Historic Newberg Homes & Sites Inventory
The City of Newberg has a substantial amount of locally and nationally designated historic sites. These sites are listed in the historic resources inventory below along with information about other source of information.
Historic Resources Inventory: Properties designated as historic landmarks in the Newberg Historic Resources Inventory attached below are subject to the historic overlay standards of section 15.344.010 of the Newberg Development Code. Feel free to call the Planning Division at (503) 537-1240 if you would like to learn more about Newberg's historic resources or if you have a question regarding the designation of your property.
Historic Preservation Commission: The Historic Preservation Commission was created to identify, recognize, and preserve significant properties related to the community’s history, encourage the rehabilitation and ongoing viability of historic buildings and structures, strengthen public support for historic preservation efforts within the community, foster civic pride, and encourage cultural heritage tourism. Learn more or find out meeting details HERE
Historic Sidewalk Features Inventory: In 2019-2020, the City conducted a project to locate and document historic sidewalk features in and around downtown Newberg. Learn more at newbergoregon.gov/.../inventory-historic-sidewalk-features.
State of Oregon Historic Sites Database
History of Newberg
Prior to Oregon' s settlement by immigrants and trappers, more than 14,000 indigenous Kalapuya people lived in the Willamette Valley and called the Newberg area Che'halem. They were hunters and gatherers; living on the prairies in the summers and on the forest edges in the winters. They managed the landscape for over 10,000 years utilizing controlled fire and harvesting abundant in tarweed, hazelnuts, camas, acorns, berries and abundant fish and game. Many Yamhill (Yamel) County places use the area names originally given by the the Kalapuya tribes. Today 4000 Oregonians 1 identify as descendants of Kalapuya. Learn more about the Kalapuya from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde website HERE or visit the Kalapuyan history site HERE.
Hudson Bay Company trappers frequented the area in the early 1700's especially in Champoeg which is now a State park located seven miles southeast of Newberg. Champoeg was the site where Oregon's provisional government was established by a narrow vote in 1843. An large influx of settlers established themselves in the area and began clearing land for farming. In 1869, Newberg was given its name by its first postmaster, Sebastian Brutscher, who named the town after his Bavarian hometown of Newburgh.
The early years of Newberg were heavily influenced by the Friends Church. In the 1870's, William Hobson, a Quaker minister from Iowa, visited Oregon. After determining that the rainfall, temperature and agricultural productivity was suitable, he settled in Chehalem Valley and began preaching. He attracted a sizable number of Quakers to the valley, mainly from Indiana and Iowa. In 1885, the Quakers started the Pacific Academy (now George Fox University), with Dr. Henry Minthorn assuming the position of superintendent of the Academy.
In 1885, at the age of 9 Herbert Hoover, future president of the United States, came to Newberg to live with his aunt and uncle, the Minthorns. The young man remained in Newberg and made it his boyhood home.
Records show that by 1887, the population of the Newberg area had grown to around 200. Newberg became incorporated as a town in 1889 and as a city in 1893.
The Oregon Historical Society is a valuable resource for information regarding Oregon history.
George Fox University Historical Archives
Mapping Our History
Led by Dr. Caitlin Corning (History), Rachel Thomas (Archives/Library), Jenny Bruxvoort (Library), and Rob Felton (Executive Communication) of George Fox University, Mapping Our History is a digital humanities project involving digitally mapping the downtown with overlays that will identify historic land use, structures, events, and artifacts to tell the story of the city.
This project features the Newberg Collection held in the George Fox University archives and museum which includes photographs, business records, artifacts, historic newspapers, and university publications. Students answered the question “How has the land use of downtown Newberg changed over time and what does this reveal about the community identity?” Selected students located information in the archival collections, conducted research on specific locations, and created mapping overlays that include images and research.
The information is now displayed in maps available to the entire community.
Document Center
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.
