Donald
Marion County, 97020
Donald is on the main line of the Oregon Electric Railway, but that main line fell into disuse and the I-5 Freeway passed several miles to the east and the electricity lines have long since been removed. The Oregon Electric Railway provided passenger service between Portland and Eugene. Donald had an important electric power station, the remnants of which are still visible today. This rail line is still used by trains servicing agricultural interests on the west side of the valley. Donald also is the site of old red clay deposits which were suitable for making red tile and red clay pottery. One old plant still stands along side the rail track, but is now used for a straw processing center. The most prosperous looking enterprise in town is the Wilco Farmers plant which supplies farmers in the area. If you by some chance end up in Donald you might try the Donald Cafe. They produce a good basic meal at a good basic price. Fate passed Donald by again about ten years ago when the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde proposed building the Spirit Mountain casino there. Alas the politics got too hot so the Tribes built the most successful Indian casino in the state (or maybe the United States) in Grande Ronde. Stupid politics. The roads to Grande Ronde are inadequate to meet the demand so traffic snarls are the norm. I-5, the largest freeway in the state is about three miles east of Donald.