Longview is ideally situated between Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, offering residents a rural life-style with year-round opportunities for recreation. It is the largest city in Cowlitz County with a population of approximately 35,000.

Longview Parks

Longview Parks Information

18

Parks

The Parks Department maintains over 300 acres of parks and open space, including beautiful Lake Sacajawea. The department also takes care of ten miles of trails for public enjoyment, fields used for sports activities, as well as an inventory of approximately 13,000 trees. Maintenance includes mowing, irrigation, weed control, turf repair, path repair, litter control, restroom sanitation, boat ramp maintenance, tree and shrub maintenance, leaf removal, playground and play equipment maintenance.

Longview Washington Established 1923

Longview’s roots can be traced back to Kansas City, Missouri, home of city founder R. A. Long, president of the Long-Bell Timber Company. Long and other company leaders committed to building a large lumber mill along the Columbia River. Because Southwest Washington did not have a ready workforce, Long decided to build a city to accommodate the estimated 14,000 workers it would take to operate the mill.

Longview was dedicated in July 1923. In February 1924, it was incorporated and a municipal government was established. Designed as a hub for business and travel routes, the town’s Civic Center features R. A. Long Park, Longview Public Library, the Monticello Hotel, and the post office and city hall

Today, Longview is a thriving community of 35,000, growing in both size and diversity. The city has a strong economic base and a wide array of recreational, educational, and cultural offerings. Highlights include Lower Columbia College, the Columbia Theatre, Rose Center for the Arts, and a vibrant, historic downtown.

The City recognizes that a vibrant downtown is critical to our uniqueness as a community. Built in the 1920s, Longview has a small-town atmosphere that is very appealing to residents and visitors alike, offering a safe, comfortable and inviting gathering place with shopping, restaurants, galleries and beautiful streetscapes.

1923

Established

Located ninety miles from the Pacific Ocean at the confluence of the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers, Longview is a relatively new city with a short but remarkable history. Less than seventy-five years ago, the area where Longview now stands was sparsely populated wilderness and rural homesteads.

36648

Population

Longview is a city that demonstrates care and compassion for all its citizens through active participation with social agencies, organizations and individual citizens.

10miles

Trails

Beautifully maintained trail system

13000trees

Tree Inventory

Tree City USA

Start your Next Great Adventure in Longview!

Longview Events Calendar

Any time is a great time for adventure in Longview where you'll find a wealth of activities waiting for you. Take a stroll along the banks of beautiful Lake Sacajawea, explore historic downtown Longview, brush up on your golf game at the Mint Valley Championship Golf Course, or take in a performance at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.