City of Vancouver Clark County, Washington
Mapped Location
City of Vancouver: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on City of Vancouver
- Feature Type: Incorporated
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for City of Vancouver
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| City of Vancouver | Official |
| Vancouver | Official |
Origin Notes and History of City of Vancouver
References to City of Vancouver that document the origin of its place name
VANCOUVER, a town in the southwestern part of Clarke County, is the oldest continuous home of white men in the State of Washington. See Fort Vancouver, Point Vancouver and Clarke County. Samuel R. Thurston was sent to Congress in 1849 as Oregon Territory's first Delegate. He hated the British and sought to remove their geographic names While he was in Washington, the Post-Master General changed the name of Vancouver to Columbia City. (H. H. Bancroft, Works, Volume XXX., pages 118-119, quoting Oregon Statesman for May 28, 1851.) It is annoying to find Bancroft forgetting this information when writing the next volume of his long series. In Volume XXXI., pages 77-78, he has this footnote: "Vancouver is called Columbia City in the act. This patriotic change of name occurred about 1851 or 1852, but I fail to find any mention of it. I think it was done on the motion of the first postmaster at that place, R H Lonsdale, who had the post-office called Columbia City. The name, however, would not pass in the face of long usage, and the Washington legislature at its second session changed it to Vancouver." The act which named "Columbia City" as the county seat of Clarke County located it "on the east side of Mrs. Esther Short's land claim" and Mrs. Short's house was made the legal place of holding court until the county should provide a more suitable building. (Laws of Washington, 1854, page 475.) James C. Strong says that he and another man surveyed that land into lots, blocks and streets. ("Reminiscenses of a Pioneer," in Washington Historical Quarterly, for July, 1912, page 182.) The act by which "Columbia City" was changed back to the old name of Vancouver may be found in Laws of Washington, 1855, page 44. As explained in items above cited, the Vancouver honored by this city's name was Captain George Vancouver, the great English explorer, who named many geographic features in the Pacific Northwest during the years 1792, 1793, and 1794. His biography may be found in Edmond S. Meany's Vancouver's Discovery of Puget Sound, pages 7 to 21. The Indian name for the site of the city is given as Alashikash. (E. S. Curtis, The North American Indian, Volume VII., page 182.)
A Selected Bibliography of City of Vancouver, Clark County, Washington
A compilation of essential readings detailing the history, geography, and culture of the region.
Exploring Fort Vancouver by Douglas Calvin Wilson, Theresa E. Langford
To explore the sweep of human history at Fort Vancouver is to grasp some of the essentials of the North American experience. The fort has been part of the major historical trends of the Pacific Northwest for over 150 years, from the effects of colonialism native peoples to the role of the U.S. Army. Native Americans, traders, homesteaders, and soldiers lived and worked at the fort, their lives interwoven and their stories imbedded in the objects they left behind. Exploring Fort Vancouver uses some of the most intriguing objects from the fort's extensive archaeological and archival collections to tell the history of technology, material culture, globalization, health and diet, and the National Park Service at this significant place.
xii, 116 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 26 cm
Desiderata
Northwest bastion the U.S. Army barracks at Vancouver, 1849-1916 by Ted Van Arsdol, Heritage Trust of Clark County (Wash)
The U.S. Army, obeying the command, arrived May 13, 1849, to establish a military presence north of the Columbia River. The Hudson's Bay Co. moved from the Bastion to Victoria on Vancouver Island and slowly sold or abandoned its holding below the 49th parallel. A new chapter began in American history that year, as the bugle call was heard up and down the Columbia River. The United States extended from "sea to shining sea" and the country began to develop fully its economic, social, and cultural identity. Ch. 1 speaks of the Ninth Regiment stationed at Fort Vancouver and the famous Shanghai drill that was performed daily. The Indian Frontier (1849-1860) is the title of the first chapter. Ch. 2 talks of Volunteers Take Over (1861-1866) because the Civil War was beginning, and an early effect of that war was the removal of most regular Army units. Trained soldiers were required in the East. Some officers resigned and joined the Confede rates. This era at the fort was called the volunteer era. They had to let go of men like Sheridan, Augur, an Ingalls, and a Grant. Ch. 3 is about Pacifying The Natives (1867-1882) and the worry for Indian Tribes in the area. The troops at Vancouver were called out to curb tribes in the surrounding area. By 1882 the last Indian war of the Pacific NW was fought, and transition was under way into a different era. Ch. 4 speaks of Marking Time (1883-1898) because during this time the life of the fort was a round of dinner parties, dances, and theatricals. Ch. 5 is all about preparing troops for overseas duty, hence, Troops For Overseas (1898-1906). They were going "to the front" - artillery troops were leaving for Cuba from Vancouver. And later for the Philippines. Ch. 6 is called, Heading to Armageddon (1907-1916). Germany was exercising an expanding role in Europe at this time. Initially there were no big concerns about building up armed forces. 7 yrs. later this all changed.
xii, 110 pages : illustrations, facsimiles, map ; 22 x 28 cm
Non-circulating [ 1 ]
Vancouver on the Columbia an illustrated history by Ted Van Arsdol, Sheila Guenther, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce (Wash)
Vancouver on the Columbia: An Illustrated History by Ted Van Arsdol, featuring photo research by Sheila Guenther and produced in cooperation with the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, is a comprehensive 1986 civic history of Washington state's oldest continuously inhabited non-Native settlement. The book chronicles the city's rich evolution from its origins as a prominent Hudson's Bay Company fur-trading outpost and U.S. military garrison (Fort Vancouver) into a modern industrial, shipping, and commercial hub along the Columbia River. Ultimately, enriched by an extensive collection of archival photographs and business profiles, it serves as a highly visual and engaging tribute to the pioneer heritage, economic milestones, and enduring community identity of Vancouver, Washington.
160 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 28 cm
Non-circulating [ 1 ]
Clark County
- Alpine
- Amboy
- Baker
- Barberton
- City of Battle Ground
- Battle Ground West
- Blurock Landing
- Brush Prairie
- Burton
- Burton Homes
- City of Camas
- Cathlapotle (historical)
- Cedarville
- Charter Oak
- Chelatchie
- Cherry Grove
- Crawford
- Creswell Heights
- Dayton
- Dole
- Dollar Corner
- Etna
- Fargher Lake
- Felida
- Fern Prairie
- Fisher
- Five Corners
- Good Hope
- Hall
- Hayes
- Hazel Dell
- Heisson
- Hidden
- Highland
- Hockinson
- Homan
- Image
- Ireland
- King Corner
- Knapp
- Kumtux
- City of La Center
- Lake Shore
- Lakeshore
- Lambert
- Lewisville
- Little Elkhorn
- Livingston
- Lucia
- Manor
- McLoughlin
- Meadow Glade
- Mill Plain
- Minnehaha
- Moulton
- Mount Pleasant
- Mount Vista
- Officers Row
- Orchards
- Parker Landing Light
- Parkersville
- Pine Grove
- Pioneer
- Proebstel
- City of Ridgefield
- Russell Landing
- Rye
- Saint John
- Salmon Creek
- Sara
- Scotton Corner
- Sifton
- Sunnyside
- Union
- City of Vancouver
- Vancouver Junction
- Venersborg
- View
- Walnut Grove
- City of Washougal
- West Pioneer
- Town of Yacolt
Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2017-01-14