Camp Polk was a former army camp in the U.S. state of Oregon that was established in Deschutes County in 1865. [1] It was a post of the District of Oregon. One of nine camps created during a time of conflict between settlers and Native Americans, it was located three miles northeast of the present-day city of Sisters. [2] The camp was intended to house troops who would protect settlers on the Santiam Wagon Road from Indian attack. [1] Part of Company A, a group of volunteer soldiers from the Willamette Valley under the command of Captain Charles La Follette, were stationed at the post. [2] The camp was named for Polk County, which was the home of most of the soldiers and their captain. [3] The troops received orders before winter in 1865 to leave the camp. [2] A portion of the troops remained at the post until the spring of 1866 when Camp Polk was abandoned. [1] [2]
Later the area was homesteaded by the Hindman family. [3] Today part of the former area of Camp Polk is preserved by the Deschutes Basin Land Trust as the Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. [3] The Hindmans' 1871 barn on the preserve is Deschutes County's oldest structure. [3]
