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83-621: La Center is a city in Clark County , Washington , United States. The population was 3,424 at the 2020 census . In the 1870s, La Center was a business center and head of navigation on the East Fork of the Lewis River . In late summer, the regular schedules of the steamers Mascot and Walker , paddle-wheeling to Portland, were often interrupted by low water. Passengers and freight were transferred to scows , which were poled up

166-416: A home rule charter with a council–manager government . The Clark County Council was created in 2014 and has five seats elected by districts of proportional size that are redrawn every 10 years. Prior to the adoption of the home rule charter, the county had a three-member commission. The county manager is the chief executive officer appointed by the council and oversees the administrative departments of

249-516: A boathouse at Vancouver Lake and caused damage to buildings in Hazel Dell before dissolving near Hockinson . Flora and fauna of the region include the normal ecological succession from lowland big leaf maple and western red cedar through Garry oak on up through fire-dependent species such as lodgepole pine and Douglas fir , as well as grand fir , silver fir and other species common to Gifford Pinchot National Forest . In addition to

332-490: A code of laws known as the Organic Law . It included the creation of an executive committee of three, a judiciary, a militia, land laws, and four counties. There was vagueness and confusion over the nature of the 1843 Organic Law, in particular, whether it was constitutional or statutory . In 1844, a new legislative committee decided to consider it statutory. The 1845 Organic Law made additional changes, including allowing

415-433: A family was $ 67,352. Males had a median income of $ 52,160 versus $ 38,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 27,828. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 census , there were 345,238 people, 127,208 households, and 90,953 families residing in the county. The population density

498-508: A male householder with no wife present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.17. The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 30.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

581-616: A northern boundary for Spanish California, nor did it extinguish Spanish rights to the Pacific Northwest. Spain later relinquished any remaining claims to territory north of the 42nd parallel to the United States as part of the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819. In the 1820s, Russia gave up its claims south of 54°40′ and east of the 141st meridian in separate treaties with the United States and Britain. Meanwhile,

664-601: A provisional government at Champoeg . Political pressure in the United States urged the occupation of all the Oregon Country. Expansionists in the American South wanted to annex Texas , while their counterparts in the northeast wanted to annex the Oregon Country. It was seen as significant that the expansions be parallel, as the relative proximity to other states and territories made it appear likely that Texas would be pro-slavery and Oregon against slavery. In

747-519: A river flowing to the west named Ouaricon . This theory was endorsed in Oregon Geographic Names as "the most plausible explanation". George Vancouver explored Puget Sound in 1792. Vancouver claimed it for Great Britain on June 4, 1792, naming it for one of his officers, Lieutenant Peter Puget . Alexander Mackenzie was the first European to cross North America by land north of New Spain, arriving at Bella Coola on what

830-551: A state income tax , residents who worked in Oregon were required to pay income tax to that state for earnings in Oregon. Clark County residents also cross the Columbia River to shop without sales taxes, which Oregon also lacks; this phenomenon caused up to $ 5.9 million in estimated lost sales tax revenue for the county government in 2022. As of the 2020 census , there were 503,311 people, and 184,173 households were in

913-505: A thriving colony of mixed origin, including Scottish Canadians and Scots , English , French Canadians , Hawaiians , Algonkians , and Iroquois , as well as the offspring of company employees who had intermarried with various local native populations. Astor continued to compete for Oregon Country furs through his American Fur Company operations in the Rockies. In the 1820s, a few American explorers and traders visited this land beyond

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996-469: A variety of other kinds of woods. Between these high lands lie what is called the valley of the Wallamitte [ sic ], the frequented haunts of innumerable herds of elk and deer ... In ascending the river, the surrounding country is most delightful, and the first barrier to be met with is about forty miles up from its mouth. Here the navigation is interrupted by a ledge of rocks, running across

