The Effects of the Railroads On Small Town Population Changes: Linn County, Oregon
Throughout the westward movement in the United States transportation was directly related to settlement. Most of the trans-Mississippi West experienced periods of rapid population growth as routes of transportation and communication were opened. The Willamette Valley was no exception. Presently incorporating nine counties and 2200 square miles, the valley has experienced a series of population redistributions associated with improvements in transportation facilities. Positive and negative effects of railroad transportation development on town populations in one representative county of the Willamette Valley are the subjects of this paper. Population losses are emphasized, since the results of population increases are known to most residents of the Pacific states. Comparatively little has been written about the causes of population loss. The resulting ghost towns and, sometimes, cultural relics, are worthy of the interest and consideration of local historians, cultural geographers, and curious citizens.