Town History of Cottage Grove, Oregon

Opal Whiteley Memorial mural
MainSt., Cottage Grove.

The first white settlers came to Cottage Grove in 1848 via the Oregon Trail and then the Applegate Trail. Until that time, only the Kalapuya Indians occupied the southern territory of the Willamette Valley. The first Post Office was established in the house of Greenbery C. Pearce who lived near Creswell in 1855.

In 1863 Gold was discovered in the Bohemia Mountains, named after James "Bohemia" Johnson, just east of town. Gold mining activities died down in the 1920s. Lots of this history can be found in the Cottage Grove Museum (Birch and H St.).

The railroad arrived in 1872, the Pacific Highway in 1909, and finally I-5 in 1957. Today, over 8,500 people live in the town of Cottage Grove. A wide variety of craftsmen, artists, the wood industy and other diverse businesses contribute to the growing economy.

Dorena Covered Bridge
The Dorena Bridge is located just east of Cottage Grove. Check out our Covered Bridges section for more pics.

COTTAGE GROVE MUSEUM
Joan Skelton
541-942-2369

COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON LINKS