1079-567: A wide variety of birds including great blue heron , raptors such as barred owl , osprey , red-tailed hawk and bald eagle , corvids ( raven , crow , California scrub and Steller's jay ) and others, the native streams are home to various species of salmon and the Vancouver Trout Hatchery. Larger mammals include black-tailed deer , coyote , raccoon , skunk and invasive opossum ; with sightings of lynx, bobcat, black bear, cougar and elk not uncommon, especially in

1162-523: Is "Csb". Many lakes border the river in the lowlands near Ridgefield , including Vancouver Lake. Eastern and northern Clark County contain forested foothills of the Cascade Mountains , rising to an elevation of 4,000 feet (1,200 m) on the border with Skamania County. Larch Mountain is the county's highest free-standing peak. Mount Hood , Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are all visible from Clark County, and cold winter winds through

1245-701: Is land and 27 square miles (70 km ) (4.1%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Washington by land area. Clark County is surrounded on two sides by the Columbia River and on the north by the North Fork of the Lewis River . The East Fork of the Lewis River and the Washougal River cut across the county. The largest stream arising solely within the county is Salmon Creek, which terminates at Vancouver Lake before eventually flowing into

1328-613: Is now the central coast of British Columbia in 1793. From 1805 to 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the territory of the United States on the Lewis and Clark Expedition . David Thompson , working for the Montreal -based North West Company , explored much of the region beginning in 1807 with his friend and colleague Simon Fraser , following the Fraser River to its mouth in 1808, attempting to ascertain whether it

1411-406: Is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Washington . As of the 2020 census , the population was 503,311, making it Washington's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat and largest city is Vancouver . It was the first county in Washington, first named Vancouver County in 1845 before being renamed for William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1849. It was created by

1494-473: The Beaver had shown the growing value of coal economically and strategically. A general HBC shift toward Pacific shipping and away from the interior of the continent made Victoria Harbour much more suitable than Fort Vancouver's location on the Columbia River. The Columbia Bar at the river's mouth was dangerous and routinely meant weeks or months of waiting for ships to cross. The largest ships could not enter

1577-461: The 1844 U.S. Presidential election , the Democrats had called for expansion into both areas. After being elected president, however, James K. Polk supported the 49th parallel as a northern limit for U.S. annexation in Oregon Country. Polk's uncompromising support for expansion into Texas and relative silence on the Oregon boundary dispute led to the phrase "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" referring to

1660-778: The 1844 U.S. presidential election , the United Kingdom and the United States agreed to settle the problem with the Oregon Treaty in 1846. It established the British-American boundary at the 49th parallel (except Vancouver Island ). With the end of joint occupancy, the region south of the 49th parallel became Oregon Territory in the United States while the northern portion became part of the British colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island . The area, which once encompassed Oregon Country, now lies within

1743-639: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America with 4,827. The area is also home to the nation's largest population of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church with between 8,000 and 12,000 members living in the county. This is estimated because the Church doesn't keep membership rolls. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is the local, county-level law enforcement agency serving Clark County, Washington. The sheriff's office

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1826-576: The Fujita scale , striking a local school. A " Friday the 13th " storm in November 1981 brought winds up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), with other storms including the inauguration day storm of January 20, 1993, the Guadalupe Day storm of December 12, 1995 (with winds up to 95 miles per hour (153 km/h) at Washougal, Washington ) and small tornado on January 10, 2008 , which destroyed

1909-552: The Kootenai River and Columbia River following the southern portion of the well-established York Factory Express trade route. The Canadian effort proved to be too little, too late. In what was dubbed " The Great Migration of 1843 " or the "Wagon Train of 1843", an estimated 700 to 1,000 American emigrants came to Oregon, decisively tipping the balance. In 1843, settlers in the Willamette Valley established

1992-634: The Mexican–American War . In 1805, the American Lewis and Clark Expedition marked the first official American exploration of the area, creating the first temporary settlement of Euro-Americans in the area near the mouth of the Columbia River at Fort Clatsop . Two years later, in 1807, David Thompson of the Montreal-based North West Company penetrated the Oregon Country from the north via Athabasca Pass , near

