Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/14

8 Polk Districts the Provisional Legislature, by an Act approved December 22, 1845 (General and Special Laws of 1843-9, page 35), changed these Districts to Counties, and these political or civil divisions of Oregon have been called counties ever since.

The original four Districts were named Twality, Clackamas, Yamhill, and Champooick. Of these Districts, Twality and Clackamas were the northern, and Yamhill and Champooick the southern.

The northern boundary of Twality and Clackamas was the supposed northern boundary of the Oregon Country, viz.: latitude fifty-four degrees and forty minutes. The southern boundary of Twality was the Yamhill River and, presumably, a line which would be the westerly continuation of the Yamhill River to the Pacific Ocean, the latter being the western boundary of Twality District. Its eastern boundary was the Willamette River, and, presumably, an extension of a line from its mouth north to the north line of the Oregon Country. Its full boundaries, as is the case with those of the other three Districts, are somewhat uncertain.

The southern boundary of Clackamas was a supposed line drawn from the mouth of Pudding River running due east to the Rocky Mountains, the latter being the eastern boundary of Clackamas District. Its western boundary was the Willamette River, and, north of that river, the eastern line of Twality District.

The southern line of Yamhill and Champooick Districts was the northern California and Nevada lines as they are today. The northern boundary of Yamhill District was the south line of Twality District, i. e., the Yamhill River and an indefinite line running west from that river to the Pacific Ocean, the latter being the westerly boundary of Yamhill District. Its eastern boundary was the Willamette River and