History

Vancouver, Wash., is located exactly where Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery first viewed the site in 1805. Capt. Meriwether Lewis’ journal entry for March 30, 1806 states, in reference to the Vancouver area, that “This valley… is indeed the only desirable situation for a settlement which I have seen on the west side of the Rocky Mountains.”

Two decades later, the Hudson’s Bay Company established its new Columbia River headquarters just upriver from where Capt. Lewis had stood. The site chosen by Dr. John McLaughlin, who would be the new Chief Factor of the trading fort, was referred to as “Jolie Prairie” by the Company’s French-Canadian Voyageurs and possessed easy access to the river, and rich fertile land for livestock and crops. The fort was christened “Fort Vancouver” by George Simpson, the HBC’s governor for this region and McLaughlin’s superior, in honor of
Capt. George Vancouver who had claimed the river and region for Great Britain.

As more and more Americans migrated west, with many trading with and settling near Fort Vancouver on both sides of the Columbia. A small community outside the stockade of Fort Vancouver began to grow as well, eventually becoming
“Columbia City.”

Eventually Great Britain and the United States moved toward a boundary dispute. This was settled by treaty in June 1846 whereby the boundary was established at the 49th parallel and the area became part of the United States.

In the years that followed, trade, people and settlement continued. “Columbia City” became the City of Vancouver, and the waterfront was the major source for both imports and exports. Many businesses were located on the waterfront for easy access to the ships that plied the waters of the Columbia; but these were private businesses. Eventually, public ownership of the waterfront became imperative so that all citizens would reap the benefits of waterborne trade that transpired across the public shoreline. On April 6, 1912, a special election established the Port of Vancouver.

Today, almost a century later, the Port of Vancouver USA’s mission statement “to provide economic benefit to our community through leadership, stewardship and partnership in marine and industrial development” means that this unique and vibrant center of trade will endure for years to come, for the benefit of all.

Three publicly-elected commissioners represent the interests of the population of the Port District. They work closely with port employees so that the port continues to provide economic benefit to our community by attracting new cargos, increasing cargo volume, innovating more efficient cargo handling practices, and keeping a vigilant eye on the environment of both the land and the river that serves it.

As our centennial approaches, the Port of Vancouver USA stands ready to fulfill its mission on an even greater scale with the acquisition of the Alcoa and Evergreen properties and the development of the Columbia Gateway.