2075-673: The Provisional Government of Oregon in Oregon Country on August 20, 1845, and at that time covered the entire present-day state. Clark County is the third-most-populous county in the Portland -Vancouver- Hillsboro Metropolitan Statistical Area , and is across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon . Clark County was created on August 20, 1845, as Vancouver District , named for its town , following

2158-657: The Ukase of 1821 , which was quickly challenged by the other powers and withdrawn to 54°40′N by separate treaties with the U.S. and Britain in 1824 and 1825, respectively. Spain gave up its claims of exclusivity via the Nootka Conventions of the 1790s. In the Nootka Conventions, which followed the Nootka Crisis , Spain granted Britain rights to the Pacific Northwest. However, it did not establish

2241-465: The maritime fur trade , with many vessels between the 1790s and 1810s coming from Boston . The Hudson's Bay Company , whose Columbia Department comprised most of the Oregon Country and north into New Caledonia and beyond 54°40′ N, with operations reaching tributaries of the Yukon River , managed and represented British interests in the region. After the dispute became an election issue in

2324-462: The 49th parallel, excluding Vancouver Island. Despite McLoughlin's stalling, the HBC had begun the process of shifting away from Fort Vancouver and toward Vancouver Island and the northern coast in the 1830s. The increasing number of American settlers arriving in the Willamette Valley after 1840 served to make the need more pressing. In 1848, the U.S. portion of the Oregon Country was formally organized as

2407-675: The Columbia River "hurricane river" le fleuve d'ouragan , because of the strong winds of the Columbia Gorge . George R. Stewart argues in a 1944 article in American Speech that the name came from an engraver's error in a French map published in the early 18th century, on which the Ouisiconsink ( Wisconsin River ) was spelled Ouaricon-sint , broken on two lines with the -sint below, so that there appeared to be

2490-477: The Columbia River Gorge often bring freezing rain and a coating of glaze ice or clear ice known locally as a "silver thaw", especially in southeastern areas of the county closest to the gorge. The counterpart to this are warm winds from the southwest known locally as the " Pineapple Express ". Spring thaws can often swell county waterways, with two of the more destructive floods being those of

2573-510: The Columbia River by David Thompson and on prior discovery and exploration along the coast. Spain's claim was based on the Inter caetera and Treaty of Tordesillas of 1493–94, as well as explorations of the Pacific coast in the late 18th century. Russia based its claim on its explorations and trading activities in the region. It asserted its ownership of the region north of the 51st parallel by

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2656-681: The Columbia River in June 1894 and May 1948. The 1948 Memorial Day flood almost topped the Interstate Bridge's support piers and completely destroyed nearby Vanport, Oregon . Construction of The Dalles Dam and destruction of Celilo Falls are credited with a decrease in such floods. Significant windstorms in Clark County include the Columbus Day windstorm of October 12, 1962, and an April 6, 1972, tornado which rated F3 on

2739-558: The Columbia River. Despite the posturing, neither country wanted to fight what would have been the third war in 70 years against the other. The two countries eventually reached a peaceful agreement in the 1846 Oregon Treaty that divided the territory west of the Continental Divide along the 49th parallel to Georgia Strait , with Vancouver Island remaining under British control. Today, this border divides British Columbia from neighboring Washington, Idaho, and Montana. In 1843,

2822-587: The Columbia River. Like most of Oregon and Washington south of Puget Sound into the Willamette Valley the landscape and climate of Clark County are determined by its placement between the volcanic Pacific Coast and Cascade Ranges , where glaciation helped form a U-shaped valley which meets the river valley of the Columbia River as it leaves the Columbia River Gorge . Volcanic andisol soils are common, with fertile mollisols in

2905-459: The HBC shifted its Columbia Department headquarters from Fort Vancouver to Fort Victoria on Vancouver Island. The plan to move to more northern locations dates back to the 1820s. George Simpson was the main force behind the move north; John McLoughlin became the main hindrance. McLoughlin had devoted his life's work to the Columbia business, and his personal interests were increasingly linked to

