|
"The
early nineteenth century historic period is poorly documented.
However, it is known that four aboriginal peoples (the Kalapuya, Molalla,
Tenio, and Northern Paiute) frequented the areas within or near the
watershed at the time when settlers from Europe began to explore the
region (Willamette N.F., 1994).
Native Americans were known to traverse the mountains and valleys of the
McKenzie
area. The Warm Springs tribe of north-central Oregon made annual
crossings over the Cascades into the McKenzie Valley to catch and smoke salmon
and eels. These yearly migrations continued into the twentieth century and early
observers describe large encampments, with large areas devoted to drying fish.
The Indians traded with settlers, and in later years, when game became scarce,
they worked in hops yards on farms in the area.
The Land Donation Act of 1850 played a major role in attracting early
settlers to the lower McKenzie valley where they discovered deep, fertile soils
and filed for Donation Land Claims that allowed each person 320 acres. Most
bottomlands from the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers to
Walterville were settled in this way and generations of burning on the valley
floor by the Kalapuya and Mollala Indians made pioneer settlement of the lower
valley relatively easy. The Homestead Act of 1862 and the coming of the Oregon
and California (O&C) Railroad in 1872 brought additional pioneer settlement
to the valley (Committee for the Economic Development of the McKenzie River
Valley, 1986)
In the 1860s and '70s, isolated homestead settlements emerged along the wider
river benches on the north bank of the McKenzie River in the upper river
corridor. These settlements were connected by the McKenzie Wagon Road, built in
the 1860s as one of two major routes to eastern Oregon from Lane County. Gold
deposits on Blue River and the hot springs on the McKenzie and Horse Creek were
discovered in the 1860s, but it was not until the 1890s that development
surrounding these activities began to have substantial impact on the cultural
landscape (Forester, et al., 1986).
Completion of water diversion
canals (Eugene Water & Electric Board Walterville and Leaburg power
canals) and improvement of the road along the river as a state highway
brought new small farm and residential development to the McKenzie Valley
between Walterville and Vida (Forster, et al., 1986). Today,
development along the river and transportation corridors continues to
grow, especially in and near the urban portions of the watershed."
|
