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Columbia County, OR
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 Established:
Jan. 16, 1854
Population: 45,000 (2003)
Elev. at St. Helens: 42'
Area: 687 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 39.0°, July 68.4°
Assessed Value: $3,108,731,330
Real Market Value: $3,813,802,745
Annual Precipitation: 44.60"
Economy: Agriculture, forest products, manufacturing, surface
mining and tourism.
Incorporated Cities: Clatskanie | Columbia City | Prescott |
Rainier | Scappoose | St. Helens | Vernonia
Points of Interest: Lewis and Clark Heritage Canoe Trail,
Vernonia/Banks Linear State Park, Jewell Elk Refuge, Sauvie
Island Wildlife Area, Sand Island Park, Jones Beach near
Clatskanie, Prescott Beach Park, St. Helens Golf Course,
Vernonia Golf Course, Lewis and Clark Bridge at Rainier,
Columbia County Fairgrounds, Trojan Nuclear Plant (operations
ceased 1993).
General Information: Chinook and Clatskanie Indians inhabited
this bountiful region centuries before Captain Robert Gray,
commanding the Columbia Rediviva, landed on Columbia County’s
timbered shoreline in 1792. The Corps of Discovery expedition,
led by Lewis and Clark, traveled and camped along the Columbia
River shore in the area later known as Columbia County in late
1805 and early 1806.
The county has 62 miles of Columbia riverfront and contains deep
water ports and some of the finest industrial property in the
Pacific Northwest. The Columbia River is a major route for
ocean-going vessels and is a popular playground for fishing,
boating, camping and windsurfing. The county has two marine
parks, Sand Island and J.J. Collins Memorial Marine Park.
Columbia County has a strong economic and cultural heritage
centered around industries such as forest products,
shipbuilding, mining and agriculture. The rural lifestyle and
scenic beauty of Columbia County, coupled with its proximity to
Portland, have drawn many new residents to the area.
County Officials: Commissioners—Rita Bernhard (D) 2007, Joe
Corsiglia (D) 2007, Anthony Hyde (R) 2007; Dist. Atty. Steve
Atchison (NP) 2007; Assess. Sue Poling (D) 2007; Clerk Elizabeth
Huser (NP) 2007; Justice of the Peace Rod McLean (NP) 2007;
Sheriff Phil Derby (NP) 2007; Surv. Philip Dewey (D) 2007;
Treas. Ruth Baker.
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County History |
Columbia County, named for the Columbia River, was created
in 1854 from the northern half of Washington County. It covers
646 square miles and is bounded on the north and east by the
Columbia River, on the west by Clatsop County, and on the south
by Washington and Multnomah Counties. Columbia County was the
sixteenth county created in Oregon and is the third smallest
county in Oregon after Multnomah and Hood River Counties.
Lewis and Clark explored this area in 1805-1806. Early
settlements were established by fur traders as early as 1810. As
American immigration increased in the mid-1840s, lasting
settlements began to appear. The Yakima Indian War (1855-1859)
drove many Washington Territory residents south of the Columbia
River and helped boost the populations of St. Helens and
Columbia City.
The first district court met in 1854 in Milton, which served as
the county seat until 1857 when it was moved to St. Helens. St.
Helens was founded in 1848 and took its name from the nearby Mt.
St. Helens. The present courthouse was built in 1906, and an
annex was constructed in 1968. Most county offices are now
housed in the annex. A new sheriff's office and jail facility
were recently opened at another location.
Columbia County had a county court form of government until 1971
when a board of commissioners was elected. The 2000 population
of 43,560 represented a 15.98% increase over 1990.
The primary industries of Columbia County are timber, fishing,
water transportation, dairying, horticulture, and recreation.
The extensive stands of old growth timber, which had attracted
many of the early settlers to the area, were completely logged
over by the 1950s. Second growth timber provides the raw
material for local lumber and paper mills. The Trojan Nuclear
Plant, located near Rainier, was in operation from 1975 to 1993. |
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