Carlton

History

The origin of Carlton's name is disputed. An ex-county commissioner claims that the name was derived from Wilson Carl, whereas A. E. Bones, postmaster at Carlton, stated in a 1925 letter that it was named for John Carl Sr., at the request of R. R. Thompson. These men may have been part of the same family. Carlton post office was established in 1874, with F. J. Fryer serving as its first postmaster. Prior to the post office inside the city of Carlton, Wilson Carl owned the original post office, stagecoach stop, and blacksmith shop for the area, about west of Carlton, and his home was known as Mountain House. Wilson Carl was the original postmaster. Wilson Carl traveled with Dr. Joel Knight on the Oregon Trail to the area, as witnessed in the diary of Amelia Stewart KnigKnigWilson Carl negotiated with the railroad in Portland, Oregon, to build closer to his property. Since the original plot was over the mountain West of Carlton, it was a matter of convenience for the railroad to build where it presently is, because negotiating the mountain was not feasible. The population of Carlton expanded to become the city of Carlton, around the railroad. The city is named after Wilson Carl, and was originally called Carl's town. A few other variations of his name were used before the name became Carlton. Wilson Carl began as a pioneer carpenter/builder and shoemaker who became a wealthy land owner, who built a portion of what is now Linfield College, in McMinnville, and was founder of the Republican Party in McMinnville, County Commissioner, and, at one time owned the property that the Yamhill County Courthouse presently sits on. The original post office still exists on his original homestead and plot of land, though it has since been used as a residence for his heirs and is…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• McMinnville High School
  High · McMinnville · 2,319 students · 20.9:1 ratio
• Duniway Middle School
  Middle · McMinnville · 806 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Patton Middle School
  Middle · McMinnville · 699 students · 14:1 ratio
• Memorial Elementary School
  Elementary · McMinnville · 551 students · 19.7:1 ratio
• Chehalem Valley Middle School
  Middle · Newberg · 482 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Edwards Elementary School
  Elementary · Newberg · 473 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Columbus Elementary School
  Elementary · McMinnville · 445 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Newby Elementary School
  Elementary · McMinnville · 445 students · 14.8:1 ratio