2988-622: The Indians. Jason Lee , a Methodist minister from New York , was the first Oregon missionary . He built a mission school for Indians in the Willamette Valley in 1834. American settlers began to arrive from the east via the Oregon Trail starting in the early 1840s and came in increasing numbers each subsequent year. Increased tension led to the Oregon boundary dispute . Both sides realized that settlers would ultimately decide who controlled

3071-480: The New Phoenix, Last Frontier and Palace. La Center has a total area of 1.28 square miles (3.32 km), of which, 1.27 square miles (3.29 km) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km) is water. As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $ 55,333, and the median income for a family was $ 57,375. Males had a median income of $ 45,893 versus $ 28,750 for females. The per capita income for

3154-630: The Oregon Country because of the Hudson's Bay Company policy of creating a "fur desert": deliberate over-hunting of the area's frontiers so that American trades would find nothing there. The mountain men, like the Metis employees of the Canadian fur companies, adopted Indian ways, and many of them married Native American women. Reports of Oregon Country eventually circulated in the eastern United States . Some churches decided to send missionaries to convert

3237-404: The Oregon Country's Indian nations retained a sizeable majority in their land, prior to the rapid and devastating arrival of European diseases in the 1860s , and were able to maintain relative economic independence thanks to the necessity of their hunting skills in the fur trade. The eventual partition of the Oregon Country into national domains by the two colonial powers, increasing settlement, and

3320-668: The Oregon Territory. In 1849, Vancouver Island became a British Crown colony —the Colony of Vancouver Island —with the mainland being organized into the Colony of British Columbia in 1858. Shortly after the establishment of Oregon Territory, there was an effort to split off the region north of the Columbia River. As a result of the Monticello Convention , Congress approved the creation of Washington Territory in early 1853. President Millard Fillmore approved

3403-576: The Rocky Mountains. Long after the Lewis and Clark Expedition and also after the consolidation of the fur trade in the region by the Canadian fur companies, American mountain men such as Jedediah Smith and Jim Beckwourth came roaming into and across the Rocky Mountains, following Indian trails through the Rockies to California and Oregon. They sought beaver pelts and other furs, which were obtained by trapping . These were difficult to obtain in

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3486-681: The United States Senate approved the present boundary between the U.S. and Canada at the 49th parallel . On August 13, 1848, President James K. Polk signed an act creating the entire region as the Oregon Territory. On September 3, 1849, the Oregon Territorial Legislature modified the borders again and changed its name to Clarke County in honor of explorer William Clark. At this time it included all of present-day Washington and continued to be divided and subdivided until reaching its present area in 1880. It

3569-560: The United States and Britain negotiated the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, which extended the boundary between their territories west along the 49th parallel to the Rocky Mountains. The two countries agreed to "joint occupancy" of the land west of the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. In 1843, settlers established their government, called the Provisional Government of Oregon . A legislative committee drafted

3652-407: The age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 36.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 58,262 and the median income for

3735-428: The age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under

3818-467: The age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 48,376, and the median income for a family was $ 54,016. Males had a median income of $ 41,337 versus $ 28,537 for females. The per capita income for

3901-488: The area in 1811. This settlement later became the nucleus of present-day Astoria, Oregon . During the construction of Fort Astoria, Thompson traveled down the Columbia River, noting the partially constructed American Fort Astoria only two months after the departure of the supply ship Tonquin . Along the way, Thompson had set foot on and claimed for the British Crown the lands near the future Fort Nez Percés site at

3984-466: The city was $ 21,224. About 3.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 census , there were 2,800 people, 942 households, and 804 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,204.7 inhabitants per square mile (851.2/km). There were 981 housing units at an average density of 772.4 per square mile (298.2/km). The racial makeup of

