Astoria, city (1990 pop. 10,069), Clatsop co., NW Oregon, 70 mi/113 km NW of Portland on the Columbia R. estuary, and 5 mi/8 km E of the Pacific Ocean; 46°11'N 123°49'W. Elev. 19 ft/6 m. On peninsula (Smith Point) at NE side of Youngs Bay, which receives Youngs R. from the SE and Lewis and Clark R. from the S. Warrenton is at W side of the bay. A port of entry, Astoria is the trading center for the lower Columbia basin. The city’s traditional industries (fishing, fish processing, and lumbering) have declined since the 1970s. Tourism and light mfg. are the principal economic activities. Astoria Bridge, 4 mi/6.4 km long, crosses the Columbia R. N to Point Ellice, Wash. Bridge and causeway, 2 mi/3.2 km long, cross Youngs Bay to the SW. Astoria Airport across bay. The Lewis and Clark expedition spent the winter of 1805–1806 at a nearby encampment, Fort Clatsop (to the SW; rebuilt in 1955 and now called Fort Clatsop Natl. Memorial). Fort Astoria, a fur-trading post est. 1811 by John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Co., was the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast. Although the post was sold to the British in 1813, its vigorous activities helped to establish Amer. claims to the Oregon country and contributed much to the exploration of the continent. Fort Astoria was formally restored to the U.S. in 1818, but trade remained in Br. hands until the mid-1840s, when Amer. pioneers followed the Oregon Trail to the fort. In the late 18th cent., Astoria grew as a coastal and river port, later attracting Scandinavian settlers whose descendants make up most of its present-day pop. Points of interest include: the Astoria Column (125 ft/38 m high), built in 1926 with a pictorial frieze depicting the region’s early history; the Columbia R. Maritime Mus.; and the Uppertown Firefighters Mus. Fish hatcheries to SE. Lighthouse and naval base at Tongue Point, 3 mi/4.8 km E. Clatsup State Forest to SE; Lewis and Clark Natl. Wildlife Refuge to E; Fort Stevens State Park on Pacific Ocean to W. Inc. 1876.
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Clatsop co., NW Oregon, 70 mi/113 km NW of Portland on the Columbia R. estuary, and 5 mi/8 km E of the Pacific Ocean; 46°11'N 123°49'W. Elev. 19 ft/6 m. On peninsula (Smith Point) at NE side of Youngs Bay, which receives Youngs R. from the SE and Lewis and Clark R. from the S. Warrenton is at W side of the bay. A port of entry, Astoria is the trading center for the lower Columbia basin. The city’s traditional industries (fishing, fish processing, and lumbering) have declined since the 1970s. Tourism and light mfg. are the principal economic activities. Astoria Bridge, 4 mi/6.4 km long, crosses the Columbia R. N to Point Ellice, Wash. Bridge and causeway, 2 mi/3.2 km long, cross Youngs Bay to the SW. Astoria Airport across bay. The Lewis and Clark expedition spent the winter of 1805–1806 at a nearby encampment, Fort Clatsop (to the SW; rebuilt in 1955 and now called Fort Clatsop Natl. Memorial). Fort Astoria, a fur-trading post est. 1811 by John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Co., was the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast. Although the post was sold to the British in 1813, its vigorous activities helped to establish Amer. claims to the Oregon country and contributed much to the exploration of the continent. Fort Astoria was formally restored to the U.S. in 1818, but trade remained in Br. hands until the mid-1840s, when Amer. pioneers followed the Oregon Trail to the fort. In the late 18th cent., Astoria grew as a coastal and river port, later attracting Scandinavian settlers whose descendants make up most of its present-day pop. Points of interest include: the Astoria Column (125 ft/38 m high), built in 1926 with a pictorial frieze depicting the region’s early history; the Columbia R. Maritime Mus.; and the Uppertown Firefighters Mus. Fish hatcheries to SE. Lighthouse and naval base at Tongue Point, 3 mi/4.8 km E. Clatsup State Forest to SE; Lewis and Clark Natl. Wildlife Refuge to E; Fort Stevens State Park on Pacific Ocean to W. Inc. 1876.
