An Environmental History of the Willamette Valley

Elizabeth Orr, William Orr

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781439666470
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Western Oregon's Willamette Basin, once a vast wilderness, became a thriving community almost overnight. When Oregon territory was opened for homesteading in the early 1800s, most of the intrepid pioneers settled in the valley, spurring rapid changes in the landscape. Heralded as fertile with a mild climate and an abundance of natural resources, the valley enticed farmers, miners and loggers, who were quickly followed by the construction of rail lines and roads. Dams were built to harness the once free-flowing Willamette River and provide power to the growing population. As cities rose, people like Portland architect Edward Bennett and conservationist governor Tom McCall worked to contain urban sprawl. Authors Elizabeth and William Orr bring to life the changes that sculpted Oregon's beloved Willamette Valley.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. The Willamette Basin
• 2. The Willamette River
• 3. Taming the Landscape: Trails, Roads and Rails
• 4. The Land: Partitioning and Planning
• 5. The Watery Land
• 6. Soils and Farming
• 7. Grass, Trees and Flowers
• 8. Minerals, Stone, Sand and Gravel
• 9. Living with the Natural Environment
• Notes
• About the Authors