4067-594: The city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female. La Center is home to the Highland Lutheran Church, built in 1887. Known as the Centennial Church, the building remains in its initial appearance, including an original mural. A kitchen addition was undertaken in 1900 and a structural remodel was completed in the 1980s. The church is considered as one of the oldest houses of worship in Washington state. Clark County, Washington Clark County

4150-418: The city was 91.3% White , 1.0% African American , 0.8% Native American , 1.9% Asian , 1.5% from other races , and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population. There were 942 households, of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had

4233-614: The confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers. This claim initiated a very brief era of competition between American and British fur traders. During the War of 1812 , Fort Astoria was captured by the British and sold to the North West Company. Under British control, Fort Astoria was renamed Fort George. In 1821, when the North West Company was merged with the Hudson's Bay Company, the British Parliament moved to impose

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4316-540: The county was $ 21,448. About 6.90% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over. Clark County is religiously diverse, with no single group comprising 10% of the population. The four groups that exceed 1% are nondenominational Christian with 30,026 members, the Catholic Church with 26,886 members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 20,793 members, and

4399-429: The county was 85.4% white, 4.1% Asian, 2.0% black or African American, 0.9% American Indian, 0.6% Pacific islander, 2.9% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were German , 13.1% were Irish , 13.1% were English , 5.7% were Norwegian , and 4.3% were American . Of the 158,099 households, 36.3% had children under

4482-427: The county. The population density was 800.8 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% White, 2.6% African American, 1.2% Native American, 5.4% Asian,1.0% Pacific Islander, and 4.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11% of the population. The average household size was 2.67 people per household. 23.0% of the population was under 18, and 5.6% were under 5. 16.3% of

4565-484: The drastic decline of the fur trade due to diminishing supply all contributed to catastrophic decline in Indian population after 1846, and the arbitrary seizure of their land over the following two decades in the interests of newly arrived settlers. The earliest evidence of the name Oregon has Spanish origins. The term orejón comes from the historical chronicle Relación de la Alta y Baja California (1598) which

4648-715: The early 19th century. The area, which had been demarcated by the Treaty of 1818 , consisted of the land north of 42° N latitude , south of 54°40′ N latitude, and west of the Rocky Mountains down to the Pacific Ocean and east to the Continental Divide . Article III of the 1818 treaty gave joint control to both nations for ten years, allowed land to be claimed, and guaranteed free navigation to all mercantile trade. However, both countries disputed

4731-401: The government. Kathleen Otto has been the county manager of Clark County since her appointment to the role in 2021. As of 2020 , the current elected officials are: In Presidential election Clark County leans Democratic having voted for the party in every presidential election since 2008. This is in contrast to the rest of Southwest Washington, which leans Republican. Before 2008 Clark County

4814-487: The growing settlements in the Willamette Valley. He fought Simpson's proposals to move north in vain. By the time Simpson decided in 1842 to move the headquarters to Vancouver Island, he had many reasons for doing so. There was a dramatic decline in the fur trade across North America. In contrast, the HBC saw increasing profits with coastal exports of salmon and lumber to Pacific markets such as Hawaii . Coal deposits on Vancouver Island had been discovered, and steamships such as

4897-509: The headwaters of the Columbia River. From there he navigated nearly the full length of the river through to the Pacific Ocean. In 1810, John Jacob Astor commissioned and began the construction of the American Pacific Fur Company fur-trading post at Fort Astoria, just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the site of Lewis and Clark's former Fort Clatsop, completing construction of the first permanent Euro-American settlement in

4980-454: The intention of the North West Company to build a trading post on the site. Later in 1811, on the same expedition, he finished his survey of the entire Columbia, arriving at a partially constructed Fort Astoria two months after the departure of John Jacob Astor 's ill-fated Tonquin . The Oregon Country was originally claimed by Great Britain, France, Russia, and Spain; the Spanish claim

5063-466: The laws of Upper Canada upon British subjects in Columbia District and Rupert's Land and issued the authority to enforce those laws to the Hudson's Bay Company. Chief Factor John McLoughlin was appointed manager of the district's operations in 1824. He moved the regional company headquarters to Fort Vancouver (modern Vancouver, Washington ) in 1824. Fort Vancouver became the centre of

