Discover the Oldest Town in Oregon

Oregon, the 33rd state in the United States, is a beautiful place with lots to do and see. Most people who come to Oregon visit Eugene, Portland, and Salem, but there are a lot of older cities. So, what is the oldest town in Oregon? This charming old town is well worth a visit. Follow along to discover the oldest city in Oregon, and the things that make this place special.

What Is the Oldest Town in Oregon?

The oldest town in Oregon is Astoria, which was founded in 1811. It’s over 200 years old. Fun fact: it’s also the oldest permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. Although founded in 1811, this historical town was incorporated in 1876. The surface area of the town is 9.95 square miles and about a third of the surface area is water. Astoria is on the Columbia River that connects to the Pacific Ocean. The town has a population of around 10,000.

The History of Astoria

Astoria’s history is fascinating. People have lived in this area for thousands of years. The Native Americans that lived on this land were the Clatsop people. European settlers first came to this part of Oregon in the 19th century. Interestingly, Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed nearby modern-day Astoria in Fort Clatsop. The settlement of Astoria first began with a fort. In 1811, John Jacob Astor sent fur traders to modern-day Astoria, and quickly, a trading post was created.

Did you know that Astoria is also the name of a popular book? Washington Irving, a well-known writer during the 19th century, published Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains. John Jacob Astor requested this book, which took Washington Irving months to complete. This book was so popular that during the time of Irving’s death, it required reading in some schools.

While fur trading was a large industry in Astoria, it wasn’t the only one. Canning was also a popular industry, but during the 1970s, most canning companies had closed because of the declining population of Pacific salmon.

Things to Do in Astoria

Although not as popular as Portland, Astoria is still an excellent town to visit with lots to see. For example, multiple annual events are held in the town, including the Fisher Poets Gathering. During this gathering, fishermen visit Astoria and perform songs, poems, and stories related to fishing and the sea. Another unique annual event in Astoria is the Dark Arts Festival. Thousands of people from across the state travel to witness beautiful dancing, lively music, and blacksmithing and glassblowing.

Astoria is also home to many old houses, buildings, and museums. A very popular museum is the Columbia River Maritime Museum. While here, you can also visit the Flavel House Museum. This house once belonged to Captain George Flavel. It’s a stunning Victorian mansion built in 1885. Also in Astoria is the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park near the mouth of the Columbia River. This park was established on May 29, 1958. It was previously called the Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

Wildlife You’ll Find in Astoria

Astoria is along the water, which means you may encounter aquatic wildlife. During a hiking trail, you may see animals like newts, birds, snakes, and more. A popular trail in Astoria is Gnat Creek Trail. It’s a great place to get away from the noise and enjoy a moment of peace. The Gnat Creek Trail runs for 7.2 miles. According to previous hikers, it takes about 2 hours and 51 minutes to complete. If you decide to hike this lovely trail, wear closed-toed shoes and bring binoculars for bird watching.

Rough-Skinned Newt

The first animal on our list of animals in the oldest town in Oregon is the rough-skinned newt. Rough-skinned newts vary in color but are known for the strong toxin exuded from their skin. These North American newts are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. They have a wide range and are found throughout the Pacific Northwest. You can find these newts as far north as Alaska. Rough-skinned newts have orange to yellow bellies and rough brown-black or brown-reddish backs. They can reach up to 7.1 inches long, but their tails are sometimes half the size of their body.

Northern Alligator Lizard

Next on our list is the northern alligator lizard, which has a unique appearance. They are medium-sized slender lizards native to the west coast of North America. Northern alligator lizards are about 10.8 inches long. They have very long tails. Although most northern alligator lizards have brown, black, white, and yellow skin, they range in color and patterns. These interesting reptiles birth live lizards, up to 15 at a time. You can find these lizards in California, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington.

Townsend’s Chipmunk

Another animal you may spot while walking a hiking trail in Astoria is Townsend’s Chipmunk. This striped rodent is very common throughout Oregon. They are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. You can mainly find them in forests in the Pacific Northwest. Compared to other chipmunk species, these are big, reaching up to 14 inches long.

California Sea Lion

Imagine visiting Astoria and looking up towards the river, only to see California sea lions. One of the best places to see these sea lions in Astoria is Pier 39. California sea lions are very social animals. They like to sunbathe in groups on rocks and docks. As cute as these sea lions are though, you should never attempt to get close or touch them.

Orca Whale

California sea lions aren’t the only aquatic animal you may see on your next visit to Astoria. Although not extremely common, sometimes you can see orca whales swimming in the river. When spotted, they are usually swimming near the Astoria Bridge. Orca whales are impressive and intelligent animals. They are the largest members of the dolphin family and travel in groups.

Least Sandpiper

Birds are one of the most common animals you’ll encounter while hiking an Astoria, Oregon trail. One bird you may see along the river is the least sandpiper. The least sandpipers are small brown and white shorebirds with a large range. They live throughout the North American continent and are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least sandpipers sometimes, although rarely, are spotted in Europe. These small shorebirds have green-brown legs and short protruding bills. These tiny birds sometimes weigh less than an ounce.

Rufous Hummingbird

Last but not least is the rufous hummingbird. This small hummingbird is a delight to see. Sadly, they are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List as their population is slowly declining. Rufous hummingbirds are bright red, orange, brown, and white birds that weigh up to 0.17 ounces. They are excellent fliers and have a small range. From May to September, these bright small birds fly to the Rocky Mountains to feed on the many wildflowers. During winter, they fly to warm areas like Mexico and parts of the southeastern United States. In the winter, they mainly consume insects, which is part of the reason they are listed as Near Threatened. Pesticides are decreasing the number of insects all over the world.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Danita Delimont/Shutterstock.com