 Benton
County was established by the Provisional
Legislature in 1847. It was named in honor of Senator Thomas Hart
Benton of Missouri, who was instrumental in promoting the development
of Oregon Country. Carved from Polk County, Benton County stretched
from the Polk County boundary south to the California border and from
the Pacific Ocean east to the Willamette River. Umpqua, Lane, Douglas,
Jackson, Lincoln, Josephine, Curry, and Coos Counties were created
from portions of the original Benton County. Today Benton County occupies
679 square miles of the central Willamette Valley and is bordered
on the east by the Willamette River and Linn County, on the west by
the summit of the Coast Range and Lincoln County, on the north by
Polk County, and on the south by Lane County.
The
city of Marysville, later renamed Corvallis, became the county seat
in 1851. The first county courthouse was erected in 1854. The second
courthouse, built in 1889, is the oldest in Oregon that is still
used for its original purpose. It was extensively renovated in 1976
to restore and preserve the historic character of the building.
Nearby buildings house those offices not located in the courthouse.
At
the time of its creation, Benton County government consisted of
two or more justices of the peace acting as county commissioners;
a judicial system including circuit, probate, and justice courts;
clerks for each court; law enforcement offices of sheriff and coroner;
and the tax and finance offices of the assessor, tax collector,
and treasurer. In 1972 a home rule charter was passed in Benton
County and the governing body of the county became a three-member
board of commissioners.
Benton
County was created out of land originally inhabited by the Klickitat
Indians. All Indian claims to land within Benton County were ceded
in the Treaty of Dayton in 1855. In 1862 Corvallis became the site
of the Oregon State Agricultural College, known today as Oregon
State University. Along with the university, agriculture, lumber,
and wood products form the economic base of the county. The 2000
population of 78,153 marked an 10.37% increase over the 1990 population.
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 The
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge in southern
Benton County honors the work of the pioneering Oregon
naturalist who lived from 1876 to 1953. Finley worked
tirelessly for decades beginning in the late-1800s to
protect the wildlife of Oregon, the nation, and the
world. He used photographs and movie film to graphically
display the beauty of wildlife and to campaign for conservation
efforts. Over the years Finley produced over 50,000
photographs and 200,000 feet of film to support his
efforts.
His
work did not go unnoticed. President Theodore Roosevelt
created the first bird refuge on the west coast in 1907
after seeing photographs by Finley and his partner.
During this period Finley was also elected president
of the Audubon Society and saw many of his articles
published nationally. Finley's long career in public
service included serving as state game warden.
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