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5146-481: The lower areas. The central and southwest areas of the county are generally flat floodplains, sculpted by torrents of prehistoric Lake Missoula . A series of dramatic floods known as the Missoula Floods took place 15,000–13,000 years ago, as several ice dams melted, forming a series of low steps such as the "Heights", "Mill Plain", "Fourth Plain" and "Fifth Plain". Clark County's Köppen climate classification

5229-573: The new territory on March 2, 1853. Alexander Ross , an early Scottish Canadian fur trader, describes the lower reaches of the Willamette River, in the south of the Oregon Country (known to him as the Columbia District): The banks of the river throughout are low and skirted in the distance by a chain of moderately high lands on each side, interspersed here and there with clumps of wide spreading oaks, groves of pine, and

5312-454: The northern border of the region and often erroneously attributed to Polk's campaign. The goal of the slogan was to rally Southern expansionists (some of whom wanted to annex only Texas in an effort to tip the balance of slave/free states and territories in favor of slavery) to support the effort to annex Oregon Country, appealing to the popular belief in manifest destiny . The British government, meanwhile, sought control of all territory north of

5395-543: The northern parts of the county. Common foods used by the indigenous people such as the Klickitat tribe and Chinook included salmon, huckleberry and Camassia quamash (after which the city of Camas, Washington is named). Clark County's largest industries include health care, professional and business services, and retail. In 2019, approximately 65,000 Clark County residents commuted to work in Portland, Oregon; approximately 17,000 residents from Oregon commuted to work in Clark County. Although Washington does not have

5478-442: The participation of British subjects in the government. Although the Oregon Treaty of 1846 settled the boundaries of U.S. jurisdiction, the provisional government continued to function until 1849, when the first governor of Oregon Territory arrived. A faction of Oregon politicians hoped to continue Oregon's political evolution into an independent nation, but the pressure to join the United States prevailed by 1848, four months after

5561-566: The population was over 65. The gender makeup of the county was 50.3% female, and 49.7% male. The median income for a household was $ 82,719. The per capita income was $ 39,371. 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line . As of the 2010 census , there were 425,363 people, 158,099 households, and 110,672 families residing in the county. The population density was 676.2 people per square mile (261.1 people/km ). There were 167,413 housing units at an average density of 266.2 units per square mile (102.8 units/km ). The racial makeup of

5644-401: The present-day borders of the Canadian province of British Columbia and the entirety of the U.S. states of Oregon , Washington , and Idaho , as well as parts of Montana and Wyoming . Throughout this period, the Oregon Country was inhabited by numerous independent American Indian peoples, who received no recognition by the British or American governments in the eventual disposition of

5727-484: The region. The Hudson's Bay Company, which had previously discouraged settlement as it conflicted with the lucrative fur trade, belatedly reversed its position. In 1841, on orders from Sir George Simpson , James Sinclair guided more than 100 settlers from the Red River Colony to settle on HBC farms near Fort Vancouver. The Sinclair expedition crossed the Rockies into the Columbia Valley , near present-day Radium Hot Springs , British Columbia, then traveled southwest down

5810-416: The removal of the area from three other districts on July 27, 1844. It included all the land north of the Columbia River, west of the Rocky Mountains , and south of Alaska . On December 21, 1845, the provisional government changed its name to Vancouver County. At that time it stretched from the Columbia River to 54 degrees 40 minutes North Latitude in what is now British Columbia , Canada. On June 15, 1846,

5893-414: The river at all. The growing numbers of American settlers along the lower Columbia gave Simpson reason to question the long-term security of Fort Vancouver. He worried, rightfully so, that the final border resolution would not follow the Columbia River. By 1842, he thought it more likely that the United States would at least demand Puget Sound , and the British government would accept a border as far north as

