Corvallis’s History and Why We’re Proud to Serve the Corvallis Community
Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Mary’s Rivers, Corvallis began in 1851 as Marysville and was renamed Corvallis—Latin for “Heart of the Valley”—in 1853. For a brief period in 1855 the state legislature met here, making it Oregon’s territorial capital.
Agriculture, sawmilling and river navigation defined early Corvallis. The surrounding farms supplied wheat and fruit while sawmills used the region’s timber. In 1858 Corvallis College was founded; it evolved into Oregon State University, now the city’s major employer.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the community prospered as a trade center for the Willamette Valley. Buildings around Courthouse Square and on the OSU campus reflect Victorian and early 20th‑century architecture, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern Corvallis has about 54,462 residents (2010) and anchors an economy that mixes education, engineering and high‑tech manufacturing. Surrounded by parks and vineyards, it serves as headquarters for the Siuslaw National Forest. We’re proud to serve Corvallis’s homes, campus buildings and thriving downtown.