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Austin is an unincorporated community, considered a ghost town, in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 7, near the middle fork of the John Day River in the Malheur National Forest.

Austin was named for Minot and Linda Austin, early settlers of the area.^{[1] [2]} The Austins operated a small store and hotel near the present site of Austin. Austin post office was established in 1888 and closed in 1950.^[1]

The tracks of the Sumpter Valley Railway reached Austin in 1905.^[2] The railway was built by Oregon Lumber Company and Austin became an important railroad logging community.^[3] Austin was the hub of the area until Bates, a company town of the Oregon Lumber Company,^[2] was built one mile to the west.^[3] Austin was also a supply depot for local mining towns, such as Susanville and Galena. At its height, the population was about 500 and the community had three sawmills and a hotel. As the neighboring mining towns disappeared, however, Austin also went into decline.^[4]

By 1997, there was only one business in the community, Austin House, which was a combination tavern, grocery store, restaurant and gas station.^[1] As of 1997, the owners indicated they wished to move on and put Austin House up for sale.^[1] Internet achives from 1997 indicate that the owners tried to give Austin House away in an essay contest.^[5] As of 2002, approximately less than 35 people lived within a five mile radius of Austin.^[3]

1. ^ ^{a b c d} McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Johns, Sonja. Bates-Austin Remembered (a brief history). Bates & Austin Remembered. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Galena Watershed Analysis - Supplement 2002. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
4. ^ Austin. ghosttowns.com. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
5. ^ Win a FREE TAVERN in Eastern Oregon. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 44.60278° -118.49556°
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  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

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