Loading AI tools
Isolated hill in Oregon, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spencer Butte is a prominent landmark in Lane County, Oregon, United States, described in the National Geodetic Survey as "a prominent timbered butte with a bare rocky summit" on the southern edge of Eugene, with an elevation of 2,058 feet (627 m).[1] Spencer Butte is accessible from Spencer Butte Park and has several hiking trails to the summit.[2] The tree cover on the butte is predominantly Douglas fir; however, the butte is treeless at its summit. The butte is the tallest point visible when looking south from downtown Eugene.
Spencer Butte | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 43°58′59″N 123°05′45″W | |
Location | South of Eugene, Oregon, USA |
Range | Cascade Volcanoes |
Part of | Little Butte Volcanics[1] |
Age | approximately 23 to 30 million years |
Formed by | Intrusion of lava through sandstone base, and subsequent erosion of sandstone |
Orogeny | Phanerozoic orogen |
Geology | Butte |
The butte is called Champ-a te or Cham-o-tee by the native Kalapuya, meaning rattlesnake.[3]
One popular theory is that Spencer Butte was named for a young Englishman of the Hudson's Bay Company named Spencer, who was said to have been killed by the Kalapuya after climbing the hill alone.[4] Another, less popular theory holds that the butte was named after Secretary of War John C. Spencer in July 1845 by Elijah White.[2][3] Spencer was no longer Secretary of War by 1845, however.
Spencer Butte is volcanic in origin, potentially being a volcanic plug.