Oysterville, Washington Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Oysterville
Unincorporated community
Oysterville Church
Oysterville Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Oysterville Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Pacific
Founded	1841
Population (2000)
• Total	20
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	98641
Area code(s)	360
GNIS feature ID	1512544

Oysterville is a small, historic community in Washington State, United States. It is located along Willapa Bay on the Long Beach Peninsula. This area is part of Pacific County.

Oysterville is about 5 miles (8 km) from Ocean Park. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) from Long Beach. The community was started in 1841 as a village for oyster fishing. Today, it is known as the Oysterville Historic District. This means it is a special place listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Only about 20 people live there now.

History of Oysterville
Geography of Oysterville
Notable People from Oysterville
Gallery
See also

History of Oysterville

Before Oysterville got its English name, local Native American groups used the area. They harvested shellfish there for many years.

Founding the Oyster Village

In 1854, a man named J.A. Clark officially established Oysterville. He named it because of the many oysters found there. The town quickly became a busy center for oyster farming.

Oysterville as County Seat

Oysterville was once the most important town in Pacific County. It served as the county seat, which means it was where the county government was located. This lasted until 1893.

The County Seat Move

On February 3, 1893, the county seat was moved from Oysterville to South Bend. This move was agreed upon. However, some people stole the county records and books to make the move happen faster. You can find a sign in Oysterville that tells this story. It is located across from the historic Oysterville school.

Historic Buildings and Recognition

Oysterville has several old buildings that are still standing. These include a schoolhouse and many historic homes. Most of these buildings were built before 1880. Sadly, many other buildings from the town's past have been lost. They were damaged by the sea and weather over time.

In 1976, Oysterville was added to the National Register of Historic Districts. This helps protect its special history.

Oysterville Cemetery

Just outside the town is the historic Oysterville Cemetery. It was started in 1858. Many of the families who first settled the area are buried there.

Geography of Oysterville

Oysterville is located on the Long Beach Peninsula. This peninsula runs north and south. The community is on the east side of the peninsula. This means it is on the side facing the calm and shallow Willapa Bay. The exact location is 46°32'56" North and 124°1'36" West.

Notable People from Oysterville

Willard R. Espy: He was a famous writer and a philologist. A philologist studies language in historical texts.
Clara C. Munson: She made history as the first woman mayor of a city in Oregon in the 20th century.