Wilbur, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilbur, Oregon
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 Wilbur, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Wilbur, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Douglas |
| Elevation | 469 ft (143 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
97494
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| Area code(s) | 541 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1166724 |
Wilbur is a small place in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. It is an unincorporated community, which means it's a town that doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the county.
Wilbur is located along two main roads: Interstate 5 and Oregon Route 99. You can find it north of a town called Winchester.
History of Wilbur, Oregon
How Wilbur Got Its Name
Wilbur was not always called Wilbur. Its first name was Bunton's Gap. The town was later renamed Wilbur to honor James H. Wilbur. He was an important person in the area's early history.
The Famous Umpqua Academy
James H. Wilbur started a school on his own land in Bunton's Gap in 1854. This was a big deal for the community. In 1857, the school became an official college. It was named Umpqua Academy. The Oregon territorial government gave it a special charter. It also became connected with the Methodist Church. A new, larger school building with two stories was built. James Wilbur gave his land to the people who managed the academy.
For many years, Umpqua Academy was the only place for higher education in a very large area. It was the only college between the cities of Salem, Oregon, and Sacramento, California. This made it a very important learning center.
However, Umpqua Academy eventually closed its doors in 1900.
Wilbur Today
Even though the academy closed a long time ago, Wilbur is still a community. Today, Wilbur has a church where people can gather. There is also a store that serves the local residents. Inside this store, you can find the community's post office. Wilbur also has a graveyard, which is a place where people are buried.
