Cedar Mill was destined to thrive. The area has grown and prospered with hundreds of people and families choosing to live in this beautiful neighborhood. At the center of this area, Cedar Mill Library was born and remains a hub for library services, community events, social connections, and continual learning. As you will learn in this overview, the founders’ dreams began early and continue to inform the future.
Join us in taking a journey from the early days in Cedar Mill, through the present time, and eagerly into a look towards the future – with the Cedar Mill Library at the center of this exploration.
Cedar Mill History
Cedar Mill Falls
Land: Mill Creek, falls, forested area of red cedar
Heritage: Early inhabitants Tualatin or Wapato Lake Indians who fell to disease with arrival of the early settlers. Artifacts have been recovered in surrounding land parcels.
Flora and fauna:
Home to State flower: Oregon grape
Home to State animal: American Beaver
Home to State bird: Western Meadowlark
Home to State tree: Douglas Fir
Economics: lumber, farming
Commercial activity was beginning to flourish with growing settlement around 1859, at the time Oregon became a state. Early buildings defined Cedar Mill: 1855 Cedar Mill Jones Saw Mill, 1869 John Quincy Adams Young house (still standing today),
1874 Young postal office, 1900 Leedy Grange. Learn more about the Jones Saw Mill and the lumber economy on the Cedar Mill History website.
John Quincy Adam Young house
Pioneers: Cedar Mill was established by diverse settlers with a dream for the community. First settler was John Walters in 1847. Having been unsuccessful in the gold rush, he settled with 3 apple trees and perhaps creating the first “apple orchard” in the area. Settlers during the 1850’s – 1870’s included Irish, Swiss, and Germans. For more information about the Walters family and early settlers in the Cedar Mill area, see Cedar Mill History of early settlers.
Schools: Sam Walters donated land for the Cedar Mill School in 1884. Find pictures and more information about the first schools in the Cedar Mill area on the entry for Education on Cedar Mill History.
For resources on local history and genealogy see our Local History & Genealogy page.
