Lookingglass, Oregon

History

The valley was named in 1846 by surveyor Hoy Flournoy, who said the beautiful green grass of the valley reflected light almost as well as a mirror. Flournoy later returned to settle in the area.

The Lookingglass Store, built in 1852, was once the terminus for the Oakland to Lookingglass stage and freight road. It was also the beginning of the Coos Bay Wagon Road. Today the store continues to serve as the hub of the community and is the oldest business in Douglas County. Lookingglass also has a school, a grange hall, a church and a fire station. Lookingglass post office closed in 1942.

In the 1970s, Lookingglass, population 40 at the time, received national media attention for installing a two-horse parking meter, a telephone booth, and a fire hydrant. Lookingglass became a minor tourist attraction. When the fire hydrant was dedicated in 1971, it was accompanied by two manhole covers, which covered nothing, donated by a Eugene, Oregon iron company and the mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

David Brinkley anchored his segment of the NBC Nightly News from the steps of the Lookingglass Store in 1974, while passing through Oregon to do a series of short news stories.

The James Wimer Octagonal Barn near Lookingglass was built in 1892 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Lookingglass is located in west-central Douglas County in the valley of Lookingglass Creek, a tributary of the South Umpqua River. The community is 9 mi southwest of Roseburg, the county seat, via Lookingglass Road.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Lookingglass CDP has an area of 30.0 sqkm, all of it land.

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Lookingglass has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

The USDA Plant Hardiness map lists Lookingglass as being in zone 8b.

Demographics

Education

Lookingglass Elementary School is part of the Winston-Dillard School District. It was founded in 1898 and currently serves grades kindergarten through six.

References

References

1. {{GNIS. 2611750
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lookingglass CDP, Oregon". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
3. Friedman, Ralph. (1992). "In Search of Western Oregon". [[Caxton Press (United States).
4. McArthur, Lewis A.. (2003). "[[Oregon Geographic Names]]". [[Oregon Historical Society Press]].
5. Levings, Debbie. (September 12, 2008). "Lookingglass Store still functions as center of community". [[The News-Review]].
6. (July 13, 1971). "Town Celebrates Phone Booth". [[The Evening Independent]].
7. (December 22, 1971). "Lookingglass decorates for Christmas". [[The Register-Guard]].
8. (November 22, 1970). "Lone Parking Meter Is Top Tourist Lure In an Oregon Town". [[The New York Times]].
9. (September 27, 1971). "Two-Horse Parking Meter Gets Company". [[The Evening Independent]].
10. Work Projects Administration. (1940). "Oregon: The End of the Trail". [[Binfords & Mort]].
11. (2011-06-06). "Oregon National Register List". Oregon Parks & Recreation Department.
12. (1985-10-31). ["National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination"]({{NRHP url). National Park Service.
13. [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=620553&cityname=Lookingglass%2C+Oregon%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Lookingglass, Oregon]
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
15. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
16. "Lookingglass School".