Proud Past

Body

When explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited what was to become Clark County in 1806, Lewis described the area as, "indeed the only desirable situation for a settlement which I have seen on the West side of the Rocky Mountains."

Nineteen years later, the Hudson's Bay Company established the first non-native settlement in the Pacific Northwest at Fort Vancouver, now one of the county's most famous landmarks.

Over the years, more and more people have come to call Clark County home. Here are some of their stories:

A.D.
First residents
1792
Why Capt. Vancouver never saw Vancouver
1805
Lewis and Clark pitch their tents
1825
Fur traders and Hawaiians
1830
First apple harvest
1844
Clark County (Vancouver, Clark or Clarke)
1845
Parkersville or Washougal: What a difference a mile makes
1845
Why Esther Short slapped the French Canadian
1846
Living in the Fourth Plain
1847
Curling on the Columbia
1850
First court with Amos Short
1855
Battle Ground: City without a battle
1854
La Center of trade on the Lewis River
1855
First courthouse is built; ends in flames
1866
Fort Vancouver goes up in flames
1883
Camas and the blue lily
1883
Strawberry Knoll, Prune Hill and Fruit Valley
1890
Second courthouse burns down
1892
Third courthouse opens
1902
Yacolt and the fire demon
1903
Railroad comes to Ridgefield
1905
Blimp lands at local airfield
1908
Railroad prompts growth
1917
Valentine's Day brings a new bridge
1917
World War I means prosperity and more people
1937
Russians are coming... again
1942
New courthouse is fireproof concrete fortress
1942
World War II brings the shipbuilders
1948 to 1972
Swept away: Floods, hurricanes and tornadoes
1983
Interstate 205 bridge jump starts more growth
2003
Public Service Center opens
2003
Judge finally gets out of the closet
2004
Preserving our proud past