Tiernan, Oregon facts for kids
Tiernan is a small place in Lane 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 without a formal city council. You can find Tiernan about five miles west of Mapleton. It's close to the Siuslaw River and inside the beautiful Siuslaw National Forest.
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Discovering Tiernan: A Small Oregon Community
Tiernan is a quiet community located in the western part of Oregon. It's known for being nestled within the Siuslaw National Forest, which is a large area of protected land with many trees and natural beauty. The nearby Siuslaw River also adds to the scenic landscape of the area.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community like Tiernan is a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government. This means it doesn't have a mayor or a city council. Instead, it's usually managed by the larger county government, which in this case is Lane County. Many small communities across the United States are unincorporated.
How Tiernan Got Its Name
The community of Tiernan was named after a person named R. Tiernan. He was from San Francisco and used to lease, or rent, a sawmill in the area. A sawmill is a factory where logs are cut into lumber. So, the community took its name from this important person who was involved in the local industry.
Tiernan's Railway History
Interestingly, the local Southern Pacific railroad station in Tiernan had a different name. It was called "Beck" or "Beck Station." This name came from an early station master, who was the person in charge of the train station. However, "Beck" was only the name of the station, not the community itself. Today, this railway line is part of the Coos Bay Rail Link, which is still used for trains.
The Tiernan Post Office
Tiernan also had its own post office for many years. A post office is where people send and receive mail. The Tiernan post office was open from 1919 until 1970. This means it served the community for over 50 years, helping people connect through letters and packages.