National Register Listings in
Marion County, Oregon

Adams, Louise, House Adolph Block Adolph, Samuel, House Anderson, James Mechlin, House Aurora Colony Historic District Bank of Woodburn Beauchamp Building Beers, Oliver, House Bents, Frederick, House Boise, R. P., Building Boon Brick Store Boon, John D., House Brown, Charles and Martha, House Brown, Sam, House Burggraf-Burt-Webster House Bush and Brey Block and Annex Bush, Asahel, House Bush-Breyman Block Calvary Lutheran Church & Parsonage Campbell, Hamilton, House Case, William, Farm Champoeg Cemetery Chemawa Indian School Site Chemeketa Lodge No. 1 Odd Fellows Buildings Collins, George, House Conser, Jacob, House Court Street-Chemeketa Street Historic District Cross, Curtis, House Cusick, Dr. William A., House Daue, Alexander, House DeGuire, Murton E. and Lillian, House DeGuire-Ludowitzki House Deidrich Building Delaney-Edwards House Drake, June D., House Ek, Magnus and Emma, House Elsinore Theater Farrar Building Fawk, Henry, House First Methodist Episcopal Church of Salem Gaiety Hill-Bush's Pasture Park Historic District Gaiety Hollow Gallon House Bridge Geer, R. C., Farmhouse Gilbert, Andrew T., House Gill, J. K., Building Gordon House Harding, Benjamin F., House Hinkle-Reid House Hobson-Gehlen General Merchandise Store Jarman, Daniel B., House and Garden Jefferson Methodist Church Jones-Sherman House Kay, Thomas, Woolen Mill Kirk, John W., and Thomas F., House Lamport, Frederick S., House Lee Mission Cemetery Lee, Jason, House Livesley, T. A., House Manning, S. A., Building Marion County Housing Committee Demonstration House Marion Forks Guard Station McCallister-Gash Farmhouse McCully, David, House Methodist Mission Parsonage Miller Cemetery Church Minto, John and Douglas, Houses Moser, Joseph Henry, Barn Nelson, Carl E., House Odd Fellows Rural Cemetery Olallie Lake Guard Station Olallie Meadows Guard Station Old First National Bank Building Old Garfield School Old Woodburn City Hall Oregon Pacific Railroad Linear Historic District Oregon State Capitol Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble Oregon State Forester's Office Building Oregon State Hospital Historic District Paulus, Christopher, Building Pierce, Edgar T., House Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church Port, Dr. Luke A., House Port-Manning House Queen of Angels Priory Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition Robertson, Dr. and Mrs. Charles G., House and Garden Salem Downtown State Street-Commercial Street Historic District Salem Southern Pacific Railroad Station Scheurer, William Riley, House Settlemier, Jesse H., House Shipley, U. G., House and Garden Silver Creek Youth Camp-Silver Falls State Park Silver Falls State Park Concession Building Area Silverton Commercial Historic District Smith-Ohmart House Soderberg, Peter and Bertha, House South First National Bank Block St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church St. Paul Historic District St. Paul Roman Catholic Church St. Pierre, Edward W., House Starkey-McCully Block Stauffer, John, House and Barn Stratton, C. C., House Supreme Court and Library Building Union Street Railroad Bridge and Trestle Victor Point School Wade, William Lincoln, House Waller Hall, Willamette University Willamette Station Site, Methodist Mission in Oregon Windischar's General Blacksmith Shop Witten, T.M., and Emma, Drug Store-House Witzel, Robert, House Zorn, Casper, Farmhouse
The largest living organism in the world is a fungus in Oregon. The Armillaria ostoyae fungus covers over 2,200 acres of forest in eastern Oregon and is estimated to be over 2,400 years old. It is also known as the "Humongous Fungus."
Marion County, Oregon, has a rich history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Kalapuya people, who had a thriving culture and a close connection to the land. In the early 19th century, European settlers began to arrive, with the first permanent settlement established in the Willamette Valley in 1812.

The region's development accelerated with the Oregon Trail, which brought thousands of pioneers to the area in the mid-1800s. Marion County was established on July 5, 1843, and named after Francis Marion, a Revolutionary War hero. The county became an important agricultural center, with large-scale farming and timber industries driving its economy.

Marion County played a significant role in the formation of the state government. In 1851, Salem became the capital of Oregon, a decision that still stands today. The county has witnessed important political events, including discussions surrounding the formation of the Oregon State Constitution. Additionally, during the Civil War, the area was impacted by tensions between settlers supporting the Union and those sympathetic to the Confederate cause.

Over time, Marion County grew and diversified economically. The agriculture industry expanded with the cultivation of hops, berries, and Christmas trees, in addition to traditional crops. The county also witnessed the development of various industries, including lumber, manufacturing, and healthcare. Today, Marion County continues to thrive as a vibrant hub of agriculture, commerce, and cultural heritage, home to a diverse population and a range of recreational opportunities.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Marion County, Oregon.

  • 1843: Marion County is organized as part of the Oregon Territory.
  • 1846: The French Prairie settlement is established in present-day Marion County.
  • 1849: Marion County becomes an official county in the Oregon Territory.
  • 1851: The city of Salem is designated as the county seat of Marion County.
  • 1855: The construction of the Oregon State Hospital begins in Salem.
  • 1864: The Oregon Pacific Railroad reaches Salem, improving transportation in the area.
  • 1873: The town of Woodburn is incorporated in Marion County.
  • 1902: The Chemawa Indian School opens in Keizer, providing education for Native American children.
  • 1939: Silver Falls State Park is established, offering outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
  • 1988: The Oregon Garden is opened in Silverton, showcasing a variety of plant species.
  • 2009: Marion County celebrates its 100th year as an official county in the state of Oregon.