Shaniko, city in Oregon, USA
Shaniko is a small town in Wasco County, Oregon, founded as a trading hub for wool, grain, and livestock. The town features historic buildings including the Italianate-style Shaniko Hotel, old warehouses, storefronts with false fronts, and a large wooden water tower fed from nearby canyons.
The town began around 1900 when the Columbia Southern Railroad arrived, making it a major shipping point. It thrived for about 10 years as the world's wool capital before new rail lines and fires in 1910 and 1911 caused its decline.
The town's name comes from how the local Wasco people pronounced an early settler's name. Walking through, you notice wooden buildings and false fronts that reflect the early settlement period.
The town is located on Highway 97 in southern Wasco County and is easily accessible by car. Visitors can explore historic buildings on quiet walks, find a small museum, and browse antique shops.
At its peak, the town was known as the second-largest shipping center in the US after Portland, handling massive quantities of wool daily. Today, well-kept historic buildings and annual festivals like the Wool Gathering keep that past relevance alive.
Location: Wasco County
Inception: 1901
Elevation above the sea: 1,019 m
Website: http://shaniko.com
GPS coordinates: 45.00306,-120.75306
Latest update: December 19, 2025 07:59
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