Niagara County Park
Encyclopedia
Niagara County Park is a park located in the U.S. state
of Oregon
on the North Santiam River
, 40 miles (64 km) east of Salem
on the North Santiam Highway, Oregon Route 22. It is 7 miles (11 km) east of Mill City
. The park protects the ruins of a rubble dam and a variety of indigenous plant species. Walking trails include Powder House, Fern Glen and Wildflower Loop.
The area acquired its name in September 1890 when a townsite
was plat
ted followed by the establishment of the Niagara
post office in October of that year. In the late 1890s, a rubble masonry dam was started. Its purpose was to power a mill intended to make paper from straw. At stages, the river flowed through a cleft only 4.25 feet (1.3 m) wide. Difficulties in constructing the dam caused the paper mill project to be abandoned. Hydroelectric development continued at intervals, but floods and erosion caused the project to be abandoned in 1912 after approximately $100,000 had been spent.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Niagara had a large store, hotel, numerous dwellings, and a tavern. It was briefly notable as the location of the smallest post office in the United States at 6 feet by 8 feet. The post office was discontinued June 14, 1934.
s, and the wider downstream valley populated with villages and small farms. Adjoining land north of the park is privately held. Land south of the park is managed by the Oregon State Board of Forestry.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
on the North Santiam River
North Santiam River
The North Santiam River is a tributary of the Santiam River in western Oregon in the United States. It drains of the Cascade Range on the eastern side of the Willamette Valley east of Salem....
, 40 miles (64 km) east of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
on the North Santiam Highway, Oregon Route 22. It is 7 miles (11 km) east of Mill City
Mill City, Oregon
Mill City is a city in Linn and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 1,537 at the 2000 census. It is on the North Santiam River, downstream from Detroit Lake....
. The park protects the ruins of a rubble dam and a variety of indigenous plant species. Walking trails include Powder House, Fern Glen and Wildflower Loop.
History
Townsite
A townsite is a legal subdivision of land for the development of a town or community. In the historical development of the United States, Canada, and other former British colonial nations, the filing of a townsite plat or plan was often the first legal act in the establishment of a new town or...
was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted followed by the establishment of the Niagara
Niagara, Oregon
Niagara is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is the site of the historic Niagara County Park, the first park to be created by the Marion County Park and Recreation Commission. The park consists of a historic dam, begun in 1890 and abandoned in 1912....
post office in October of that year. In the late 1890s, a rubble masonry dam was started. Its purpose was to power a mill intended to make paper from straw. At stages, the river flowed through a cleft only 4.25 feet (1.3 m) wide. Difficulties in constructing the dam caused the paper mill project to be abandoned. Hydroelectric development continued at intervals, but floods and erosion caused the project to be abandoned in 1912 after approximately $100,000 had been spent.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Niagara had a large store, hotel, numerous dwellings, and a tavern. It was briefly notable as the location of the smallest post office in the United States at 6 feet by 8 feet. The post office was discontinued June 14, 1934.
Geography
The park marks the transition from the narrow upstream canyon, the site of Big Cliff and Detroit DamDetroit Dam
Detroit Dam was completed in 1953 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on the North Santiam River between Linn County and Marion County, Oregon, in the Cascades...
s, and the wider downstream valley populated with villages and small farms. Adjoining land north of the park is privately held. Land south of the park is managed by the Oregon State Board of Forestry.