eBeaverton

The Early Years of Beaverton, Oregon

The Tualatin Valley and Beaverton area was originally the home of native people who referred to themselves as “Atfalati”. Westerners later mispronounced the name as Tualatin. The tribe was a hunter-gatherer group which relied more on plants than animals for their food. They made use of various plant materials for making their clothes, houses and other personal effects. Although prosperous, the Atfalati population declined significantly starting in the late 1700s.

The Native Americans occupied a village located on the Beaverton and Fanno creeks that was called “Chakeipi” Although the name meant “Place of the Beaver”, early settlers called the village “Beaver Dam” and this was later changed to Beaverton.