Clatsop County

Clatsop County is an administrative region on Oregon's Pacific coast spanning roughly 1,084 square miles. Its landscape ranges from sandy beaches and rocky shores to forested valleys and rolling hills inland.

The area gained significance when the Lewis and Clark Expedition built Fort Clatsop in 1805-1806, one of the first American outposts on the western coast. This settlement served as a crucial base for exploring and recording the newly mapped territories.

The area takes its name from the Clatsop people who lived along the Pacific coast for generations before European arrival. This heritage remains visible in local place names and community traditions today.

The area is easily accessible by car with several main routes and local connections throughout. Visitors should prepare for changeable coastal weather, particularly during wetter months.

Fort Stevens here remains the only mainland U.S. military installation to come under direct fire during World War II. This surprising chapter in American military history occurred far from the main theaters of war.

Location: Oregon

Inception: 1844

Capital city: Astoria

Shares border with: Pacific County, Wahkiakum County, Columbia County, Washington County, Tillamook County

Website: http://co.clatsop.or.us

GPS coordinates: 46.01000,-123.71000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:21