History of Lincoln City, Oregon

The area that is now Lincoln City was at one point five distinct townships. These small communities were Delake, Oceanlake, Taft, Cutler City and Nelscott. In 1965, these communities incorporated to become Lincoln City. The name was taken from a contest held at a local elementary school.

The region received its first visitors in 1837. Rev. Jason Lee and his new bride, Anna Marie Pittman, ventured to the Oregon coast for their honeymoon. Cyrus Shepard and his wife, Susan Downing, accompanied them. Together, the couples made the four-day journey by horse from the Willamette Valley to the area that is now Lincoln City.

For nearly 60 years, the area was merely a spot for vacationers. It was not until 1897 that Lincoln City began to be settled by whites. Before that, the area was home to a number of Native American tribes. Every year, the Siletz Pow Wow celebrates these communities.

As with most of the Oregon coast, the fishing industry has played an important role in keeping Lincoln City's economy alive. The Siletz River still offers anglers an abundant supply of salmon. Recently, tourism has been a major factor in Lincoln City's economic development.

In 1995, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz opened the Chinook Winds Casino, which has greatly increased tourism in Lincoln City and has given the Confederated Tribes significant income.