5976-462: The river from side to side in the form of an irregular horseshoe, over which the whole body of water falls at one leap down a precipice of about forty feet, called the Falls . After living in Oregon from 1843 to 1848, Peter H. Burnett wrote: [Oregonians] were all honest, because there was nothing to steal; they were all sober, because there was no liquor to drink; there were no misers, because there

6059-411: The river or towed by horses along the bank. With the arrival of railroads and highways, La Center lost importance and lapsed into a small village serving the surrounding farming district. La Center was officially incorporated on August 27, 1909. Its population in 1940 was 193. The city is home to three card rooms or casinos which allow gambling on card games and poker, but not slots. The three casinos are

6142-589: The southern part of the region. It is most probable that the American territory was named by the Spaniards, as there are some populations in Spain such as Arroyo del Oregón , which is in the province of Ciudad Real , also considering that the individualization in Spanish language el Orejón with the mutation of the letter g instead of j . Another theory is that French Canadian fur company employees called

6225-470: The terms of the international treaty. Oregon Country was the American name, while the British used Columbia District for the region . British and French Canadian fur traders had entered Oregon Country prior to 1810 before the arrival of American settlers from the mid-1830s onwards, which led to the foundation of the Provisional Government of Oregon . Its coastal areas north of the Columbia River were frequented by ships from all nations engaged in

6308-464: The territory. Indian traders nevertheless played a critical role in the ongoing fur trade that still formed the Oregon Country's primary economic activity until mid-century, and the language of the Chinook nation of the lower Columbia river ( Chinook jargon ) formed the lingua franca between Indians and the small European population during and after the 1818-46 period. This was the last period in which

6391-678: Was 550 people per square mile (210 people/km ). There were 134,030 housing units at an average density of 213 units per square mile (82 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 88.82% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.84% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 4.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German , 10.2% English , 8.6% Irish , 8.6% United States and 5.1% Norwegian ancestry. 88.8% spoke only English at home; 3.6% spoke Spanish and 1.9% Russian . There were 127,208 households, out of which 37.20% had children under

6474-593: Was a swing county having voted for the winner in every single election between 1900 and 2004 with the exception of 1916, 1956, 1968, and 2000 School districts include: State-operated schools: Oregon Country Oregon Country was a large region of the Pacific Northwest of North America that was subject to a long dispute between the United Kingdom and the United States in

6557-591: Was established in 1849 and is the oldest law enforcement organization in the state of Washington . Sheriff John Horch and Undersheriff James Hansen lead the Clark County Sheriff's Office. On March 16, 2014, Clark County Fire & Rescue commissioned the Mary Firstenburg , a new fireboat purchased with the financial support from a bequest from Firstenburg's family, and from a FEMA Port Security Grant . Since 2014, Clark County has had

6640-402: Was later taken up by the United States. The extent of the region being claimed was vague at first, evolving over decades into the specific borders specified in the U.S.-British treaty of 1818 . The United States based its claim in part on Robert Gray's entry of the Columbia River in 1792 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Great Britain based its claim in part on British overland explorations of

6723-629: Was not until 1925 that the spelling was corrected to its present form. In September 1902 the Yacolt Burn , the largest fire in state history, began in neighboring Skamania County and swept west along a 12-mile front to Yacolt , nearly engulfing the town. Salvaging the remaining timber was a lucrative industry for a time. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km ), of which 629 square miles (1,630 km )

6806-477: Was the Columbia, as had been theorized about its northern reaches through New Caledonia, where it was known by its Dakleh name as the "Tacoutche Tesse". Thompson was the first European to voyage down the entire length of the Columbia River. Along the way, his party camped at the junction with the Snake River on July 9, 1811. He erected a pole and a notice claiming the country for the United Kingdom and stating

6889-631: Was written by the New Spaniard Rodrigo Motezuma and which made reference to the Columbia River when the Spanish explorers penetrated into the North American territory that became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain . This chronicle is the first topographical and linguistic source with respect to the place name Oregon . There are also two other sources with Spanish origins, such as the name Oregano , which grows in

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