Vancouver U.S.A. is located exactly where the Lewis and Clark Expedition first viewed the site back in 1805. The journal entry recorded by Captain Meriwether Lewis on November 4, 1805, in reference to the present site of Vancouver reads, "This valley is the only desirable location for a settlement I have seen on the west side of the Rocky Mountains."

Twenty years later, on March 19, 1825, the Hudson's Bay Company agreed with Lewis' observation when they christened their company headquarters and established the first settlement. They named the establishment Fort Vancouver in honor of Captain George Vancouver, who had discovered and explored much of the Pacific Northwest a generation earlier.

The Hudson's Bay Company saw the Columbia River as a favorable location to trap beaver and trade fur pelts. The British-owned company enjoyed exclusive domain of the rich country by encouraging newcomers to settle north of the Columbia River, with hopes of establishing the Columbia River as the southern boundary of Canada. However, as Americans migrated west, a boundary dispute developed. On June 15, 1846, a treaty between the United States and Great Britain gave the territory south of the 49th parallel to the United States.

On April 6, 1912, a special election established the Port of Vancouver, USA, as a state port. Over 90 years later, the Port of Vancouver, USA, still abides by a similar mission "to provide economic benefit to our community through leadership, stewardship and partnership in marine and industrial development."

Holding steadfast to the commitment of the Port's mission statement, elected commissioners have guided the Port through years of responsible growth. Tonnage has increased from less than 4,500 tons per year, consisting mostly of prunes and lumber shipments, to over five million metric tons annually consisting of an array of various commodities imported and exported to countries all over the world.

Today, the Port of Vancouver, USA, has a rich history and a geographic location offering direct access to the continental U.S. and world markets.