Kent

Situated amid the rolling grain fields of southern Sherman County, Kent is another Oregon community profoundly affected by railroads. When the Columbia Southern Railroad branch line reached Kent and Shaniko in 1900, residents moved the town and post office from its original town site to meet the rail line. By 1905, the population reached 250. Over the decades, Kent has kept its post office and zip code but has lost most of its population, which sat at 67 in 2018.

A grain elevator next to a paved road. Storm clouds in the sky.

A grain elevator in the ghost town of Kent. (Oregon State Archives, 2016) Get a high resolution copy of the grain elevator from the Oregon Scenic Images Collection.

An old building with a Pepsi sign hanging over the front door.

An old cafe building in Kent along Highway 97. (Oregon State Archives, 2019) Get a high resolution copy of the building from the Oregon Scenic Images Collection.

Old building with pealing paint and rotted roof. An "Orange Crush" drink sign hangs on the roof.

An old gas station along Highway 97 in Kent. (Oregon State Archives, 2016) Get a high resolution copy of the gas station from the Oregon Scenic Images Collection.

Tall grass and weeds along a dirt path leads to a gate. Over the gate is a sign reading "Ken Cemetery" made of wood.

The entrance to the Kent Cemetery. (Oregon State Archives, 2011) Get a high resolution copy of the cemetery entrance from the Oregon Scenic Images Collection.

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