to honor Charles Sumner. He was a very important Massachusetts senator who passed away in 1874. Senators are elected officials who represent their state in the United States government, helping to make laws for the country.
When Was Sumner Established?
According to one historian, William Gladstone Steel, Sumner was founded in 1888 by a person named John B. Dalley (sometimes spelled "Dulley"). However, other records suggest that the Sumner post office was actually set up in 1874. This means the community was likely established earlier than 1888, possibly around the same time the post office opened. John B. Dalley was the very first postmaster, meaning he was in charge of the mail services there. The post office in Sumner continued to operate until 1961.
Sumner's Population Over Time
In 1915, Sumner was home to about 100 people. By 1990, the community had just one store, showing how small it remained over the years.