Oregon pioneer history facts for kids
Oregon pioneer history tells the story of how people explored and settled the land that is now Oregon. This period lasted from about 1806 to 1890. It covers the time when Oregon was known as the Oregon Country and later the Oregon Territory.
During this era, many pioneers and mountain men traveled west across North America. Most of them came from Europe. They wanted to explore and settle the lands west of the Rocky Mountains. Some also came by ship across the Pacific Ocean. They sailed around Cape Horn or changed ships in Panama. This period began after explorers like Robert Gray and George Vancouver visited the Columbia River in 1792. It also followed the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). The pioneer era ended around 1890. By then, railroads and cities had made Oregon a more settled place.
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Oregon's Changing Borders: From Wild Lands to Statehood
When the pioneer period began, the Oregon Country was home to many Native American tribes. Several countries claimed parts of this land. These included the United States, Great Britain, Spain, and Russia. Over time, treaties were signed to set the current borders.
In 1818, the United States and Great Britain agreed to "joint occupation" of the Oregon Country. This meant both countries could use the land. Also in 1818, the U.S. settled its claims with Spain. Spain's claims were limited to Alta California, south of the 42nd degree of latitude. Later, in 1825, the Russo-American Treaty removed all Russian claims south of 54' 40".
The main land dispute was between Britain and the U.S. This conflict lasted until 1846. The Oregon Treaty finally set the border at the 49th degree of latitude. This line became the international boundary between the U.S. and British lands. However, a small disagreement over the San Juan Islands led to the bloodless Pig War.
The part of Oregon that became U.S. territory in 1846 was not organized right away. In 1848, Congress created the Oregon Territory. In 1853, the northern part of this territory became the Washington Territory. Oregon's borders were finalized when it became the 33rd U.S. state on February 14, 1859. Other parts of the original Oregon Territory later became parts of Idaho Territory, Montana Territory, and Wyoming Territory. Washington became a state in 1889, and Idaho in 1890.
Pioneer Economy: How People Made a Living
The Fur Trade: A Big Business
The Lewis and Clark Expedition made many people interested in the Pacific Northwest. Before them, sea traders had already been involved in the fur trade along the coast. But Lewis and Clark's reports encouraged more Americans to seek their fortune in furs.
The first Americans to return were from John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company. They set up Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1811. British traders, like the North West Company, also explored the area. They crossed the Rocky Mountains in 1808. The fur trade was a "triangular trade." Furs went to China, Chinese goods like tea went to England, and manufactured goods came to the Pacific Northwest. These goods were traded with Native Americans for more furs.
During the War of 1812, in 1813, the Pacific Fur Company sold Fort Astoria to the British North West Company. The fort was renamed Fort George. Later, the U.S. got the fort back after the war. In 1821, the North West Company merged with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Dr. John McLoughlin became the Chief Factor for the HBC's Columbia District.
In 1822, McLoughlin built a new headquarters called Fort Vancouver. It was located near where the Willamette River meets the Columbia. This fort became the center of a large fur trading network. Trappers would spend months in the wilderness. They would then bring their animal pelts to forts like Fort George, Fort Umpqua, and Fort Walla Walla. The HBC even started the Puget Sound Agricultural Company to grow food for their operations.
By the 1830s, the Hudson's Bay Company worried about Americans moving into the region. To try and stop this, they made a policy to create "fur deserts." They deliberately hunted beavers until they were rare in areas like the Willamette Valley. This was meant to discourage American trappers. However, it did not stop American settlers from coming.
Another American, Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth, tried to enter the fur trade. He had made money in the ice business. In 1832, he led an expedition to set up his Pacific Trading Company. He built Fort Hall and Fort William. But his venture failed because the HBC was too strong. In 1836, Wyeth sold his forts to the HBC.
The fur trade began to decline in the early 1840s. Fashion changed, and beaver hats were less popular. Also, there were fewer beavers due to over harvesting. At the same time, missionaries and settlers began to arrive. Diseases brought by Europeans also greatly reduced Native American populations. For example, up to 70% of people in the Willamette Valley died by 1830.
Mass migration started in 1842. A large group of wagons traveled overland on the Oregon Trail. In 1846, McLoughlin retired from leading the HBC. In 1849, the United States Army arrived after the Oregon Territory was created. They set up near Fort Vancouver. In 1860, the Hudson's Bay Company closed Fort Vancouver. They moved to Fort Victoria. This basically ended the organized fur trade in the region.
Transportation: Getting Around Oregon
Early travel to Oregon was mostly by ship. Land travel developed later. By the 1830s, people were regularly entering Oregon from California in the south. They also came from the east over the Rocky Mountains. Many of these travelers were fur traders. They used trails that Native Americans had used for centuries. People traveled mainly by horse, mule, and on foot. Wagons slowly started to appear in the late 1830s.
The Oregon Trail saw huge numbers of wagon trains starting in 1843. Boats were very important for moving goods. Steamboats also became popular. The SS Beaver was the first steamboat in Oregon.
As more settlers arrived, new ways to travel were built. Roads like the Barlow Road, Canyon Road, and the Applegate Trail were created. Small bridges were also built. Ferries began to appear in the 1840s at many river crossings. As the population grew, steamboats offered regular service on the rivers. Later, railroads were developed.
The Oregon Steam Navigation Company and other companies built transportation networks. The first railroad in Oregon started in 1858. It was the Cascade Railroad Company, operating in the Columbia River Gorge. Later came the Oregon and California Railroad. Eventually, Oregon connected to the transcontinental rail lines in 1883.
In 1873, a lock and canal were finished at Willamette Falls. This allowed boats to pass the waterfall and travel further up the Willamette River. Construction on a lock to bypass cascades on the Columbia River began in 1878. It was completed in 1896. Other canals were also built, like the Tualatin Canal at Oswego Lake. In 1887, the Morrison Bridge was finished. It was the first bridge over the Willamette River in Portland.
Other Pioneer Activities
In January 1837, thirteen pioneer settlers formed the Willamette Cattle Company. Their goal was to travel to Mexican-owned California and buy cattle. United States Navy officer William A. Slacum encouraged them. He was on a mission from the U.S. President. Slacum helped with money and transportation on the ship Loriot. The settlers were led by Ewing Young. Others, like Jason Lee of the Methodist Mission and John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company, also invested.
Young led a small group to California. They sailed from the Willamette River to San Francisco Bay. There, they bought about 630 cattle. They then drove the cattle north to the Willamette Valley. In Oregon, the cattle were divided among the investors. This made Young one of the richest settlers in Oregon. It also helped settlers rely less on the HBC for cattle.
Even with the Willamette Cattle Company, there were not enough cattle. So, in 1840, another group of pioneers began building a ship. They planned to sail south to California and trade the ship for more livestock. This operation ended in 1843. The group returned to the Willamette Valley with many animals. They brought back 1,250 cattle, 600 horses and mules, and 3,000 sheep.
