Title Info: 1850, Clark County Census, Clark County Territorial Auditor

These records contain an index and images of the Clark County census recorded in 1850. Information collected in this census includes the name of each member of the household and the following categories: Age, Sex, Color (White, Black, or Mulatto), Profession/Occupation/Trade of each Male Person over 15 years of age, Value of Real Estate owned, Place of Birth (State, Territory, or Country), Married within the year, Attended School within the year, Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read & write, and Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict.

Clark County was initially formed from portions of Clackamas and Tuality Counties under the name of Vancouver County in the Oregon Territory. In 1849, the county was renamed Clark County. The Organic Act in 1848 created Oregon Territory, however it was not until 1849 that the first governor, Joseph Lane, assumed duty. Per the Organic Act, a census must be performed prior to holding an election for non-appointed members of the territorial legislature. The 1850 census counted 11,873 Oregonians.