Weatherby, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weatherby, Oregon
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 Weatherby, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Weatherby, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Baker |
| Elevation | 2,415 ft (736 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 458 and 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1136882 |
Weatherby is a small, quiet place in Baker County, Oregon. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town with its own local government.
You can find Weatherby about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of a place called Durkee. It's located right along Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 30, close to the Burnt River.
Contents
The History of Weatherby
Weatherby has an interesting past that goes back to the time of the gold mining boom in Oregon. It started as a busy stop for travelers.
Early Days: Express Ranch
Back in 1865, during the gold rush, a post office was set up near what is now Durkee. It was called Express Ranch. A post office is where mail is sorted and sent out.
This "Express Ranch" was an important stop for stagecoaches. These were like old-time buses that carried people and mail. The word "express" meant fast delivery. The "ranch" part came from a Spanish word, rancho, which meant a place to stay. It wasn't about raising animals.
Becoming Weatherby
In 1879, the post office name changed to Weatherby. It also moved about 10 miles (16 km) south along the Burnt River. It was moved to land owned by Andrew J. Weatherby, who became the first postmaster there.
A few years later, in 1884, the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company built a train station in Weatherby. This made it an even more important stop for travel and trade. The Weatherby post office eventually closed in 1920.
The Return of Express
Interestingly, another post office was opened back at the original Express Ranch site in 1884. It was simply called Express. Around 1902, that office's name changed again to Durkee, which is what the nearby community is called today.
Weatherby Today
Today, Weatherby is a useful stop for people traveling through Oregon.
Rest Area and Historic Sites
Weatherby is home to a Oregon Department of Transportation rest area. This is a place where drivers can pull over, rest, and use facilities during long trips.
There used to be a state historic park nearby called Rattlesnake Springs. This park remembered a stop along the famous Oregon Trail, which was a path pioneers took to travel west. However, the park was removed when Interstate 84 was built.
A Special Solar Eclipse Event
On August 21, 2017, Weatherby became a popular spot for a special event: a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light.
Weatherby was right in the "path of totality," which is the narrow area where the Sun is completely hidden by the Moon. About 300 cars parked at the rest area, filled with people who came to watch this amazing natural show.
