Pacific City (historical) Pacific County, Washington
PACIFIC CITY: Abandoned settlement and former county seat within Cape Disappointment military reservation on Baker Bay/Columbia River. In the fall of 1849 missionary Elijah White (who styled himself Dr.) took a Donation Land Claim on Baker Bay, subdivided his holdings, and advertised the availability of lots in the settlement he called Pacific City. About the same time, White was also trying to convince the federal government that his property should be part of the military reservation on the cape. White was ultimately successful in both promotions. He sold most of his subdivided property to unsuspecting settlers and was undoubtedly compensated for the loss of his DLC when the government announced the land was government property in 1852. During the intervening years Pacific City developed into a busy town with a sawmill, hotel, store, and dozens of houses. A post office was established Dec. 26, 1850, and shortly afterwards residents successfully petitioned the Oregon Territorial legislature to create Pacific County on Feb. 3, 1851. Pacific City was named the county seat. Commissioners meetings were held in any available building because there was no courthouse. Residents moved away from Pacific City after the government announced their property was within the boundaries of the military reservation in 1852. The last County Commissioner Journal entry was made at Pacific City Dec. 7, 1852. The county seat was moved to Chenook/ Chenookville. The post office was finally closed Nov. 3, 1856. By 1858, a Coast Survey report showed there were only two or three houses and a sawmill left standing in the settlement. In 1860 a new post office was established at Whealdons home on Bakers Bay (outside the government reservation) and the name Pacific City was retained at Whealdons home for sentimental reasons until 1865.
Mapped Location
Pacific City (historical): The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.
Information
General information on Pacific City (historical)
- Feature Type: Place
Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Pacific City (historical)
A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Pacific City (historical) | Official |
Pacific County
- Balevile (historical)
- Bay Center
- Bay Center Junction
- Bedford
- Breakers
- Brigham City (historical)
- Brooklyn
- Bruceport
- Burt
- Camp Brix (historical)
- Chinook
- Davis
- Dexter by the Sea
- East Raymond
- Elk Creek
- Firdale
- Fort Canby
- Frances
- Frankfort
- Globe
- Heather
- Hilda
- Hines
- Holcomb
- Holman
- City of Ilwaco
- Klipsan Beach
- Knappton
- Lebam
- City of Long Beach
- Loomis
- McGowan
- Megler
- Menlo
- Middle Nemah
- Moores Corner
- Nahcotta
- Nallpee
- Naselle
- Nemah
- Nemah Junction
- North Cove
- North Nemah
- Ocean Park
- Oceanside
- Oceanview
- Oysterville
- Pacific City (historical)
- Pluvius
- City of Raymond
- Rhodesia Beach
- Seahaven (historical)
- Seaport (historical)
- Seaview
- City of South Bend
- Stringtown
- Sutico
- Swem
- Tokeland
- Upper Salmon Junction
- Venice
- Willapa
Political Boundaries
Last updated: 2026-09-27