This community on the Historic Columbia River Highway between Sandy River and Crown Point was named for Senator Henry Winslow Corbett, one of Oregon’s prominent pioneer citizens, for many years a resident of Portland. In 1885, Mr. Corbett purchased a nearby farm from Ervine J. Taylor, who had moved down to the Columbia River about the time the railroad was built in 1882.
For many years there was a station named Corbett on the Union Pacific Railroad at the base of the bluff below the community. The station is gone, but there is a small commercial cluster where Corbett Hill Road leaves 1-84 and climbs the hill to connect to the historic highway. The first post office at what is now Corbett was Leader, established in July 1881. The name of this office was changed to Taylor in 1882 and moved down to the river by Ervine Taylor. Corbett post office was later established December 20, 1895, with William H. H. Reed first postmaster. Reed Island on the Washington side of the Columbia River was named for Reed who lived there until washed out by the 1894 flood, after which he moved up to Corbett.
* For a concise biography of Mr. Corbett, see Carey’s History of Oregon, V. 2, pg. 305. Scott’s History of the Oregon Country has biographical information about Senator Corbett in v. 1, pp. 108,280, and Harvey W. Scott’s tribute, V. 5, pg. 183.
Corbett is part of the Portland, Oregon-Vancouver, Washington greater metropolitan area and is located on the historic Columbia River Highway. Corbett is located in Multnomah County and has a population of about 2,300 residents. This small community is about 18 miles from Portland Oregon.
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Are you a long time resident and would like to post a letter about the coldest winter you remember? If you can submit something to be posted or share something to help create a more full figured view of our amazing area – please send it in! You can also visit the Crown Point Country Historical Society web site here.