Cowlitz County, Washington 

Cowlitz County is one of the smallest Counties in Washington State and is located in the Southwestern region. The county covers 1,166 square miles, with approximately little over 100,000 residents who make their homes in the following cities: Longview, Kelso, Woodland, Kalama, Castle Rock, and the surrounding rural communities of Toutle, Silverlake, Lexington, Ryderwood, Ariel, Cougar, Carrolls, and Rose Valley.

History

The rich and fascinating history of Cowlitz County goes back to the early 1800s when Lewis and Clark passed through this area in their mission of exploring the West. Early

Amazing Cowlitz County Columbia River Views

settlers and present residents alike have made tremendous efforts to make sure the explorers presence in the region will never be forgotten. You can find monuments, streets, mounts, rivers, lakes, creeks, parks, bridges and trails named after them.

Geography

The areas rough mountain  terrain is home to the Doug Fir, Hemlock and Western Cedar which is logged to supply domestic and international markets of logs and finished lumber. The ability to produce a large supply of timber placed the county at one time, as the “Timber Capital of the World”. Without a doubt, another one of the County’s greatest assets is the six rivers that run through its land including the Columbia, (one of the USA biggest river), Cowlitz, Coweeman, Lewis, Toutle, and the Kalama Rivers. It is believed that these rivers have played a part in luring early settlers and later large industries to the area.

At One Time “Timber Capital Of The World”

Assets

There are three major ways to access Cowlitz County: the I-5 corridor, the railway and the Columbia River and Portland’s International Airport only forty minutes away makes it an ideal location for any kind business. The unbelievable sceneries and breathtaking views you’ll find in the area make it a splendid and enjoyable place to live, work, and play for residents and visitors alike. For more of the county and its communities information and available photos visit the community Photos pages.  Do you enjoy the outdoors? Welcome to paradise. If you like fishing, the county offers you six rivers, some lakes and dozens of creek to fish, where you can catch some of the best known fish like Salmon, Steelhead and Sturgeon just to name a few. If hunting is your passion, the Southwest Washington region (including Cowlitz County) is one of the best areas to hunt elk, deer, bear and many other animals. Come and join the hundreds of hunters who eagerly await the yearly season to begin so they can fill their tag and proudly display head trophies of their kill. Or if you are a hiker, there are dozens of good trails around the mountain region including a couple of them that will lead you to the top of the historic volcano Mount St. Helens.