By Cathy Ingalls, Albany Regional Museum board member
Probably no one could have predicted after Millersburg was first recognized as a community in 1871 that it would become a major economic center or identified as one of the fastest growing cities in the state.
Yet that’s just what happened. But let’s begin with the area’s early days.
The first Miller to arrive in that part of Linn County was Jacob, who took up a 640-acre donation land in 1847. Then Francis Marion Miller purchased 350 acres of this claim from his brother.
But rather than farm the rich, loamy soil, Francis headed to the gold fields of California. In 1850, their father, Abraham Miller Sr., brought his family to the area.
Abraham Miller was born in 1795 in Tennessee, moving to Indiana, where he married Mary Little. In Mercer County, Ill., they founded a village and named it Millersburg.
When the couple followed their oldest son Jacob they brought four wagons with four yoke of oxen to each. They arrived after six months.
They began life in what would become Jefferson, where they lived for many years. The couple had 11 children.
Over the years, wheat became the primary crop raised in the area until the soil was depleted. However, cattle, sheep, hogs and impressive horses could be found in large numbers.
Millersburg began to draw the attention of the outside world in 1871 when the Southern Pacific Railroad established a station on a donation land claim of the Miller family.
Southern Pacific locomotive leaving Albany travelling north towards Millersburg. ARM collection: 2007.015.662
The station was called Millers when it was established but changed to Millersburg in 1889.
Portrait of Stephen Yih. Courtesy Mae Yih. Stephen Yih’s endeavor to form the City of Millersburg is discussed in Mae Yih’s autobiography “East Meets West” and additional information is on file in the ARM reference room.
In the early 1970s, the city of Albany was considering annexing land that included the property of Wah Chang, now known as ATI. To avoid annexation and having to pay taxes to Albany, then-Wah Chang president Stephen Yih initiated plans to form the city of Millersburg.
The vote to incorporate passed narrowly, 76 to 74. The first council meeting was held on Aug. 28, 1974, and Mary Klages was picked the first mayor. She was followed by the late Clayton Wood, who served continuously until he retired in 2016.
Over the years, the city’s industrial and business base has broadened, which accounts for more than 50 percent of its total assessed value.
Currently, the Millersburg landscape is undergoing a major transformation where a paper mill once operated. The Linn Economic Development Group is constructing the Mid-Willamette Valley Intermodal Center.
The site was selected because of its logistical location where the Union Pacific Railroad mainline, the Portland Western Railroad (BNSF) and Interstate 5 come together. The spot makes it ideal to serve as a centralized reload center for the valley’s natural resource-based economy, according to promoters.
When completed potentially in late January, the center will provide for the transferring of containers from trucks to rail and vice-versa.
Here are some facts about the city of Millersburg:
Area:
Total: 4.68 square miles
Land: 4.46 square miles
Water: 0.22 square miles
Elevation:
235 feet
Population:
Last census: 2,850
Historical population: 1980, 562; 1990, 715; 2000, 651; and 2010, 1,329.
City Hall:
4222 N.E. Old Salem Road, Albany, OR 97321; Telephone, 458-233-6300.
Some of the information for this story was available in the research room at the Albany Regional Museum, 541-967-7122. E-mail: info@armuseum.com.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.