Clatsop

Formed June 22, 1844 (5^th county)

Clatsop County (41,078), Astoria (10,190)                

A tan brick and stone 1908 facility is on Commercial Street between 7^th and 8^th streets.  United States Highway 30 is one block to the north of the courthouse.  Edgar M. Lazarus is the Neo-Classical Revival designer.  A military gun sits on the grounds.  An Administration Building supports the courthouse.  Clatsop County was founded on June 22, 1844.  Lexington was the first county seat until 1854 when Astoria assumed the role.  The county was the 5^th county.  It is named for the Native American tribe.  The county seat is named for John Jacob Astor whose fur trade company established the city’s site. 

Clatsop County government consists of a treasurer, a sheriff, an attorney, an administrator, and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two District Court Judges serve Clatsop County (judicial.)  The county is in the northwest corner of the state.  The Columbia River is its northern border and the Pacific Ocean is its western border.  Portland, Oregon is southeast and Tacoma, Washington is northeast of the county.  The county center is 15.3 miles South of Astoria nearer Olney.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Washington and Columbia, Washington, and Tillamook counties and the Pacific Ocean. 

The area of the county is 827 square miles.  It is 28 out of 36 in the state.  It ranks 19 out of 36 in population in the state.  It has a density of 49.7 persons per square mile making it 15 out of 36 in the state.  Clatsop County has 65.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 26 enters the county from Washington County, southeast, and terminates.  United States Highway 30 comes from Columbia County, east, and terminates.  United States Highway 101 travels from the north, Washington, and goes to the south, Tillamook County.  The county resembles a bag of popcorn with the northwest corner eaten.  Astoria is located on the northern border of the county.  Astoria is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 24.8% of the county population.  The county is pronounced KLAT-SOP.  The county seat is pronounced AS-TOER-E-A.  This county is in the Astoria Micropolitan Statistical Area.