Champoeg, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Champoeg, Oregon
Ghost town
Museum at the state heritage area
Location near neighboring cities
Champoeg, Oregon Location in Oregon
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Marion
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	97137
Area codes	503 and 971

Champoeg (pronounced sham-POO-ee) is a former town in the state of Oregon. It is now a ghost town, meaning it was once a busy place but is no longer inhabited. In the early 1840s, Champoeg was a very important settlement in the Willamette Valley.

This historic spot is located on the south bank of the Willamette River. It is in northern Marion County, on an area called French Prairie. You can find it about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Newberg. Champoeg was special because it was where the first temporary government of the Oregon Country was formed.

Today, the old town site is part of the Champoeg State Heritage Area. This is an Oregon state park where visitors can learn about its past. The Champoeg State Park Historic Archeological District is also found within this heritage area. The name "Champoeg" comes from a Kalapuyan word. It might mean something about an edible root called yampa.

History of Champoeg

Champoeg is famous for a series of important meetings held there in the 1840s. These meetings helped shape the future of Oregon.

Forming a Government

On February 7, 1841, settlers from the Willamette Valley met in Champoeg for the first time. They chose Jason Lee, a missionary, as their leader. One of their first tasks was to figure out how to deal with wolves that were bothering their settlements. These were the first of several "Wolf Meetings." They helped create the basic rules for the community.

By the mid-1840s, there was a big question about who owned the Oregon Country. Both the United States and the United Kingdom claimed the land. On May 2, 1843, another meeting took place in Champoeg. The settlers voted on whether to create a temporary government. The idea passed by a very close vote: 52 to 50!

A group of nine representatives was chosen to set up this new government. Champoeg was named its first capital. They wrote a request to the United States Congress asking for help. This request was sent to Washington, D.C.. William Gilpin helped write the request and delivered it. He also encouraged more people to move to the Pacific Northwest. This helped spread "Oregon fever."

The question of who owned Oregon was settled in 1846 with the Oregon Treaty. However, when the Oregon Territory was officially set up in 1848, Champoeg was not chosen as the capital.

Life in the Town

Around 1852, Champoeg had grown quite a bit. It had a ferry that crossed the Willamette River. There was also a warehouse and a steamboat landing. The Hudson's Bay Company had a granary there. A stagecoach office also served the town.

Champoeg had 10 streets running north-south and six running east-west. It was a busy crossroads for several roads. These included the Champoeg-St. Paul Road and the Champoeg-Salem Road. Most of the town was built on land claimed by Robert Newell and André Longtain.

The 1901 monument in Champoeg marks where Oregon's first American government was organized.

A marker shows where a street corner used to be in Champoeg.

The Great Flood of 1861

Champoeg continued to thrive even after Oregon became a state. But on December 2, 1861, a terrible event occurred. The nearby Willamette River rose an incredible 55 feet (17 meters) above its normal level. This flood covered the town with seven feet (2 meters) of water.

The great flood destroyed almost all the buildings in Champoeg. Only two saloons were left standing. Panicked residents found safety at the Newell House, which was built on a hill. Robert Newell, who owned the house, spent almost all his money helping the flood victims.

Champoeg was never rebuilt after this disaster. Today, the old town site is protected as the Champoeg State Heritage Area. A monument from 1901 lists the names of the 52 settlers who voted to create the provisional government in 1843. Since the 1930s, dams have been built. These dams make it unlikely that such a huge flood will happen again.

Champoeg State Heritage Area

The Champoeg State Heritage Area is a great place to visit and learn about history.

What to See and Do

The heritage area has many things for visitors. There is a visitor center where you can learn about the park. You can also explore an 1860s-style garden. The Newell House Museum is also there. This is Robert Newell's house, restored to how it looked in 1852. You can also visit the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin Museum.

The Historic Butteville Store is also located in the park. It was founded in 1863. This store is thought to be the oldest operating store in Oregon. It is the last remaining business building from the nearby community of Butteville.

During the summer, from late June through Labor Day weekend, there are special weekend programs. The Champoeg Promise program offers an interactive living history experience for schoolchildren. This helps them see what life was like in the past.

The park is open all year round. You can go camping there, with options for tents, yurts, cabins, and RVs. It's also a great place for hiking, disc golf, bicycling, and bird watching. You can enjoy picnics, fishing, and boating too.

Archeological Discoveries

The Champoeg State Heritage Area is also home to the Champoeg State Park Historic Archeological District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

One important discovery here is a mostly complete early homesite. It is the only one found so far on French Prairie. Evidence suggests this was likely Robert Newell's first home. Archeologists continue to learn about the past from these sites.