Bethel, Polk County, Oregon

Bethel is considered a ghost town as the only remaining structure is a school,[2] now serving as a church.

[2] Bethel is a common name for churches as it is a Hebrew word that means "house of god".

[3][4] Burnett later rode circuit to the surrounding area, preaching in nearby communities, including Rickreall.

[2] Pioneer Jesse Applegate, who was a friend of Burnett's from Missouri and who traveled in the same wagon train, was on the college's board of trustees.

[2] The town was located on the wagon road that went between Amity and Monmouth, but when a new narrow-gauge railway line was built in the area, through Amity, Dallas and Independence, it bypassed Bethel and instead was routed through McCoy, a decision which contributed to Bethel's decline.