Clatsop County

wrecked ship at Fort Stevens State Park — The shipwreck of the *Peter Iredale* on the beach at Fort Stevens State Park. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection)

Contact

County Seat: 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria 97103
Phone: 503-325-1000 (General); 503-325-8555 (Court Administrator)
Email: countyadmins@clatsopcounty.gov
Web: clatsopcounty.gov

About

Established: June 22, 1844
Elev. at Astoria: 19'
Area: 1085 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 41.9° July 60.1°
Assessed Value: $8,045,792,680
Real Market Value: $16,305,297,868
(includes the value of non-taxed properties)
Annual Precipitation: 66.40"
Economy: Fishing, tourism and forest products

Oregon county map with Clatsop County shaded

Related Resources

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

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

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: 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