Willowcreek, Oregon

Willowcreek is an unincorporated village in Malheur County, Oregon, United States.[1] It is about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Vale on U.S. Route 26.[2] The village has a combined store and café, and the region's elementary school.[3] Willowcreek is located at 44°06′53″N 117°21′52″W / 44.114605°N 117.364349°W / 44.114605; -117.364349. Today Willowcreek has a Vale mailing address, although the nearest post office is in nearby Jamieson.[4]

The village took its name from Willow Creek, a prominent stream of the county that is a tributary of the Malheur River.[5] The Union Pacific (UP) station here was named Lancaster (or Lancaster Station) after Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[1][5] The station was on UP's Brogan Line, which was removed by UP.[5] It was named by Brogan namesake D. M. Brogan, who was born in the Pennsylvania city.[5] Willowcreek post office had been established in 1937 but was discontinued by 1980.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Willowcreek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  2. ^ Oregon Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. p. 79. ISBN 0-89933-347-8.
  3. ^ "Chamber Business Directory". Vale Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  4. ^ "Willowcreek Elementary School". Vale School District. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 558, 1045. ISBN 978-0875952772.