BOLAN CREEK, Josephine County. At one time maps showed this stream, together with a lake and a mountain nearby, as Bolland and Bollon. The Forest Service investigated the spelling and recommended Bolan, which was adopted by the USBGN. It is said to be an Indian name, but the compiler has been unable to learn about its origin. These features are between the Oregon Caves and the California line.
BOLON ISLAND, Douglas County. Bolon Island is in the Umpqua River north of Reedsport. This island has apparently had several names including Bone, Bowline and Dewars, but Warren P. Reed of Reedsport says that there is no doubt but that it was originally called after a settler by the name of Bolon. The USBGN has adopted the form Bolon. Bolt, Jackson County. Bolt is on the south side of Rogue River about six miles east of the west boundary of Jackson County, at the point where the Pacific Highway crosses Foots Creek. This place together with Bolt Mountain on the Applegate River about seven miles southwest of Grants Pass, was named for John Bolt, a member of the firm of Kubli and Bolt, pioneer packers and merchants of southern Oregon.
BONANZA, Klamath County. Bonanza is a Spanish word meaning prosperity. This place is said to have been named because of a number of fine springs in the vicinity. Good water is always a source of prosperity in a country that needs irrigation.
BONER FLAT, Wallowa County. Boner Flat is in the Wallowa Mountains, in the east part of township 5 south, range 45 east. It bears the name of George W. Boner who ranged sheep in the vicinity about 1889. Boner Spring in township 3 north, range 45 east, is named for the same man. The spelling Bonner is wrong.
BONEYARD CREEK, Wallowa County. This stream flows into Sheep Creek in section 16, township 1 south, range 48 east. One Charles Holmes lost most of his cattle in the canyon during a hard winter in the '90s and the bleached bones became a landmark.
BONIFER, Umatilla County. Bonifer is a railroad station about two and a half miles southeast of Gibbon. It bears the name of a well-known rancher of the vicinity. The station was named in 1928.
BONITA, Lane County. Bonita is a Spanish word meaning pretty. The compiler does not know why it was applied to a Lane County post office on Brice Creek. It may have been in compliment to a girl or possibly because of a pleasing outlook. Bonita post office was established March 2, 1904, and operated until February 20, 1908. Fred W. Lee was the first postmaster. Bonita was a little to the southeast of the center of township 22 south, range 1 east.
BONITA, Washington County. This is a station on the Oregon Electric Railway a short distance south of Tigard. It was named by a Diwashington lounty: 118 local resident, Geo. W. Cassaday, who was of a romantic turn of mind and selected the Spanish word for pretty or graceful.
BONNEVILLE, Multnomah County. This is an historic spot in Oregon, and for many decades it was a popular picnic grounds for people living along the Columbia River between Portland and The Dalles. The railroad company maintained an "eating house" at Bonneville, where tired travelers paid a modest sum for all they could eat. The station was named for Captain (later Brigadier-General) Benjamin L. E. Bonneville, the hero of Washington Irving's The Adventures of Captain Bonneville. He was born in France in 1795, graduated from West Point * and pleasing oudhave been applied
