Wonder, Oregon facts for kids

Wonder is a small place in Oregon, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated community." You can find Wonder in Josephine County, near U.S. Route 199. It's about 13 miles west of Grants Pass and 8 miles east of Selma. This area is also part of the beautiful Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest.

How Wonder Got Its Name

The name "Wonder" has an interesting story! It started around 1902. A man named John T. Roberson opened a general store about two miles south of Wilderville.

At that time, not many people lived in the area. Folks living nearby "wondered" how Mr. Roberson would get enough customers to make his store successful. Because everyone was wondering, Roberson decided to call his new business the "Wonder Store."

Early Days of Wonder

The community officially got its name when the Wonder post office was opened in 1903. John T. Roberson, who started the store, became the very first postmaster.

By 1915, Wonder was a small but growing place. It had a population of 25 people. There was also a school building that was used for classes and as a church for the community. In 1916, a train station called "Wonder station" was built here. It was part of the California and Oregon Coast Railroad line.

Changes Over Time

Sometime in the 1920s, the community of Wonder actually moved! It shifted about two miles further west, closer to a place called Slate Creek.

However, over the years, the population changed. The Wonder post office, which had served the community for many decades, eventually closed down in 1959.

Wonder Today

Even though the post office is gone, Wonder is still recognized as a small community. Today, a private airfield called Wonder Airport is located nearby.