Southwest Pacific County - Chinook and Long Beach Peninsula
| The Southwest area of Pacific County includes the incorporated cites of Ilwaco and Long Beach and the unincorporated areas of Seaview, Ocean Park, Chinook, Surfside, Klipsan, Oysterville and Nahcotta. The peninsula communities are mostly rural residential with a large seasonal and vacationing population. |
| While first inhabited by native Americans, Captain Robert Gray landed at the ancient Indian Village of Chinook on the north shore of the Columbia River in 1792. Lewis and Clark camped in the same area while leading their famous expedition and first saw the pacific Ocean from Cape Disappointment, located on the the southwest tip of the county. The first county seat was located at Pacific City on Cape Disappointment. In 1852, the Federal Government set aside 640 acres on the cape (including Pacific City) for a military reservation. The occupants of the town were ordered to vacate and the activities of the County government where then transferred to Chinook. |
| With an abundance of oysters, Oysterville located at the north end of the Long Beach Peninsula, was established in 1854. As the demand for oysters boomed in conjunction with the gold rush days of San Francisco, so too did the town of Oysterville, and the County seat was gain relocated to this community. Near the turn of the century, growth within the county was focused more toward inland timber areas and the county seat was relocated to South Bend, in 1893. The Long Beach Peninsula grew in popularity as a seaside resort. It remains as such today and tourists and local residents visit both the Fort Columbia military reservation and the historic town of Oysterville. |
| Recreational uses in the area include Leadbetter Point State Park, Fort Columbia Military Base, the dunal region of the peninsula and miscellaneous park and beach access areas. |