Blue River, Oregon

Blue River is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 126 along the McKenzie River, between the communities of Finn Rock and Rainbow. It is in the Willamette National Forest, where the Blue River empties into the McKenzie. The community was named after the Blue River, which was named for the striking blue color that apparently comes from its rocky bed.[1] Five miles northeast of the community, a dam on the Blue River forms the Blue River Reservoir.[2]

For the river, see Blue River (Oregon).
Blue River, Oregon
Unincorporated community
Post office in Blue River
Blue River
Blue River
Coordinates: 44°9′17″N 122°20′24″W
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CountyLane
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
97413
Area code(s)458 and 541

History

The area was first settled in the late 19th century by the Sparks family.[3] Gold was discovered in the Blue River area in 1863, but by 1912, most gold mining activity had ended.[3] The ore was low grade and the local stamp mills have not operated in many years.[1] Records show, however, that the Lucky Boy Mine had extracted more than $1 million from the Blue River Mining District during the brief gold rush.[3] Samuel Sparks and his sons laid out the town of Blue River in 1900 as part of 320 acres (1.3 km2) they had acquired.[3] Blue River post office was established in 1886.[1]

The community's volunteer Frances O'Brien Memorial Library was founded in 1928. The library has no running water, does not set due dates on loans, and was originally left unlocked 24 hours a day.[4]

The structures in Blue River were destroyed by the Holiday Farm Fire on September 8, 2020.[5]

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Blue River has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[6]

References
  1. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-87595-277-1.
  2. "Blue River Reservoir". Willamette National Forest. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  3. "Nimrod to Blue River". mckenzie.orenews.com. Visitor Guides. McKenzie River Reflections. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  4. Keefer, Bob (January 12, 2003). "Check it out". The Register Guard. Eugene, Oregon. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  5. "Vida and Blue River communities 'total loss'". Eugene Weekly. KEZI News. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  6. "Climate summary for Blue River, Oregon". WeatherBase.
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