About the Vancouver, Camas and Battle Ground, Washington Area 

CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Named for Captain William Clark of Lewis and Clark Expedition fame, our county is one of the fastest growing regions in Washington state and in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan region. Today, more than 383,000 people live in Clark County. That’s almost double the population in 1980.  

Why are so many people moving here? The simplest answer may be our quality of life. Clark County is a very family-oriented community and a good place to raise children. And that’s not to mention the beautiful scenery, moderate climate, and lots of recreational opportunities. 

CITY OF VANCOUVER
Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Coast is less than 90 miles to the west. The Cascade Mountain Range rises on the east. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood are less than two hours away. The spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area lies 30 minutes to the east. Vancouver combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities.  

History of Vancouver
An Overview of Vancouver's History
For thousands of years, the Vancouver area was home to native people who flourished on the bounty of forest and river.  

In May, 1792, American trader/sailor Robert Gray became the first non-native to enter the fabled “Great River of the West,” the Columbia River. Later that year, British Lt. William Broughton, serving under Capt. George Vancouver, explored 100 miles upriver. Along the way, he named a point of land along the shore in honor of his commander.  

In 1806, American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped near the Vancouver waterfront on the return leg of their famed western expedition. Lewis characterized the area as “the only desired situation for settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.”  

In 1825, Dr. John McLoughlin decided to move the northwest headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company from Astoria to a more favorable setting upriver. He named the site after Point Vancouver on Broughton’s original map. Fort Vancouver was thus born.  

For many years, Fort Vancouver was the center of all fur trading in the Pacific Northwest. It was also a center of British dominion over the Oregon Territory. In 1846, American control was extended north to the 49th parallel. The northwest became part of the United States.  

In 1849, American troops arrived to establish Columbia (later Vancouver) Barracks. It served as military headquarters for much of the Pacific Northwest. The neighboring settlement was named “the City of Columbia.”  

Finally, in 1857, the City of Vancouver was incorporated. Through the rest of the century, Vancouver steadily developed. In 1908, the first rail line east through the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge reached Vancouver. In 1910, a railroad bridge was opened south across the Columbia. In 1917, the Interstate Bridge was completed.  

During World War I, the site later named Pearson Field was the location of the world's largest spruce cut-up mill. It cut raw timber into the lumber used to build the planes which helped win the war in Europe. During World War II, Vancouver’s Kaiser Shipyard built a variety of craft that contributed greatly to America’s war effort.  

Today, Vancouver is a community proud of its past with a keen eye toward a future rich with promise. 

Historic Facts 

From its long and colorful history, Vancouver boasts these many special distinctions:  

Headquarters of Hudson's Bay Company (established 1825)  

Oldest permanent non-native settlement in Pacific Northwest (1825)  

Oldest living apple tree in Pacific Northwest (planted 1826)  

First sawmill in Pacific Northwest (1827)
Oldest public square in Pacific Northwest
(Esther Short Park, 1855)  

Notable soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks:
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
Gen. George McClellan
Gen. Philip Sheridan
Gen. O.O. Howard
Gen. George C. Marshall  

One of the oldest continuously operated airports in the country (Pearson Field, 1905-present)  

World’s largest spruce lumber mill for airplane construction during World War I
Pearson Field, landing site of first transpolar flight (Soviet, 1937)  

Major shipbuilding center during World War II
Vancouver honored with "All-America City" distinction (1957 and 1987) 

City of Battle Ground
Battle Ground is a small town, with peaceful country living, nearby lakes, streams and forest service areas, which offer outstanding recreational opportunities. Battle Ground is also within commuting distance of the Portland metro area. 

The origin of the City's name comes from a battle, which never took place. In 1855, some Klickatat Indians escaped from Fort Vancouver. Captain Strong headed up the army in charge of bringing the Indians back to the fort. Upon meeting up with the Indians, the Indian chief, Chief Umtuch, promised Captain Strong that the Indians would return to the fort. There are different versions of what happened next, but Chief Umtuch was killed. Captain Strong allowed the Indians to bury the chief. He returned to the fort with the Indians' promise to return. The Indians did return, and for not forcibly bringing them back, Captain Strong was presented a petticoat for bravery and courage. This area later became known as "Strong's Battle Ground". 

The first known settler to homestead the Battle Ground area was John Tuke. In 1862, he chose the area near the hill now known as Tuke's Mountain for his farm.  

City of Camas is...
Situated in the eastern hilly portion of Clark County lies the City of Camas, home to approximately 15,360 residents and several large, hi-tech manufacturing industries. Located along the banks of the Columbia River, this "small" city has become a "big" player in the locating and siting of international companies.
Traveling east on Pacific Rim Blvd., one passes modern manufacturing companies and industries located in the Cascade Business Park. Companies such as Sharp Microelectronics and Sharp Labs of America, Linear Technology, Wafer Tech, Underwriters Laboratories, and others have built and located in this newer area.  

This same drive affords a view of Prune Hill, an ancient and dormant volcanic hill named for its earlier prune orchards. Rising gently over the western half of the City, this area has become a showcase for large homes that hug the hillsides, providing expansive views of downtown Portland and surrounding areas, with beautiful views of Mt. Hood. Descending from the top of the hill and past the lake, one enters the more established areas of the City and its picturesque, downtown environs. With its goal of increasing business opportunities and making downtown "the place to be," the City has established a Downtown Visioning Committee to conceptualize and implement strategies for attracting additional growth in this vital area of the community.  

From its origins over 100 years ago as a paper-mill town, which still boasts a mill operated by Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Camas has expanded, developed, and successfully blended a mix of cultures, values, and vision. These ideals have been instrumental in promoting diverse economic growth, encouraging development of livable, family-oriented neighborhoods, protecting open-space, building parks and other recreational amenities - in short, balancing the nexus between jobs, housing and recreation. Prioritizing the quality of life for all residents has made Camas a truly unique community.  

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