Wonder, Oregon

Wonder is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States, on U.S. Route 199 about 13 miles west of Grants Pass and 8 miles east of Selma.[1] It is within the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest.

The town apparently got its name in 1902 after John T. Roberson opened a general store two miles south of Wilderville, and residents wondered how he would get enough business to make a living as the area did not have many settlers.[2][3][4] Roberson began to call his store "Wonder Store".[4] Wonder post office was established in 1903 and Roberson was the first postmaster.[4] In 1915 Wonder had a population of 25, and a school that was also used as a church.[2] As of 1916 there was a Wonder station on the California and Oregon Coast Railroad line here.[4] Sometime in the 1920s, the community moved two miles further west up Slate Creek.[4] The post office closed in 1959.[4]

A private airfield, Wonder Airport, is located nearby.

References
  1. "Wonder". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  2. Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon (2nd ed.). Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 242. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
  3. Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Oregon (1940). Oregon: End of the Trail. American Guide Series. Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort. p. 359. OCLC 4874569.
  4. McArthur, Lewis A.; McArthur, Lewis L. (2003) [1928]. Oregon Geographic Names (7th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 1055–1056. ISBN 978-0875952772.


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