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The town was named for C. H. Whitney, a pioneer landowner in the county. 
Today only a few dilapidated buildings identify this old logging town. One of the "Ghost Towns" in Baker County in Eastern Oregon. Whitney is located on the Sumpter Valley Railroad line in the scenic Information follows from Oregon's Golden Years by Miles F. Potter. The Oregon Lumber Company constructed its third large sawmill here. With the new mill in operation and ore shipments from the mines arriving every day, Whitney began its boom. A. W. King became the first mayor. The first school was taught by Lelia Thomas. Whitney received its post office in 1901; Austin Craig became the first postmaster. Whitney's newspaper stated that "you can judge the prosperity of a Western town by the kind and number of its saloons." Whitney had four, all doing a land-office business. The local trade was largely loggers, miners, and stockmen; however, the trains and stages brought eastern capitalists seeking investments, promoters, drummers, merchants, saloon-keepers, gamblers, and a few females looking for an opportunity to shake some gold dust from the pockets of the miners. The little town was proud of its two hotels, the Sumpter Valley operated by Mollie O'Farrel and the Whitney run by Mrs. J. A. Jollison. The two general stores carried everything from beans to blasting powder; one was operated by Miller and Draper, the other by Dorfman and Rosenthal. The Mint Saloon had a billiard and pool parlor. The Gen Saloon was owned by Riley Thompson, the Club Saloon by S. B. Saunders, and the Bonanza by Jim Warren, and a man named Schepster. J. W. Copeland ran the Whitney meat market, advertising "meat, poultry, fish, and game in season." There were blacksmith shops owned by Jacobs and Hoffman. One advertised "We repair everything from a needle to aan anchor." The other proclaimed that "we remove corns from horses feet "free" to our customers." George C. Carter ran an assay office. John Totten operated the barbershop and charged twenty-five cents for a shave, haircut, or a hot bath in the back room. The Whitney Forwarding Company sold hay, grain, and flour. There were two newspapers and two livery stables. Many miners wintered in Whitney. When the snow melted in the high mountains they were on their way again in search for gold. Many carloads of ore were shipped to the smelter from this location. For a period of ten years it was a boomtown, but when the mines slowed down, so did Whitney. By 1910 the population had dropped to fifty-five people, and by 1950 it had reached zero. If you would like to to this history page, 
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