6 Of The Oldest Incorporated Towns In The Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest built towns around water, timber, and the narrow places where people could actually start their lives. Long before Seattle’s tech towers and Portland’s bridges became a thing, towns like Astoria, Oregon City, Steilacoom, Port Townsend, Franklin, and The Dalles were already shaping trade routes, territorial politics, and daily life.
This article follows those early foundations as they still stand today. You’ll ride an elevator built to connect bluff-top neighborhoods to the docks below, and walk past forts, museums, and waterfront parks that still trace the region’s first infrastructure! These older incorporated towns carry the Pacific Northwest’s origin story in plain sight!
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria was founded in 1811 as Fort Astoria and is the oldest town in Oregon. This town is also widely recognized as the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains and was incorporated by Oregon’s legislative assembly in 1856. The town began as a fur trade outpost established by John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company at the mouth of the Columbia River. This was a highly strategic location for river and ocean trade. The settlement changed hands during the War of 1812 but remained a focus of economic activity throughout the early decades of the 19th century.
If you visit Astoria today, you can climb the Astoria Column, built in part by the Astor family in 1926. This influential family financed large parts of the town as part of their dream to establish a new ‘New York City’ on the West Coast. You can also explore Fort Stevens State Park, which sits at the spot where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The fort inside the part was built as the Civil War was winding down and protected the river from enemy ships. The Peter Iredale Shipwreck is still visible in the park on the sandy shore, so you can stop here to take some photos before heading to the Fort-to-Sea Trail at Fort Clatsop. You can use your America the Beautiful Pass or pay $10 to enter the fort area.
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was founded by Dr. John McLoughlin of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1829 and officially incorporated in 1844. Before Portland's rise, Oregon City was considered a key economic and political center in the Willamette Valley. It was the first capital of the Oregon Territory from 1848 to 1851, and thrived due to Willamette Falls, which provided power for the early mills.
In 2026, Oregon City continues to grow, with a population of just over 37,500. If you visit this charming place, you can take the 130-foot Oregon City Municipal Elevator to the top of a bluff overlooking the town. The elevator will also allow you to access the McLoughlin Promenade, a half-mile path that takes you along the bluff’s edge. You can also see Willamette Falls, where people fish and picnic on weekends. The remains of the old paper mill buildings (and some still active) can also be seen around the falls.
Steilacoom, Washington
Located on the shores of Puget Sound, Steilacoom was one of the earliest non-Native communities in the Washington region. Two rival settlements, namely Port Steilacoom and Steilacoom City, merged under territorial legislation to form the town. Steilacoom was first settled in 1851 and became the first incorporated town in what would become Washington Territory in 1854. It also boasted the first public library, first Protestant church, first jail, and first school in the early territory.
The Steilacoom Historical Museum Association works hard to preserve the town’s earliest landmarks. You can see some of these landmarks downtown, as many have been taken over by businesses or private homes. There are also several parks in and around Steilacoom if you want to take a couple of hours for a picnic or get your steps in in a green space. Fort Steilacoom Park has walking trails and sports fields. You can walk to Pioneer Orchard Park from the ferry terminal to enjoy views of the sound, or head to Sunnyside Beach Park a mile away to walk along the shore. Take the ferry to Anderson Island for a serene day in nature. There are freshwater lakes here, no stoplights, and just one restaurant.
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend was first settled in 1851 and incorporated in 1860 during the early territorial period. The town lies on the Quimper Peninsula and overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Because of this location, it was expected that Port Townsend would become a major trans-Pacific port and was even called ‘City of Dreams’. It did not reach quite that scale, but the town still boasts remarkably intact Victorian architecture from that era.
You will see several historical buildings if you visit Port Townsend now. The Palace Hotel sits in the center of the town’s historic district and was originally built for a sea captain more than 130 years ago. The Manresa Castle was built in 1892 and hosts multiple bars and restaurants. From downtown, you can walk to Chetzemoka Park, where you can take a short trail to the beach. If you want to experience more of nature in Port Townsend, head to Fort Worden State Park, where you can hike, swim, and fish for days on end. There are stairs that take you to a long stretch of beach where you can see the Olympic and Cascade Mountains in the distance. If you have some extra time, you can also stop by Bell Tower Park, which is home to the last remaining wooden bell tower in the U.S.
Franklin, Idaho
Franklin was founded by Mormon pioneers in 1860 and incorporated as a town in 1873, making it the oldest permanent European American settlement in Idaho. The settlers initially believed they were in Utah Territory, but a boundary survey found the town was in Idaho. Franklin developed into an agricultural and religious center and was later incorporated into Franklin County during the county’s formal establishment in 1913.
There are many historic buildings to see in Idaho today, including the Hatch House, Relic Hall, and ZCMI store. The Hatch House belonged to Lorenzo Hill Hatch, who was the first mayor and second Mormon bishop in town. Just outside of town, the Old Yellowstone Route still exists. This route once took stagecoaches filled with tourists to Yellowstone National Park. Franklin is exceptionally charming and also offers incredible natural beauty. After exploring the town’s history, you can go mountain biking just outside of town along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. You can also visit the icy Minnetonka Cave during the summer (just beware of the bats).
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles in Oregon sits on one of the most historically significant locations in the Pacific Northwest. It was a major Indigenous trading center along the Columbia River before European settlers arrived. American settlement expanded in the 1850s, and the town transformed into a transfer point for Oregon Trail emigrants moving from overland travel to river transport. The town was incorporated in 1857 and officially became the core of military, transport, and commercial activities.
Today, the Columbia Gorge Museum offers interactive displays that explain in detail the natural and cultural history of the Columbia River Gorge. There is also an Ice Age geology exhibit where you can see a model of a giant mastodon, a Native American artifacts exhibit, and an Oregon Trail exhibit. At one of Oregon’s oldest history museums, Fort Dalles Museum, you can learn more about pioneer history and see military artifacts. At the serene Memorial Rose Garden, you can look out over the river, and at Celilo Park Recreation Area, you can fish and boat, while keeping an eye out for old Native American fishing platforms.
These Oldest Incorporated Towns Deserve A Spot On Your Pacific Northwest Travel Bucket List
Traveling through the Pacific Northwest can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you stop to explore some of the oldest incorporated towns in the region. You will not find small towns competing with big cities, as each has its own unique appeal. You can walk the historic downtowns, discover how each town came to be, explore the natural surroundings, and feel like you have had an entire vacation. There is also a sense of tranquility and stability in these old towns that you do not always find in newer communities. So, the next time you think about traveling the Pacific Northwest, make some space on your bucket list for the attractions in these and other small towns throughout Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
