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Welcome to the City of Umatilla The City of Umatilla was first incorporated as Umatilla City
on October 24, 1864 with a mayor, five aldermen, recorder, marshal
and treasurer. The first mayor was George Coe. Disincorporation soon
followed in 1866 because the citizens felt it was unnecessary to
have the burden of a municipal government. Reincorporation took
place in 1906 as the City of
Umatilla. In 1968 the City of Umatilla was moved to higher ground due
to the expected flooding of the townsite due to the building of the
John Day Lock and Dam. The Army Corps of Engineers acquired the land
adjoining the Columbia River and that 130 acre area which did not
flood, as expected, is the region referred to as "Old
Town." The land at Old Town has been named to the National Register
of Historic Places. Archeological digs have confirmed that an
ancient prehistoric settlement once thrived on the banks of the
Umatilla and Columbia River. In later times, Indian villages
occupied the area. An ancient Indian burial ground remains on the
land still and is protected from relic collectors and
vandals. The first archeological dig was conducted in 1965 by a crew
from the University of Oregon. Thousands of relics were found and
are now stored until eventual funding is available to continue
dating and identifying the historic treasures. In 1970 the Mid Columbia Archeological Society initiated a
series of excavations and in the spring of 1979 an archeological
investigation was conducted by the Washington Archeological Research
Center. The Umatilla site is the largest existent prehistoric site
reported in the State of Oregon. |
Physical Address 700 Sixth Street Umatilla, Oregon 97882
Mailing Address P.O. Box 130 Umatilla, Oregon 97882
What's New? Downtown Revitalization Grant Application |
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Copyright 2011 City of
Umatilla
All photos copyright of 2 Hippos Photography