Cowlitz Prairie facts for kids

Cowlitz Prairie is a large, open grassland in Lewis County, Washington, United States. It's found on the west side of the Cowlitz River. This area was traditionally part of the land belonging to the Lower Cowlitz tribal group.

In the early 1800s, people visiting the area described it as mostly clear of trees. They estimated it was about 4 to 6 miles long and 1 to 2 miles wide. This means it covered almost 6,000 acres!

Cowlitz Prairie is important because many historical events happened there. These include the first home of Simon Plamondon, an early settler. The Hudson's Bay Company also had a large farm there called Cowlitz Farm.

The Saint Francis Xavier Mission, the first Catholic mission in Washington, was also built here. A meeting at Cowlitz Landing in 1851 helped create the new Washington Territory. Cowlitz Prairie was also known as a place where people of mixed backgrounds settled, often called French Canadian or Métis settlements.

History of Cowlitz Prairie

Early Settlements and the Hudson's Bay Company

The history of Cowlitz Prairie began with early settlers and the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Simon Plamondon, who worked with the HBC, married the daughter of a Cowlitz tribe leader. He built the first cabin in the early 1830s. He had permission from the tribe to live near them.

By 1833, Plamondon and another settler, François Faignant, were successful farmers. Joseph Rochbrune and Michel Coutenoir soon joined them. They also received permission to settle in the area.

In 1838, the Hudson's Bay Company got permission to set up its Cowlitz Farm facility. This farm covered 3,000 acres, which was almost half of the prairie.

Growth of the Community

By 1841, the Wilkes expedition visited the area. They reported that a Catholic priest was living among a small community. This group included about six Canadians who had married Indigenous women.

Around two dozen workers, including some local Indigenous people, cared for the farm's sheep and cattle. By 1843, the settlement had grown to 64 people and 13 families.

Retired Canadian fur traders continued to settle in the area. Many of them had Indigenous ancestors from groups like the Cree and Iroquois. They often married into the local Cowlitz and Chinook tribes.

This led to a diverse Métis village. It had log cabins and Indigenous camps spread across the prairie. The Hudson's Bay Company started moving north after 1846.

Changes and Challenges

By the 1850s, about 20 early settlers had moved in. The Cowlitz Farm began to slow down. This happened after its contract with the Russian-American Company ended.

Later, the first governor of the Washington Territory made a difficult order in 1855. He told the Cowlitz and Chinook tribal members to leave their homelands. Some refused and found safety in the settlement.

New laws also made it hard for people to claim land. American settlers were also filing claims, which pushed out those who had settled earlier.

Despite these challenges, the community stayed strong. They were mostly French-speaking Catholics. Many new people were drawn to this close-knit group. Even into the 20th century, many people in Cowlitz Prairie still spoke the Cowlitz Salishan language and French. They also used Chinook Wawa, a trade language.