| Ballston | |
| Coordinates: | 45.0667°N -123.3208°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Oregon |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Polk County |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1878 |
| Founder: | Isaac Ball |
| Elevation Ft: | 184 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 97378 |
| Area Codes: | 503 and 971 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 1162825 |
Ballston is an unincorporated community, in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is southeast of Sheridan and southwest of Amity. It is considered a ghost town.[1]
Ballston was founded in 1878 by pioneer Isaac Ball on his donation land claim.[2] Ball and his family immigrated from England, and arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1848.[3] Ball named the town "Ballsville", and it had a post office of the same name.[2] The name of the post office was changed to Ballston in 1880.[2] The post office was discontinued in 1953 when it became a rural station of Sheridan; it was discontinued all together in 1969.[2]
Ballston was a station on the Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad (DS&GR), later the Oregonian Railway. Isaac Ball was an early promoter of the DS&GR when it was originally a narrow gauge railway line.[4] The line changed ownership again to become part of the Southern Pacific Railroad; as of 2009, Ballston is a station of the Portland and Western Railroad.[5]
In 1915, the community had a population of 104, a public school, two churches, and three fraternal lodges.[6]
The 1855 Ballston School building, no longer in use as a school, is thought to be the oldest school building still standing in Polk County or perhaps the entire state.[1] [6] Ballston County Park is located in the community and includes the school.[1]
The Ballston Community Club meets in a newer former schoolhouse originally moved from Airlie, another community on the railroad line.[7] The Community Club hosted an annual turkey dinner for many years.[7]