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This area was dubbed "Battle Ground" several years before it was occupied
by homesteaders. Settlement at the time was mostly near Fort Vancouver and
other Columbia and Willamette river sites. While relations between Native
American tribes and white settlers throughout the Northwest was festering
in 1855 into deadly skirmishes, a band of local tribesmen and their
families left their "protective custody" arrangement at the Fort. After
catching up with the band, a volunteer army held a peacemaking exercise
with them. It was soon discovered that the chief had been accidentally
killed. After promises from the band that they would return to the Fort,
Captain William Strong allowed them time for a traditional burial for their
chief. Upon the army's return to the fort without the Indians in tow, the
settlers chided the soldiers for not waging a battle and called the area
"Strong's Battle Ground." This was later shortened to Battle Ground. The
exact location of the peace-keeping effort is unknown, however tradition
says it was in the valley east of Battle Ground Lake.
Battle Ground's first namesake post office was in a home in the area near
Battle Ground Lake and the first Battle Ground School was at the current
entrance to the state park. The town assumed the name, Battle Ground when
the railroad came through on it's way to Yacolt (with a plan to eventually
go over the Cascades to Yakima). "Old Battle Ground" became the railroad
stop, Crawford, and a depot called Battle Ground was established at
Southeast First Street and Grace Avenue. Although first platted in 1902 and
1903, the town was not incorporated until 1951 when provisions for water
and sewer, and police and fire protection became necessary.
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