HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY

HISTORY Coos County

Coos County was created December 22, 1853 from parts of Umpqua and Jackson counties. It owes its name to a local Indian tribe, Coos, which has been translated means "lake" or "place of pines".

Coos County is located in the southwestern part of Oregon. It is bounded by Douglas County in the north and east, by Curry County on the southern and western Pacific. Various border adjustments with Curry County in 1855 and 1872 and with Douglas County in 1882, 1951 and 1983 resulted in the present county which now has an area of 1629 square kilometers.

In January 1854 the territorial legislature in the city of empire created as the county seat. In 1895, the legislature gives citizens in the province to select a new county seat. The 1896 vote resulted in the designation of Coquille City as the new county seat.

County Court was first built in Empire City. The first courthouse in Coquille was erected in 1898. An addition, referred to as "Hall of Records, was built in 1916. In 1951 the old courthouse was demolished. The Hall of Records, stood, and in 1951 and 1953 in the east and west wings added to the price at $ 180,000 and $ 260,000 for each wing.

The Coos County government consisted originally of a county probate court judge, two county commissioners, and a policeman. The county clerk's office was first appointed and later an elective office. Other principles include the offices of county school superintendent, county treasurer and county assessor. County Court was replaced by a board of commissioners in 1961.

The first census in 1860 showed a population of 445th 2007 population of 63,050 represented an increase of 0.4% over 2000 people.

Although exploration and trapping in the area occurred as early as 1828, the first settlement was established in Empire City in 1853. The territorial legislature granted permission for the development of the wagon roads from Coos Bay to Jacksonville in 1854 and to Roseburg in 1857. Although a mountainous district, has considerable areas suitable for agriculture and dairy farming. Timber and fishing have been the basis for the county's economy. The area also produced large quantities of fish and shellfish.

There are several port districts in the province: Port of Coos Bay founded in 1909, Port of Coquille River founded in 1912, and the Port of Bandon founded in 1913. Coos Bay is considered the best natural harbor between San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound.

Gold mining was the magnet that drew people to explore and exploit mineral deposits in the province in the nineteenth century. Today there are rich deposits of iron ore, lead, coal and await developments. Pleasure and recreation, such as the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and many state parks, attract tourists to the area and provide additional economic stimulus.