Dale is an unincorporated community in Grant County, Oregon, United States.[1] It is located on U.S. Route 395 within the Umatilla National Forest about 17 miles south of Ukiah.[2] It is near the Umatilla-Grant County border just south of the 45th parallel north.[2]
The first post office at this locale was established in 1887 and named Dorman after James W. Dorman, the first postmaster.[3] The name was changed to Dale in 1891.[3] The office may have been moved south from its original location in Umatilla County and it was shown as being in Grant County by 1903.[3] According to the compiler of Oregon Geographic Names, who did not think that the local terrain resembled a dale, "The name Dale as applied to this locality may have had a significance other than topographic."[3] Mail for Dale is now handled by the Ukiah post office, ZIP code 97880.[4]
In 1940, Dale had a service station and store that still serves the community today.[5] [6] Dale Ranger Station was open by 1911 and closed sometime before 2008.[7] [8]
