Ballston is an unincorporated community, in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is southeast of Sheridan and southwest of Amity. It is considered a ghost town.[1]
Ballston | |
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Unincorporated community | |
Grain elevator in Ballston | |
Coordinates: 45.0667828°N 123.3209383°W / 45.0667828; -123.3209383 | |
Country | United States |
State | Oregon |
County | Polk |
Founded | 1878 |
Founded by | Isaac Ball |
Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
ZIP code | 97378 |
Area codes | 503 and 971 |
Ballston was founded in 1878 by pioneer Isaac Ball on his donation land claim.[2] Ball and his family immigrated from England, and arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1848.[3] Ball named the town "Ballsville", and it had a post office of the same name.[2] The name of the post office was changed to Ballston in 1880.[2] The post office was discontinued in 1953 when it became a rural station of Sheridan; it was discontinued all together in 1969.[2]
Ballston was a station on the Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad (DS&GR), later the Oregonian Railway. Isaac Ball was an early promoter of the DS&GR when it was originally a narrow gauge railway line.[4] The line changed ownership again to become part of the Southern Pacific Railroad; as of 2009, Ballston is a station of the Portland and Western Railroad.[5]
In 1915, the community had a population of 104, a public school, two churches, and three fraternal lodges.[6]
The 1855 Ballston School building, no longer in use as a school, is thought to be the oldest school building still standing in Polk County or perhaps the entire state.[1][6] Ballston County Park is located in the community and includes the school.[1]
The Ballston Community Club meets in a newer former schoolhouse originally moved from Airlie, another community on the railroad line.[7] The Community Club hosted an annual turkey dinner for many years.[7]
Municipalities and communities of Polk County, Oregon, United States | ||
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County seat: Dallas | ||
Cities | ![]() | |
CDPs |
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Unincorporated communities |
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Indian reservation |
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Ghost towns |
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Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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