Photo byGlenn van de WielonUnsplash

Submerged towns, hidden beneath water depths, hold a mysterious allure that captures the imagination. These forgotten settlements, once flourishing with life, now lie silent and neglected.

Whether submerged by rising waters or intentionally flooded for dam projects, these towns provide a haunting glimpse into our past.

Linn City

Linn City was a town in Clackamas County, Oregon, that existed from 1843 to 1861 and was completely wiped out by the Great Flood of 1862. The city of West Linn now includes the old location of Linn City.

About Linn City - history

In 1843, Robin's Nest was established by Robert Moore not far from the banks of the Willamette River. The town's original plat covered roughly 50 acres. The settlement comprised two log homes and several tents by 1845. On December 22, 1845, Robin's Nest was renamed Linn City in honor of Missouri senator Lewis F. Linn.

Later, by 1846, fifteen dwellings had been built by the town's residents. A bar, a chair factory, a cabinet business, a gunsmith shop, and a wagon shop were also located in Linn City.

The following several years saw Linn City expand. A hotel and two general stores were among the town's establishments in 1849. Robert's son, James Moore constructed a timber mill and gristmill that same year. The mills gave the residents of Linn City at least 20 jobs. The countryside was covered in mill complexes. Docks that were approximately a mile long connected many of the mill buildings. The local newspaper, the Spectator, was established by Robert Moore in 1850, the same year the post office for the community opened.

The men of Linn City started to emigrate during the California Gold Rush in quest of gold. After a few years, the same men who had left Linn City came back, many of them wealthy. Some of the miners were so wealthy that they stopped working and started spending the cash from their gold finds. Money was exchanged swiftly as numerous gambling tables were set up across the city. These were the years that Linn City reached its apex.

225 people were living in Linn City in 1860, according to the US Census.

The Great Flood of 1862

The Great Flood of 1862, which also affected parts of British Columbia and Mexico, was the biggest flood ever recorded in California, Oregon, and Nevada.

Weeks of nonstop rain and snow that started in Oregon in November 1861 and persisted until January 1862 preceded it.

Flooded streams and swollen rivers caused havoc throughout Oregon. Numerous villages in the Willamette Valley were severely flooded, resulting in substantial damage to buildings, crops, and infrastructure.

Submerged

Over several months in 1861, Linn City's demise was unexpected. A persistent and severe downpour started in October. Although Oregon often experiences substantial rainfall in October, the rain that persisted into November was unusual. The Willamette River flooded its banks at the end of November. By December, some of the town's streets were submerged. Helpless citizens watched the water rise at a rate of about one foot per hour from their windows. The ensuing big flood completely obliterated Linn City.

House and store walls started to tremble and collapse. The strong flood picked up and carried away additional buildings. In Linn City, only three houses were still standing after the flood on December 14.

The Linn City flood did not result in any fatalities, but the damage was simply too tremendous for the community to recover. The locals packed their few remaining items that had not been submerged by the floodwaters and left the city. As a ghost town, Linn City was left to rot. Whereas Linn City formerly stood, West Linn is now there.

Photo byJo-Anne McArthuronUnsplash

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_City,_Oregon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Flood_of_1862
• https://westlinnoregon.gov/communications/history