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Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division

Coos County History & Records

Coos County was created by the territorial legislative assembly Dec. 22, 1853. Empire City was the county seat. Originally the Coos Bay Company from Jackson County wanted Jacksonville to be the seat of justice, but this proved impractical because of the physical barrier of the Coast Range. Coos County was created from the western parts of Umpqua and Jackson Counties. In 1855, Curry County was formed from the southern part of Coos County. The name Coos comes from the Coos Tribe and means "lake" or "place of the pines."

Although trappers had been in the area in the 1830s and Camp Castaway had temporarily sheltered soldiers and sailors from the wrecked ship Captain Lincoln in 1852, the first permanent settlement in Coos County was made at Empire City by members of the Coos Bay Company in 1853. Port Orford was founded one year earlier, but in 1855 was part of the area annexed to Curry County. An 1855 treaty with the coastal Indian tribes ceded tribal lands to Oregon Territory. The Indians were moved to the Siletz Reservation.

Series Descriptions for Coos County

1854-1859
.1 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm 

Assessment rolls show tax year, taxpayer's name, real and personal property values, taxes assessed, and assessor's name. Items assessed include gold dust, scrip, land, livestock, boats, and wagons. Series is not arranged.

1855-1857
.1 cubic feet
Calendar Microfilm 

Series used to document county population and to report statistics to the territorial government. Census rolls show resident's name; number of legal voters, adult males and females, males aged 10 to 21, females aged 10 to 18, and males and females under age 10; totals; census date; and census taker's certification. Series is not arranged.

Coos Bay Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans Coos Bay.
The Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge (Coos Bay Bridge) spans Coos Bay on U.S. Route 101 near North Bend, Oregon.


Learn more about Coos County in the Oregon Blue Book.