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Clatsop County, OR
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 Established:
June 22, 1844
Population: 36,300 (2003)
Elev. at Astoria: 19'
Area: 843 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 41.9°, July 60.1°
Assessed Value: $3,711,395,660
Real Market Value: $5,174,717,996
Annual Precipitation: 66.40"
Economy: Fishing, tourism and forest products.
Incorporated Cities: Astoria | Cannon Beach | Gearhart | Seaside
| Warrenton
Points of Interest: Astoria Column, Port of Astoria, Flavel
Mansion Museum, Lewis and Clark Expedition Salt Cairn, Fort
Clatsop, Fort Stevens, Columbia River Maritime Museum.
General Information: Clatsop County was created from the
original Tuality District in 1844 and named for the Clatsop
Indians, one of the many Chinook tribes living in Oregon. The
Journals of Lewis and Clark mention the tribe. Fort Clatsop,
Lewis and Clark’s winter headquarters in 1805 and now a national
memorial near the mouth of the Columbia River, also took the
tribe’s name.
Astoria, Oregon’s oldest city, was established as a fur trading
post in 1811 and named after John Jacob Astor. The first U.S.
Post Office west of the Rocky Mountains was also established in
Astoria in 1847. The first county courthouse was completed in
1855; the present courthouse was erected in 1904. Records show
that the summer resort of Seaside was founded by Ben Holladay,
pioneer Oregon railroad builder, in the early 1870s when he
constructed the Seaside House, a famous luxury hotel for which
the city was finally named. The Lewis and Clark Expedition
reached the Pacific Ocean at this spot.
County Officials: Commissioners—Lylla Gaebel (NP) 2006, Richard
Lee (NP) 2006, Sam Patrick (NP) 2008, Patricia Roberts (NP)
2008, Helen Westbrook (NP) 2006; Dist. Atty. Joshua Marquis (NP)
2006; Assess. Betsy Moes (NP); Clerk Nicole Williams (NP);
Sheriff Thomas J. Bergin (NP) 2008; Surv. Steven Thornton (NP);
Treas. Michael L. Robison (NP); Co. Admin. Scott Derickson (NP). |
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County History |
Oregon's provisional government created Clatsop County out
of the northern and western portions of Tuality District on June
22, 1844. Five days later all of Clatsop County north of the
Columbia River was used to create Vancouver County, in what is
now Washington. The Provisional and Territorial Legislatures
further defined Clatsop County's boundaries in 1845 and 1853.
The county currently occupies an area of 873 square miles and is
bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by the
Columbia River, on the east by Columbia County, and on the south
by Tillamook County. Clatsop County was named for the Clatsop
Indians, one of many Chinook tribes living in Oregon.
Before 1850 most of Clatsop County's government activity
occurred in Lexington. Astoria, Oregon's oldest city, was
founded in 1811 and as Astoria grew, activities gradually
shifted to that city. Astoria was chosen by electors to be the
county seat in 1854 and the first county government sat in
Astoria in 1856.
The early sessions of the county court prior to 1855 were held
in the homes of county officials and private citizens, first in
Lexington and later in Astoria. In 1855 a two-story frame
courthouse was completed. The second courthouse was completed in
1908 and is still in use. With state court offices using most of
the courthouse, the majority of county offices are now located
in administration buildings near the courthouse.
The first county government was organized in the mid-1840s with
the election of justices of the peace, clerk, sheriff, assessor,
treasurer, and the formation of district courts and the county
board of commissioners. In 1964 the county court was replaced by
a board of commissioners. The voters of Clatsop County approved
a home rule charter in 1988, which called for a board of county
commissioners as the policy determining body of the county, and
a county administrative officer.
The principle industries of Clatsop County are fishing, lumber,
and agriculture. The Port of Astoria, created in 1914, is one of
23 Oregon port districts that support the trade and commerce of
Oregon. An increasing number of cruise ships now stop in Astoria
as tourists enjoy its shops, history, and nearby attractions.
The population of Clatsop County was 35,630 in 2000, a 6.99%
increase over 1990. |
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