Clark & Washington history

Then, beginning around 1830, a mysterious illness, characterized in historical accounts as "intermittent fever," swept through the Indian and white populations along the river.

Clark County was the first county of Washington, and was named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was created by the provisional government of Oregon Territory on August 20, 1845, and at that time covered the entire present-day state.

In 1846, Britain and the United States settled on the 49th parallel -- except for Vancouver Island which remained British -- as the line dividing British and American possessions in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1849, the United States Army established Columbia (later Vancouver) Barracks adjacent to Fort Vancouver.

La Center, first settled in 1852 at the head of navigation on the East Fork of the Lewis River, was one of them.

The City of Vancouver incorporated in 1857 as a municipality of Washington Territory.

Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver, now much less important, remained open on the banks of the Columbia until 1860.

In 1870, the Northern Pacific Railway connected Vancouver to Puget Sound.

County farms more than doubled from 907 to 1873 and manufacturing establishments also more than doubled, from 38 to 87.

By 1875, La Center had Washington’s oldest Grange chapter, a post office, a lumber mill, and a steamboat landing.

Strawberry Knoll 10 to 12 miles east of Vancouver became Prune Hill when M. A. Boyle set out 350 plum trees there in 1883.

The 33-mile-long route originated in 1886 to provide service from Vancouver to Yakima via Klickitat Pass.

1888 Lewisville, Washington - Blacksmith Frank Lyon, his wife Catherine, and their three children.

The 1890 census reported 907 farms and only 38 manufacturing establishments in the county, which had a population of just over 11,000 out of a total state population of 18,000.

The Vancouver waterfront pictured in 1905.

Baptisms take place in creek behind Battle Ground Baptist Church 1907.

In 1908, The Columbian became Clark County’s first daily newspaper.

1923 Prune Festival Queen Mary Pierce

Wood, a lifelong resident of Vancouver, was mortally wounded Sunday morning, May 22, 1927, as he led a raiding party on a bootlegging still in the Dole Valley area of north-central Clark County.

The West’s first aluminum manufacturing plant, Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) and a significant shipyard, Vancouver Kaiser Shipyard, came with World War II. Beginning in 1943, Clark County yards built 50 escort carriers, 90 other ships, and two dry docks for the war effort.

Battle Ground Lake 1949

In 1955, the Vancouver Police Department began using three-wheeled motorcycles.

Battle Ground High School marching band on June 16, 1956.

In 1961, Congress upgraded the designation to National Historic Site expanded boundaries.

Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce 1963

Vancouver waterfront park 1968

Welcome to Vancouver 1974

Since joining Clark in 1985, Brian has provided leadership on some of the country’s most notable projects, including Nationals Park, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and The Wharf.

Since joining Clark in 1999, Chip has been involved with many signature projects at Clark – including the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System Replacement Hospital, the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, and PETCO Park.