French Prairie facts for kids
French Prairie is a special area in Oregon, USA. It's a wide, flat grassland, also known as a prairie. You can find it in Marion County, in the beautiful Willamette Valley.
This area is located between the Willamette River and the Pudding River, just north of Salem. It got its name from some of the very first settlers. These were French Canadian and Métis people. Many of them used to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. French Prairie is also famous as one of the first Métis communities in the Pacific Northwest.
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History of French Prairie
Early Settlements
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People from Europe first arrived in the French Prairie area around 1812. They set up fur trading posts. These were places where traders could buy and sell animal furs. One of the first posts was called Wallace House, near what is now Keizer, Oregon.
Another trading post, the Willamette Trading Post, was built in 1814. It was near the area known as Champoeg. These posts were important for trade in the early days of the Oregon Country.
French Canadian Settlers Arrive
In the 1830s, many French Canadian settlers moved to French Prairie. Most of these families were Roman Catholic. They wanted a priest to come and serve their community. They sent requests to a bishop in Canada in 1836 and 1837.
Finally, Bishop François Norbert Blanchet arrived in 1838. The French Canadian settlers built their homes in a special French style. These were log cabins with clay chimneys and roofs made of tree bark. They started farms, mostly growing wheat. By 1843, about 100 French Canadian and Métis families lived on the prairie.
A very important building, the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, was built in 1846. It was constructed by these early settlers in St. Paul. This church is the oldest brick building still standing in the entire Pacific Northwest.
French Prairie Today
Even today, French Prairie is a very important farming area in the Willamette Valley. Farmers grow many different crops here. People are working to protect this valuable farmland. They want to make sure that new buildings and cities don't take over the rich soil.
Geography of French Prairie
French Prairie is easy to find on a map. The Pudding River forms its eastern border. To the south, it touches the cities of Salem and Keizer. The Willamette River makes up both its northern and western edges. The river makes a big turn near Newberg.
Several towns in French Prairie were started by French Canadian settlers. These include Butteville, Champoeg, Gervais, Saint Louis, and St. Paul.
Notable People from French Prairie
