LAND AND PEOPLE

Oregon's North Coast is a small segment of the dynamic edge between the North American continent and the Pacific Ocean. Its striking geographic features and complex ecosystems attract people to live, work and play in this seemingly robust landscape. Yet, our presence subtly and not so subtly changes the landscape as we construct byways, build communities, walk the beaches and use the natural resources to fuel our economy.

The human/land interaction is relatively recent on the North Coast as Native Americans appear to have moved out to the coast from inland and the north. One extensively studied settlement in Tillamook County found evidence of Salish occupation dating to 1400 A.D. with more substantial settlement around 1670 A.D (Newman, 1959). The Europeans and Russians came by sea working their way up from the south and down from the Bering Sea. Even so, actual settlement by non-Native Americans was slow to materialize with Astoria being founded in 1811, critically located at the mouth of the Columbia River – a conduit to the interior.

The North Coast was not an easy place to live. The maritime climate while temperate also brought extreme winter storms and heavy rainfall. The geology of headlands and precipitous sea cliffs made north/south travel challenging. Trade connections inland were also difficult given the Coast Range. These same factors shape life on the North Coast today; although modern society has found ways to adapt to the climate, to alter the landforms and to make vital connections. All have tradeoffs as the natural world flexes around our additions to the landscape and shapes our patterns of living on the coast.