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 Forklift Masts Vancouver - The city of Vancouver, Washington is situated on the banks of the Columbia River. The city serves as the seat of Clark County. It is part of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, the 23rd-largest metropolitan area in the United States. It is the 4th largest city within Washington State.
The city of Vancouver is named after an officer of the British Royal Navy, Captain George Vancouver. Vancouver has the same name as the city of Vancouver in Canada, which lies 491 km to the north within the province of British Columbia. Vancouver, Washington, was incorporated in the year 1857, and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia was incorporated 29 later. The American city is the former location of the historic Fort Vancouver trading post. Because of frequent confusion between the two cities, officials of Vancouver have recommended changing the name back to Fort Vancouver. Other suggestions consist of calling it Old Vancouver, due to the fact that the US city was incorporated first, or Vancouver USA. Lots of Pacific Northwest residents refer to their city as "Vancouver, Washington," or "Vancouver USA." Local nicknames consist of "The Couve" and "Vantucky".
The Vancouver region was initially settled by the Chinook people, who had a salmon- and trade-based economy. The Hudson's Bay Company encouraged trade in fur and timber industry. Settlers established agriculture in the region, and eventually a healthy market in strawberries, prunes and apples developed. The township depended on ferry transportation because it was bypassed by the railroad in the late 1800s. The city developed around Washington Street where ferries arrived. Early developments included a big spruce mill. By the year 1908 a railroad swing bridge was built across the Columbia. This permitted the development of the Standifer Shipyard, that prospered in the first World War. In the 1940s, the construction of the Bonneville Dam and the Interstate Bridge helped spark an industrial boom, including a shipyard and paper mill.
Logging eventually depleted the old-growth forests and heavy industry declined. High technology firms and the service industry became major sources of employment within the city of Vancouver. Vancouver is the home of Nautilus, Inc. and The Holland. Numerous folks opt to live in Vancouver and commute to Portland for work. Nearness to the city of Portland makes the city of Vancouver a desirable community for retirees, who also like the fact that there is no state income tax in the state of Washington. Downtown Vancouver has numerous small, independent businesses.
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