Winchester, Oregon facts for kids
Winchester is a small community in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. It's a place that doesn't have its own city government. Winchester is located on the south side of the North Umpqua River. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Roseburg, near Interstate 5.
Winchester sits right on Oregon Highway 99, next to the North Umpqua River. The famous Winchester Bridge crosses the river here. Winchester is also known for the Winchester Dam. This dam was built in 1889. It is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History of Winchester
Early Days
Winchester was first planned in 1850 by a surveyor named Addison R. Flint. He was part of a group exploring the Umpqua area from San Francisco. The town got its name from one of the Winchester brothers. It was likely named after Heman Winchester, who led the exploring group.
For many years, Winchester was the biggest town in the Umpqua Valley. It was also the county seat (the main town for the county's government) until 1854. That year, the county seat moved to Roseburg.
Growth and Development
The Winchester post office opened in 1851. Addison R. Flint, who planned the town, became its first postmaster. The community officially became a city on February 20, 1891. This was decided by the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
Winchester's Climate
Winchester has a type of weather called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperatures in summer are not extremely hot. Winters are generally mild and wet.
