{"id":9381,"date":"2011-10-07T04:31:32","date_gmt":"2011-10-07T12:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpmu.library.oregonstate.edu\/osu_archives\/?p=9381"},"modified":"2011-10-07T04:31:32","modified_gmt":"2011-10-07T12:31:32","slug":"9381","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/scarc\/2011\/10\/07\/9381\/","title":{"rendered":"Be Local"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Benton<\/a>

Benton County Courthouse with pruned trees <\/p><\/div>\n

To celebrate Oregon Archives Month 2011 we\u2019re heading home (again) with a new collection called \u201cBe Local: some things to note…<\/a>\u201d and an innaugural set called “Be Local: some places in Benton County<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Oregonians are passionate about our state, and Corvallis-ites and residents of Benton County are no different. Starting as the first territorial capital, at the confluence of the Marys and Willamette Rivers, and arriving now at this place in the 21st century, with an ever-expanding community and university, it\u2019s always fun to take a look back over our shoulder to see where we were. And yes, for me, that\u2019s means to read more about our history.<\/p>\n

Joseph C. Avery settled a land claim at the mouth of Marys River where it flows into the Willamette River in 1845. In 1849, Avery opened a store at the site, platted the land, and surveyed a town site on his land claim, naming the community Marysville \u2026 In 1853, the legislative assembly changed the city’s name to Corvallis, from the Latin phrase cor vallis, meaning “heart of the valley.” Corvallis was incorporated as a city on January 29, 1857 \u2026 [and] the town served briefly as the capital of the Oregon Territory in 1855 before Salem was eventually selected as the permanent seat of state government.\u00a0Corvallis, Wikipedia<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Territorial<\/a>

Territorial capital at Corvallis, Oregon <\/p><\/div>\n

Though you can find great contemporary books on Corvallis and Benton County, I encourage you to consider David Fagan\u2019s 1885\u00a0A history of Benton County, Oregon including its geology, topography, soil and productions<\/a> (call no. F882.B4 F2), the 1890 Benton County, Oregon: the heart of the famous Willamette Valley<\/a> (F882.B4 C6), and the 1912 Corvallis and Benton County, Oregon<\/a> (F884.C6 S6 and available electronically on\u00a0ScholarsArchive<\/a>). Each is available at\u00a0OSU Libraries\u2019 main library in Corvallis<\/a>. Fear not, there is plenty more research and reading to be done!<\/p>\n