Oregon's Chinese Heritage: A Legacy of Places: Polk County

Smith and Company. Polk County.

Smith and Company Pottery Works was located in the community of Buena Vista. Most of its 50 employees were Chinese by 1870. Reference: Marion County Oregon; Maxwell 2003.

Reference

Marion County Oregon. “General History of the Buena Vista Community.” http://www.co.marion.or.us/ Accessed November 12, 2011.

Maxwell, Ben. 2003. "Rural Scene in Buena Vista," Oregon, photograph. http://www.photos.salemhistory.net/ Accessed October 23, 2010.

Change/Create a Place Name

To change an inappropriate place name or create a place name of a
natural feature, the following is suggested:

1. Document its
history (written/oral records, photographs, maps, etc.).

2. Garner local
support (petitions, organization endorsements, official support
letters, etc.).

3. Learn about the
Oregon Geographic Names Board:

https://www.ohs.org/about-us/affiliates-and-partners/oregon-geographic-names-board/index.cfm

4. Complete the Name
Proposal Form:

https://www.ohs.org/about-us/affiliates-and-partners/oregon-geographic-names-board/upload/DGNR_Name-Proposal-Form.pdf

5. Mail the form and
supporting documentation to:

Oregon
Geographic Names Board

Oregon Historical Society

1200
S.W. Park Avenue

Portland, OR 97205

About me

I am Professor Emeritus who has spend the last 35 years researching the Chinese in California, Oregon and Washington State from the mid 1800's to mid 1900's. Since graduate school in the early 1970's, I have been involved with the Chinese community, to include serving as the president of the Southern California Chinese Historical Society. After one of many presentations about the Chinese legacy, an elderly Chinese woman said "Thank you--you have given me a history." The comment prompted me to create this site which is a companion to California's Chinese Heritage and Washington State's Chinese Heritage.