Hillsboro’s History and Why We’re Proud to Serve the Hillsboro Community
Hillsboro sits in the heart of the Tualatin River Basin. The Atfalati (Tualatin) band of the Kalapuya gathered at Chatakuin—today’s Five Oaks—to settle disputes and transact business. Retired Hudson’s Bay Company employees, mountain men such as Joe Meek, and missionaries arrived in the late 1830s, followed by Oregon Trail settlers who farmed the East Tualatin Plains.
At the 1843 Champoeg meeting, pioneers from East Tualatin Plains helped create Oregon’s provisional government. A plat was laid out in 1850, and the town was renamed Hillsborough (later shortened to Hillsboro) after David Hill, who had donated land for the courthouse. Steamboats on the Tualatin River and the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s allowed farmers to export grain and lumber.
By the early 20th century, Hillsboro boasted mills, brick buildings, theaters and a Carnegie library. Postwar housing booms and the establishment of Tektronix east of town in 1951 ushered in the “Silicon Forest” era, attracting high‑tech firms.
Today Hillsboro, with about 106,447 residents in 2020, is both the seat of Washington County and a major center for semiconductors, biotech and clean energy. Its civic center, parks and neighborhoods reflect a blend of historic charm and modern innovation. Fast Plumbing & Drain is proud to serve Hillsboro’s diverse community.