Page Contents for Granite, Oregon

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

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Statistics & Facts

The Oregon state capital is Salem.
The population of Granite is approximately 80 (1990), 38 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 48 (1990), 22 (2010).
The amount of land area in Granite is 1.031 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.007 sq kilometers.
The distance from Granite to Washington DC is 2308 miles.
The distance to the Oregon state capital is 244 miles. (as the crow flies)
Granite is positioned 44.81 degrees north of the equator and 118.41 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

15 miles from Sumpter in northeast Oregon
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History & History Related Items

Albert G. Tabor discovered gold along Granite Creek on July 4, 1862. He named his claim Independence, and the area was promptly designated the Granite Creek Mines.

The first city was situated about one and a half miles below the present city of Granite. The town, not being in a central location, was of short life and all business mokved to the new townsite. Independence was the name given to this town to commemorate the discovery of gold on Independence day in 1862. In 1874, the people applied for a post office. Because of there being a post office by the name of Independence in Polk County, a new name had to be chosen and Granite was selected. A. G. Tabor, the only merchant in town, was the first postmaster.

It is an historic area known for the Cougar-Independence and Buffalo Mines, famous for their long and productive gold operations. The ghost town scenic atmosphere is shared with a few permanent residents.
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