Witch Hazel, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Witch Hazel, Oregon
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Neighborhood
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New Witch Hazel Elementary School
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| Region | Washington County |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Postal code |
97123
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| Part of: | Hillsboro |
Witch Hazel is a friendly neighborhood in Hillsboro, a city in Washington County, Oregon. It's located in the United States. This area used to be a small, separate community. You can find it along the Tualatin Valley Highway and near the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. It's about one mile (1.6 km) west of Reedville.
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Exploring Witch Hazel's Past
Witch Hazel has an interesting history. A small cemetery from 1856 was found here. It belonged to the Stewart family. They lived on a farm called "Hazelwitch farm" starting in 1849.
How Witch Hazel Got Its Name
A former mayor of Portland, Van B. DeLashmutt, owned a farm in Witch Hazel in the 1880s. He might have named the place after one of his racehorses. However, some people, like Governor Oswald West, never heard of a racehorse named "Witch Hazel." Mayor DeLashmutt also had a building in Portland called the "Witch Hazel Building." It seems he just liked the name. The actual witch-hazel plant does not naturally grow in Oregon.
Railroad and Racing History
The Portland, Eugene and Eastern Railway once had a train station in Witch Hazel. This train line later became part of the Southern Pacific railroad. Mayor DeLashmutt was famous for his racehorses. He had some of the best in the Pacific Northwest. His racetrack in Witch Hazel was once considered one of the best in America. There were two tracks on his farm. The main track was a one-mile (1.6 km) oval for races. A smaller, half-mile (0.8 km) oval was surrounded by sheds.
Growth and Development
A post office opened in Witch Hazel in 1904 but closed quickly in 1905. Around 1921, a large area of 400 acres (1.6 km2) was divided into smaller plots. This development was called "Witch Hazel Little Farms." The land was split into 24 sections, each up to 10 acres (40,000 m2). Many of these plots were sold quickly. By 1924, water, gas, and electricity were available. New homes were also being built. In 1927, dog racing, featuring fast whippet dogs, started at a track in Witch Hazel.
Becoming Part of Hillsboro
In 1999 and 2002, the regional government, Metro, added 318 acres (1.29 km2) of Witch Hazel into the urban growth boundary. This boundary helps manage city growth. In 2004, the City of Hillsboro made a plan for the area. It is estimated that Witch Hazel will eventually be home to about 5,000 people.
Learning in Witch Hazel
Children from Witch Hazel have always had schools nearby.
Early Schools
In 1859, a school was built in the neighboring community of Reedville. Children from Witch Hazel went to this one-room schoolhouse. Later, in 1889, the Witch Hazel School District 79 was created. It took 28 students from the Reedville School District. This single-school district later rejoined the Reedville district in 1966.
Modern Schools
Today, the Witch Hazel Elementary School is located in the community. It is part of the Hillsboro School District. A new school building was built in 2003. It replaced an older building that was located on Tualatin Valley Highway. In 2009, South Meadows Middle School opened right next to the elementary school.
