History of Scappoose, Oregon

Scappoose, Oregon

Scappoose town prior to 1915 fire. Officially incorporated July 15, 1921, the city of Scappoose, Oregon has had a long and vibrant history. American settlers began moving into the area when Thomas McKay, stepson of John McLaughlin of the Hudson Bay Company, came to the region. He settled in Scappoose with his Native American bride, Tomee (daughter of Chief Concomley) in the late 1820's. Like McKay, the earliest settlers were connected with the Hudson Bay Company which planted and raised the first grain in Oregon here.

Prior to this time, various Native American tribes used the Scappoose area as a gathering place. The area was used for hunting, fishing, trade, sports and the gathering of Wapatoo (arrowroot). It was the earliest of these Native Americans which gave the area the name of Scappoose which means gravelly plains or rocky creek. During the 1800's Cassino became chief and held stewardship over the Chinook tribe of the area, leading six tribes living on both sides of the Columbia River. Cassino was married to Leche, the oldest daughter of Chief Concomley, around 1825. When Chief Concomley died in 1830, Cassino became the highest ranking chief of the northwest Chinook tribes. Large fir trees covered the area prior to the mid 1800's.

Between 1804 and 1806, Lewis and Clark, the famous American explorers, camped in the area during their travels. The landscape was quite different then, with water levels reaching at least to the location of present-day 6th Street (during high water times it reached almost to the railroad tracks). Gigantic trees covered the area and game was abundant.

People traveled by boats, wagons and horseback to the area. The first of the covered wagons arrived in 1842. These early pioneers traveled in their wagons until they reached the Cascade Locks area. Once here, they would load their possessions onto a barge or sternwheeler and travel by river to Scappoose.

William Watts built a windmill and storage tank in the tall fir tree near his home (present-day Scappoose School District office) which allowed him to have running water in his house and barn. In 1852, William Watts (great-grandfather to James Grant Watts) and his family arrived in the Scappoose area and filed a Donation Land Claim. Many other early Scappoose families settled the area through Donation Land Claims.

The first organized school came one year later, and a four-room school was built in 1854. A store, dock and post office were built near Johnson's Landing a couple of years later.

But not everything was quaint or peaceful. In 1855, citizens built a blockhouse for all the settlers to gather for protection during the last Native American uprising.

Then in 1870, Congress passed an act for the donation of land for a railroad and telegraph line between Portland and Astoria. The railroad's completion through Scappoose in 1884 allowed for travel to the area by train. A train depot was built on land donated by William W. West. Tracks ran as far as Goble, Oregon, where train cars were then loaded onto barges and ferried across the river to Washington to continue their journey.

Workers laying track through the town of Scappoose.

Families and individuals continued to moved to the area and establish business and develop the land. Scappoose citizens occupied themselves with farming, lumbering, dairying, horticulture, and poultry raising. Despite town fires in 1915 and 1930, Scappoose continued to develop. By 1921, the town had reached a population of 151.

Want to learn more? Get your own copy of History of Scappoose and I Remember books, available from the Scappoose Historical Society.

Local Cemeteries

Further information concerning local cemeteries and geneology of original Scappoose families to come. Please refer to this tombstone transcription project for Columbia County until then. They are also looking for volunteers in this project. Thank you.



	Scappoose, Oregon Officially incorporated July 15, 1921, the city of Scappoose, Oregon has had a long and vibrant history. American settlers began moving into the area when Thomas McKay, stepson of John McLaughlin of the Hudson Bay Company, came to the region. He settled in Scappoose with his Native American bride, Tomee (daughter of Chief Concomley) in the late 1820's. Like McKay, the earliest settlers were connected with the Hudson Bay Company which planted and raised the first grain in Oregon here. Prior to this time, various Native American tribes used the Scappoose area as a gathering place. The area was used for hunting, fishing, trade, sports and the gathering of Wapatoo (arrowroot). It was the earliest of these Native Americans which gave the area the name of Scappoose which means gravelly plains or rocky creek. During the 1800's Cassino became chief and held stewardship over the Chinook tribe of the area, leading six tribes living on both sides of the Columbia River. Cassino was married to Leche, the oldest daughter of Chief Concomley, around 1825. When Chief Concomley died in 1830, Cassino became the highest ranking chief of the northwest Chinook tribes. Between 1804 and 1806, Lewis and Clark, the famous American explorers, camped in the area during their travels. The landscape was quite different then, with water levels reaching at least to the location of present-day 6th Street (during high water times it reached almost to the railroad tracks). Gigantic trees covered the area and game was abundant. People traveled by boats, wagons and horseback to the area. The first of the covered wagons arrived in 1842. These early pioneers traveled in their wagons until they reached the Cascade Locks area. Once here, they would load their possessions onto a barge or sternwheeler and travel by river to Scappoose. In 1852, William Watts (great-grandfather to James Grant Watts) and his family arrived in the Scappoose area and filed a Donation Land Claim. Many other early Scappoose families settled the area through Donation Land Claims. The first organized school came one year later, and a four-room school was built in 1854. A store, dock and post office were built near Johnson's Landing a couple of years later. But not everything was quaint or peaceful. In 1855, citizens built a blockhouse for all the settlers to gather for protection during the last Native American uprising. Then in 1870, Congress passed an act for the donation of land for a railroad and telegraph line between Portland and Astoria. The railroad's completion through Scappoose in 1884 allowed for travel to the area by train. A train depot was built on land donated by William W. West. Tracks ran as far as Goble, Oregon, where train cars were then loaded onto barges and ferried across the river to Washington to continue their journey. Families and individuals continued to moved to the area and establish business and develop the land. Scappoose citizens occupied themselves with farming, lumbering, dairying, horticulture, and poultry raising. Despite town fires in 1915 and 1930, Scappoose continued to develop. By 1921, the town had reached a population of 151. Want to learn more? Get your own copy of History of Scappoose and I Remember books, available from the Scappoose Historical Society. Local Cemeteries Further information concerning local cemeteries and geneology of original Scappoose families to come. Please refer to this tombstone transcription project for Columbia County until then. They are also looking for volunteers in this project. Thank you.