USBGN. It is not possible to tell at this time if Broughton had his adventure at the point or at the rock not far away, but the latter is more likely. Wasco, Sherman County. Wasco owes its inception to the fact that the old Oregon emigrant trail and the road south from the Columbia River, intersected at this point. Despite its early establishment, it was not incorporated until 1898. It was named for Wasco County, in which it was formerly situated, before Sherman County was formed. The first post office in the locality was called Spanish Hollow. It was established March 2, 1870, with Jesse Eaton postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Wasco on March 17, 1882. Wasco, Wasco County. The postal history of Wasco County is complicated by the fact that when the county was established, it was of magnificent proportions. It is difficult to localize some of these early offices, as they may have been anywhere in eastern Oregon. Many are not shown on available maps. Some of the names are in duplicate. A post office called Wasco was in operation in Wasco County from August 26, 1868, until June 3, 1872, with William D. Gilliam postmaster. This office was apparently not for the locality now named Wasco, in Sherman County. It was a few miles east of what is now Dufur, and it was of course named for the county.
WASCO COUNTY. When Wasco County was created, January 11, 1854, it comprised all the area of Oregon Territory between the Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains, an empire in itself. By successive takings for other states and counties, the land area of Wasco County has been reduced to 2387 square miles. Wasco is the modern name for a tribe of Indians. Early writers used the name in many forms. Ross in Fur Hunters of the Far West, volume I, page 186, speaks of the Wiss-co-pam tribe. Lee and Frost in Ten Years in Oregon, page 176, give Was-co-pam. For references to various spellings, see Handbook of American Indians, volume II, page 918. About the time of the immigrations white people shortened the name to Wasco. The Wasco Indians were a Chinook tribe, formerly living on the south side of the Columbia River, in the vicinity of The Dalles. The name Wasco is said to be derived from the Wasco word wacq-o, meaning a cup or small bowl made of horn. The Handbook of American Indians, volume II, page 917, says this referred to a cup-shaped rock near the main village of the tribe, but Dr. William C. McKay, in an article in The Dalles Mountaineer, May 28, 1869, says that the name Wasco meant makers of basins, and that the literal meaning of the word was horn basin. Some of these basins were fantastically carved. Both of the explanations may be correct. Dr. McKay says that the locality of the city of The Dalles was called Win-quatt, signifying a place surrounded by bold cliffs.
WASHBURN BUTTE, Linn County. This butte is in the southwest part of section 18, township 13 south, range 2 west. It was named for James A. Washburn, a pioneer landowner nearby. It is about three miles north of Brownsville.
WASHINGTON, Yamhill County. There have been but two post offices in Oregon using the name of the first president. The first of these offices was known as Washington Butte. Its short history will be found under the name LEBANON. This post office, strictly speaking, was named for George Washington indirectly, because it was named for a nearby geo
