Pittsburg

Oregon's ghost towns are timber camps and high-desert gold strikes, preserved by dry air and long distances.

Pittsburg is an unincorporated community in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. Pittsburg is located on the Nehalem River near its confluence with the East Fork Nehalem River. The Scappoose-Vernonia road and the St. Helens-Pittsburg road join Oregon Route 47 near Pittsburg. Pittsburg's elevation is 584 feet (178 m). Pittsburg was named by early area resident Peter Brous, who settled there in 1879 and built a sawmill and a gristmill. Brous named the community for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, having formerly lived in that state.

The on-the-ground condition of Pittsburg is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Pittsburg is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Pittsburg is roughly 45.9008, -123.1511 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.