Settlement History In the Northwest – Up to 1930

• Native settlement – coastal & interior• The Fur Trade Era• Overland Settlers: The Oregon Trail• Timber• Local Mining• Agriculture• Fisheries• Railroads• The Alaska Gold Rush

Non-Economic Forces Related to Early Settlement (Johansen)

1. Nationalism

2. Escape harsh weather (of the midwest)

3. Escape the slavery problem

4. Reap the bounty of a new land

5. Accept offer of free land

6. To be a “frontiersman”

Settlement History In the Northwest – After 1930

• Columbia Basin Project, Irrigated Agriculture, Aluminum Industry

• Industries stimulated in WW II: aerospace, shipbuilding

• Port Functions• High-Technology Industry• Producer services• Health Services, Consumer Services• Research, Government, Education, Social, and

Military Services• Trade & Tourism

The Historic and Modern Role of Timber in the Washington Economy

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

18

50

18

70

18

90

19

10

19

30

19

50

19

70

19

90

Ind

ex

Ye

ar

19

30

= 1

.0

Lumber Output

Wood ProductsEmployment

WashingtonPopulation

Labor productivityclearly evident

Labor productivityImprovement clearlyevident

Employment Trend - Technology Based Industries-Washington State 1974-2007

Aerospace

Other Technology Based Industries

-

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2007

Non-Earnings Income Trend:It is now a substitute for work in many

regional economy’s economic base

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Statewide King San Juan Lincoln Pacific

1969

1985

2006

The Shares of Washington State Metro and Nonmetro Population have been Stable in

Recent Years

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1990 2000 2003

metropolitan

nonmetropolitan

Population Growth Has Slowed Through the Recent Recession, more

dramatically in rural Washington

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

Change 1990-2000 Change 2000-2003

An

nu

al G

row

th R

ate

Nonmetro

Metro

Population Change 1990-2000

Nonmetro Population change 1990-2000

Metro and Rural Population Change 2000-2006

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

Idaho Oregon Washington Northwest

Urban Change 2000-2006

Rural Change 2000-2006