Official Name: | Alpine, Oregon |
Settlement Type: | City |
Image Alt: | Alpine Market and fire station |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Oregon |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Benton |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Est: | 258 |
Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
Population Total: | 164 |
Timezone: | Pacific |
Utc Offset: | -8 |
Timezone Dst: | Pacific |
Utc Offset Dst: | -7 |
Coordinates: | 44.3303°N -123.3592°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
Postal Code: | 97456[1] |
Area Code: | 458 and 541 |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Alpine is an unincorporated rural community and census-designated place in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is west of Monroe off Oregon Route 99W. As of the 2023 Census population estimates, the population was 258.[2]
Alpine was so named because it is on the top of one of the foothills of the Central Oregon Coast Range.[3] It is noted that the "situation is not particularly alpine in character".[3] Alpine School operated for several years before there was a settlement in the location, thus the community took its name from the school.[3] In 1908, the Corvallis and Alsea River Railway Company began construction of a line that ended in the settlement of Alpine when funding ran out.[3] The community has burned three times since its heyday in the early 1900s.[4] A post office was established in 1912 and operated until 1976.[3] Alpine now has a Monroe mailing address. Alpine Elementary School closed in 2003.[5] When the Alpine Market closed in 2004, the Alpine Tavern (built in 1936) started selling groceries.[5] In 2005, a vintage photograph of the tavern was featured in a Miller Beer advertisement, and the market was due to be razed.[5]
As of December 2023, the Alpine Tavern was still a thriving business and community hub, preserving area history. The town is often visited by passersby on their way to either Alsea Falls or the Oregon Coast.
Alpine has a small community park called Alpine Chapel Park. It is an approximately 4-acre area. It has picnic tables, a swing set, and a shelter. It is maintained by volunteers. This is a great place to bring the family and dog.
Alpine is on the Benton County Scenic Loop, a scenic driving route.[6]
To the west of Alpine is the Woodhall Vineyard, a research vineyard operated by Oregon State University.[7]