Oregon Town’s Wildly Weird Name Was Picked Because of Ear Surgery Myth
Oregon's Weirdest Town Name Has A Unique Origin
What's in a name you say? One little Oregon town right next to Milton-Freewater has a unique name and there is a myth about how the town received its name.
You might blink and miss the little town of Helix Oregon.
Helix Oregon is located in Umatilla County and about 45 miles away from Tri-Cities Washington if you take Highway 12 through the Wallula Junction, you'll run right into the little town.
Helix Oregon was founded in 1880 and has a total population of 200 residents according to the 2020 census.
The Helix School District is the biggest employer and the town is known for dryland farming.
Helix Oregon hosts its own yearly rodeo on Memorial Day weekend and an annual Wheatstock music festival in August.
After doing a little research, what stands out about Helix is the name of the town.
Was An Oregon Town Named After A Part Of The Ear?
Helix was originally named Oxford but according to legend or myth, the town planners changed the name to Helix after a resident had ear surgery.
Helix is a geometry term but also a part of the ear.
No one knows for sure but according to the entry on Wikipedia, Author Lewis A. McArthur who published a book on Oregon town names doubts the story.
I guess we'll never know for sure the origin of Helix Oregon's name but it does make for a fascinating conversation.
If you want to learn more about Helix Oregon, check out their city page here.