Van Duzer Corridor AVA

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is in northwestern Oregon, 10 miles (16 km) west of Salem in Polk County. The Refuge consists of 1,173 acres (4.75 km²) of cropland, which provide forage for wintering geese, 300 acres (1.2 km²) of forests, 550 acres (2.2 km²) of grasslands, and 500 acres (2.0 km²) of shallow water seasonal wetlands and 35 acres (0.14 km²) of permanent open water. In 1965, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge was created to help ensure some of the original habitat remained for species preservation. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Situated in open farmland near the eastern foothills of the Oregon Coast Range with the broad Willamette Valley and the Cascade Range to the east, elevations range from 185 to 414 feet (56 to 126 m) MSL. The Willamette Valley, with its mild, rainy winter climate, is an ideal environment for wintering waterfowl. The valley was once a rich mix of wildlife habitats with extensive wetlands, meandering stream channels and vast seasonal marshes. The valley is now a mix of farmland and growing cities, with few areas remaining for wildlife.

Mount Baldy is a 414 foot (126 m) hill located within the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Polk County, Oregon. A short trail loop operated by the wildlife refuge leads to an observation deck on the summit.

Rickreall ( RIK-ree-awl) is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rickreall as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name. The population of the CDP was 76 at the 2020 census. Rickreall is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. Rickreall Creek runs along the community's southern edge.

Crowley is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is located east of Oregon Route 99W, about four miles north of Rickreall.Crowley was a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad between Derry and McCoy, established in 1892 as "Crowleys" and named for Solomon Kimsey Crowley. Crowley, who was born in Missouri in 1833, came west in 1852 and settled in the Oak Grove area of Polk County in 1855. The "s" was dropped from the name of the station in 1898. The rail line is now owned by the Portland and Western Railroad, but Crowley is no longer a station. The Crowley post office operated intermittently from 1881 to 1904. There was later a Crowley post office established in Malheur County.

Dallas is a city and the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,854 at the 2020 census.Dallas is along Rickreall Creek, about 15 miles (24 km) west of Salem, at an elevation of 325 feet (99 m) above sea level. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.

West Valley Hospital (WVH) is a 6-bed medical facility in Dallas, Oregon. Opened in 1907 as Dallas Hospital, it is operated by Salem Health, which also operates Salem Hospital. WVH is the only hospital in Polk County.

Dallas High School is a public high school in Dallas, Oregon, United States.

Salt Creek is an unincorporated historic community in Polk County, Oregon, United States on Oregon Route 22 about six miles northwest of Dallas. As an early European American settlement of the Oregon Country, the cemetery at Salt Creek has graves dating back to 1847. Salt Creek, a tributary of the South Yamhill River, was named by early settlers for the salt licks found on its banks. The Salt Creek post office, named after the creek, was established in 1852 and closed in 1903. James B. Riggs, who arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail and the Meek Cutoff in 1845, was the first postmaster. Riggs previously been the first postmaster of Yoncalla, followed by Jesse Applegate.Salt Creek is where Jesse, Lindsay, and Charles Applegate first settled after arriving in Oregon. James B. Riggs was their neighbor.

Dallas School District (Dallas SD 2) is a public school district in Dallas, Oregon. The district consists of eight schools that serve Dallas and surrounding areas.

McCoy is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It was named after the landowner Isaac McCoy. Its post office was established in 1879 with James A. Sears as the postmaster, and closed in 1968.

Derry is an unincorporated locale in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is located about 10 miles west of Salem and one mile east of Rickreall.Derry was originally a station on the Southern Pacific line (now the Portland and Western). Local resident James Nesmith named it for Derry, New Hampshire, where his family once lived. In 1912, The Oregonian reported on an unsuccessful effort to change the name of the station to Loganberry. Just southeast of Derry there was a station on the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway named Derry Orchard.

Ballston is an unincorporated community, in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is southeast of Sheridan and southwest of Amity. It is considered a ghost town.Ballston was founded in 1878 by pioneer Isaac Ball on his donation land claim. Ball and his family immigrated from England, and arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail in 1848. Ball named the town "Ballsville", and it had a post office of the same name. The name of the post office was changed to Ballston in 1880. The post office was discontinued in 1953 when it became a rural station of Sheridan; it was discontinued all together in 1969.Ballston was a station on the Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad (DS&GR), later the Oregonian Railway. Isaac Ball was an early promoter of the DS&GR when it was originally a narrow gauge railway line. The line changed ownership again to become part of the Southern Pacific Railroad; as of 2009, Ballston is a station of the Portland and Western Railroad.In 1915, the community had a population of 104, a public school, two churches, and three fraternal lodges.The 1855 Ballston School building, no longer in use as a school, is thought to be the oldest school building still standing in Polk County or perhaps the entire state. Ballston County Park is located in the community and includes the school.The Ballston Community Club meets in a newer former schoolhouse originally moved from Airlie, another community on the railroad line. The Community Club hosted an annual turkey dinner for many years.