Established: July 5, 1843

Elev. at Hillsboro: 196'

Area: 727 sq. mi.

Average Temp.: January 39.9° July 66.6°

Assessed Value: $74,371,914,305

Real Market Value: $131,278,858,403

(includes the value of non-taxed properties)

Annual Precipitation: 37.71"

Economy: Agriculture, horticulture, forest products, food processing, high tech, sports equipment and apparel

The original four counties created by the Provisional Government of Oregon were Twality, Clackamas, Yamhill and Champoick. Twality was changed to Washington in honor of President George Washington by the Territorial Legislature on September 3, 1849. The actual organization of Washington County government followed several years later.

Now one of the state’s fastest developing areas, the fertile Tualatin Valley was once filled with beaver and was a favorite hunting ground for Hudson’s Bay Company trappers. The first white settlers arrived around 1840, lured by rich soil. Despite its rapid urbanization, the valley still contains prime agricultural land. Many small towns rich in his­tory dot the area. Pacific University, founded as Tualatin Academy in 1849, is one of the oldest colleges in the West. Washington County operates under a home rule charter approved by voters in 1962. The Northwest’s largest enclosed shopping center, Washington Square, is located south of Beaverton.