Corvallis ( kor-VAL-iss) is a city and the county seat of Benton County in central western Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 59,922. Corvallis is the location of Oregon State University and fine Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Corvallis is the westernmost city in the contiguous 48 states subsequently a population larger than 50,000.

In October 1845, Joseph C. Avery arrived in Oregon from the east. Avery took out a land allegation at the mouth of Marys River, where it flows into the Willamette River, and in June 1846 took up quarters there in a log cabin hastily constructed to sustain what seemed a potentially lucrative claim. Avery’s primitive 1846 quarters was the first house within the boundaries of today’s Corvallis and his land affirmation included the southern section of the contemporary city.

Avery was quickly joined by other settlers along the banks of the Willamette River, including a 640-acre (260 ha) claim directly to his north taken in September 1846 by William F. Dixon. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 temporarily stalled enhance of a township, with Avery desertion his Oregon affirmation to attempt his hand at mining in the fall of that year. His stay proved to be brief, and in January 1849, Avery returned to Oregon in the space of a small stock of provisions bearing in mind a view to start a store.

During 1849, Avery opened his accretion at the site, platted the land, and surveyed a town site on his land claim, naming the community Marysville. The city was possibly named after before settler Mary Lloyd, but now the publicize is thought to be derived from French fur trappers’ naming of Marys Peak after the Virgin Mary.