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by George R. Miller (Author), William R. Watson (Author), The Cowlitz County Historical Museum (Author)
When Peter Crawford reached the Oregon Territory in 1847, he was advised by Dr. Marcus Whitman to stake a claim on the Cowlitz River. Following that advice, Crawford explored up the Cowlitz in what would later become Washington Territory. For his claim, he chose the first elevated point along the Cowlitz, near where it entered the Columbia River on the east bank. Thirty-seven years later, after the arrival of many settlers--including the Redpaths, Wallaces, and Catlins--he plotted the town on his claim, which was named after his home in Kelso, Scotland. Kelso grew from its timber, fishing, and river traffic roots. It absorbed the town of Catlin (West Kelso) in 1908 and became the county seat of Cowlitz County in 1923. Through floods, fires, storms, a bridge collapse, and even the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens, Kelso has persevered.