Related Resources
History
Historical Records Inventory
Clatsop County Scenic Images
"County QuickFacts" (population and economic data from U.S. Census Bureau)
County Seat Map (from Google Maps)
County Map (from
ODOT)
Incorporated Cities
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
History and General Information
Oregon’s provisional government created Clatsop County out of the northern and western portions of Twality District on June 22, 1844. It was named for the Clatsop Tribe that lived from the mouth of the Columbia River to Tillamook Head. Lewis and Clark named their winter headquarters Fort Clatsop, situated about five miles south of Astoria near the mouth of the Columbia River, for the tribe as well.
The county is home to Astoria, Oregon’s oldest city, which 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 established in Astoria in 1847. In 1855 the first county courthouse was completed, and the present courthouse was erected in 1904. Records show the summer resort of Seaside was founded in the early 1870s by Ben Holladay, an Oregon railroad builder. Holladay constructed the Seaside House, a famous luxury hotel for which the city was named.
County Officials
Commissioners: Chair Mark Kujala (2027); Courtney Bangs (2029), Anthony Huacuja (2029), Lianne Thompson (2027), Pamela Wev (2027); Dist. Atty. Ron L. Brown (2027); Assess. Suzanne Johnson; Clerk Tracie Krevanko; Sheriff Matt Phillips (2029); Surv. Vance Swenson; Treas. Jennifer Carlson; County Manager Don Bohn