Hampton Buttes Explained

Hampton Buttes
Country:United States
Subdivision1:Oregon
Subdivision2 Type:Region
Subdivision3 Type:Districts
Topo Map:Hampton Butte, Hampton, West of Hampton, Long Barn
Topo Maker:USGS
Highest:Hampton Butte
Elevation Ft:6352
Coordinates:43.7744°N -120.2822°W
Map:Oregon
Map Size:220

Hampton Buttes is a small range of mountains or hills in the U.S. state of Oregon. The range lies mostly in Crook County but extends south and west into Deschutes County in Central Oregon near the unincorporated community of Hampton. U.S. Route 20, an east–west highway, skirts the range to the south. The upper South Fork Crooked River flows north along the eastern base of the range.[1]

The highest peak in the range is Hampton Butte, elevation 6352feet above sea level. The peak, the range, and the unincorporated community of Hampton or Hampton Station, were named for a local resident, Joe Hampton, who moved from near Eugene to this area in 1870.[2]

The Bureau of Land Management oversees two wilderness study areas (WSA) at Hampton Buttes. WSAs are public lands under consideration by the U.S. Congress for wilderness protection. Hampton Butte WSA covers 10600acres, while Cougar Well WSA, further south, covers 17315acres.[3] The BLM also oversees a rockhounding area at Hampton Buttes that is known for its petrified wood.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: United States Topographic Map . United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper .
  2. Book: McArthur, Lewis A. . McArthur. Lewis L. . Oregon Geographic Names. 7th . Oregon Historical Society Press . 2003 . 1928. Portland, Oregon . 441. 0-87595-277-1.
  3. Web site: Hampton Butte & Cougar Well Wilderness Study Areas. Bureau of Land Management. PDF. December 5, 2015.
  4. Web site: Rockhounding and Other Recreational or Hobby Collecting. Bureau of Land Management. December 5, 2015.