Farmington, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Farmington is an unincorporated community
in Washington County
, Oregon
, United States
. It is located on the Tualatin River
, a tributary of the Willamette
, about eight miles southwest of Beaverton
, at the intersection of Oregon Route 10 and River Road. It is about a mile west of the junction of OR 10 with Oregon Route 219. Farmington was one of the earliest settlements in Oregon and was prominent for a time as an important milling and grain-shipping point on the Tualatin when steamships were the principal means of shipping grain along the Willamette River.
Farmington was the site of an early Christian Church
, founded by 1845 pioneers in Sarah and Philip Harris, who arrived in Oregon via the Meek Cutoff. At that time the locale was called "Bridgeport". Baptisms were in the Tualatin River.
Philip Harris began ferry service, which became known as the Harris-Landess Ferry, across the Tualatin River; he later built a bridge at the same location. Today there is modern bridge there named in his honor. In 1851 there was a post office named Harris Ferry at this locale; Philip Harris was the postmaster.
The community was probably named for Farmington, Connecticut
. Farmington post office was established in 1884 and closed in 1904.
The building at the crossroads that currently serves as a restaurant dates to the 1920s; most of the time it housed a tavern but at least once it served as a store. It has been a restaurant since March 2009.
The old Farmington School is about a mile and a half northwest of the crossroads on private property on Rood Bridge Road. It is one of several one-room school
s, including the one at Laurel
, that merged to become the current Farmington View Elementary School in the Hillsboro School District
in 1950. The school is about three miles northwest of Farmington on OR 219. The bell in front of Farmington View originally hung at Laurel School.
Farmington was the birthplace of William G. Hare
, Oregon state senator and representative.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located on the Tualatin River
Tualatin River
The Tualatin River is a tributary of the Willamette River located in Oregon in the United States. The river is approximately long, and it drains a fertile farming region called the Tualatin Valley southwest and west of Portland at the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley...
, a tributary of the Willamette
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
, about eight miles southwest of Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, at the intersection of Oregon Route 10 and River Road. It is about a mile west of the junction of OR 10 with Oregon Route 219. Farmington was one of the earliest settlements in Oregon and was prominent for a time as an important milling and grain-shipping point on the Tualatin when steamships were the principal means of shipping grain along the Willamette River.
Farmington was the site of an early Christian Church
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
, founded by 1845 pioneers in Sarah and Philip Harris, who arrived in Oregon via the Meek Cutoff. At that time the locale was called "Bridgeport". Baptisms were in the Tualatin River.
Philip Harris began ferry service, which became known as the Harris-Landess Ferry, across the Tualatin River; he later built a bridge at the same location. Today there is modern bridge there named in his honor. In 1851 there was a post office named Harris Ferry at this locale; Philip Harris was the postmaster.
The community was probably named for Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. Farmington post office was established in 1884 and closed in 1904.
The building at the crossroads that currently serves as a restaurant dates to the 1920s; most of the time it housed a tavern but at least once it served as a store. It has been a restaurant since March 2009.
The old Farmington School is about a mile and a half northwest of the crossroads on private property on Rood Bridge Road. It is one of several one-room school
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
s, including the one at Laurel
Laurel, Oregon
Laurel is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Settled in 1872, the community is located between Hillsboro and Newberg, in the southern portion of the Tualatin Valley in the foothills of the Chehalem Mountains. The community retains its agricultural heritage...
, that merged to become the current Farmington View Elementary School in the Hillsboro School District
Hillsboro School District
The Hillsboro School District 1J is a unified school district located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The district operates 26 elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Founded in 1851, the school district covers Hillsboro, Scholls, Reedville, North Plains, West Union,...
in 1950. The school is about three miles northwest of Farmington on OR 219. The bell in front of Farmington View originally hung at Laurel School.
Farmington was the birthplace of William G. Hare
William G. Hare
William G. Hare was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, he grew up in the Hillsboro area where he later practiced law. A Republican, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislature, as had his father William D. Hare...
, Oregon state senator and representative.
See also
- Historic ferries in OregonHistoric ferries in OregonHistoric ferries in Oregon are water transport ferries that operated in Oregon Country, Oregon Territory, and the state of Oregon, United States...
- Stark's Twin Oaks AirparkStark's Twin Oaks AirparkStark's Twin Oaks Airpark , is a privately owned public use airport located 4 miles south of the city of Hillsboro in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The single runway slopes down to the south, so takeoffs are normally to the south, whereas landings are to the north, or uphill. Fuel is...
- Steamboats of the Willamette RiverSteamboats of the Willamette RiverThe Willamette River flows northwards down the Willamette Valley until it meets the Columbia River at a point 101 miles from the Pacific Ocean, in the U.S. state of Oregon.-Route and early operations:...
External links
- Historic images of Farmington from Salem Public Library
- Images of old Farmington School from flickr