When the Oregon route numbering system was put in place in 1932, OR-90 ran along a two-mile spur from the Old Oregon Trail #6 (then US-30, now OR-201) to Payette, Idaho. This route connected to Idaho State Highway 52. On December 17, 1956, the Old Oregon Trail #6 was moved onto a newer alignment west of the old highway, which became the Olds Ferry-Ontario Highway #455 (OR-201). I believe that when this happened, OR-90 was changed to OR-52 to create a contiguous route with ID-52. It definitely was changed by 1958.