Shaniko

State: Oregon County: Wasco County Founded: 1900 Peak Population: 600

Shaniko was the 'Wool Capital of the World' in 1903, shipping 2,229 tons of wool worth $3 million. When the railroad terminus, it served 20,000 square miles of sheep and wheat country. In 1911, a new railroad bypassed Shaniko—it never recovered.

Quick Facts

  • Shipped more wool than any town in America in 1903
  • Largest wool warehouse in Oregon
  • Recognized as ghost town at Oregon Centennial in 1959
  • Name derived from founder Scherneckau's name

Location

Address: Shaniko, Wasco County, Oregon

Coordinates: 45.0036, -120.7508