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Welcome to local farming in Benton County!
There are several key places within the county that have a lot of farming history. The next few pages will go more into depth about more centralized areas such as Corvallis, Alsea, and Kings Valley / Hoskins area. Though not all information will be provided, these pages will be a great starting point to further your own research!
It will include links of all kinds:
Below, you will find some general links and information about Benton County to help get started!
Benton County is full of rich farming and agricultural history that may not always be obvious.
There's Oregon State University, which was named the Oregon State Agricultural College in 1882. Agriculture and farming has been very prevalent in the college's history from early on, which you will see in the "Corvallis" tab.
Below, you'll find more information about the Benton County Historical Society and Museum, which is a great resource for Agriculture and Farming history.
Here's a map of what Benton County looks like:
As you can see, it's pretty large and encompasses many towns and cities. The county is roughly 679 square miles, and as of 2014 boasts a population of approximately 86,000 (huge compared to the 1850 population of 814.)
To help navigate Benton County more fully, here are some great resources.
Benton County Records Inventory
Extension Services - Benton County
The Benton County Historical Society and Museum is a treasure trove of information (and also a fun place to visit!) Just outside of Corvallis in Philomath, it holds a wide array of information about Benton County - including farming and agricultural history!
"The Benton County Historical Society is a leading cultural institution in the Willamette Valley.
We operate museum facilities and preserve collections to the highest museum standards, providing a dynamic visitor experience and quality education programs. Our collection includes over 120,000 artifacts including photographs, historical documents, textiles, clothing, domestic arts, farm implements, scientific instruments and personal possessions.
We sponsor numerous exhibitions, lectures, educational programs and special events, and offer many opportunities to get involved."
Some key names/words and search terms found while searching through their database:
Also of note, the Benton County Historical Society has a Historic Benton County Business Directory, dating back to as early as 1867. From here you can look up businesses by name, location, year, and individual people!
121 The Valley Library
Corvallis OR 97331–4501
Phone: 541-737-3331