A Little bit of History

I woke up this morning to the sound of raining hitting the skylight. Rain is nothing new if you live in the Pacific Northwest. It has been drier then normal, and there are many places that are in desperate need of rain, like California. I will admit, I was born and raised in California -The Golden State, but I do not regret our decision to move to Florence, Oregon. The picture is of the Siuslaw River Bridge, taken by my son. The Siuslaw River Drawbridge was first opened to traffic in 1936 replacing ferry service across the River.

Florence was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw Indians, whose name to this day is shared by the mighty river that flows through the country where these Native Americans once lived. This rugged frontier community depended on the logging and fishing trades for its economic survival. The town hit a landmark population of 300 in the year 1900, a year when it was proud to boast a lumber mill, two general stores, two canneries, a saloon, and a weekly newspaper. As of 2010, our population has grown to a staggering 8,466.

Logging struggles to stay alive in Florence due to all the regulations that have been imposed and there is no more Fishing Fleet. It's a beautiful coastal town that is dependent on the tourist trade, that I now call home. Thanks for sharing this little bit of history with me. Just trying to get use to blogging.......Have a Blessed Day! Sue