A history of Independence,
since 1874
Postcards, papers and photographs of Independence from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.
The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗Independence was founded by pioneers who migrated from Independence, Missouri. Elvin A. Thorp arrived in the Independence area in 1845 and staked a claim north of Ash Creek in June of that year. He platted a small townsite that later became known as "Thorp's Town of Independence" or the "Original Town of Independence", now known as "Old Town". Thorp named the town for his eponymous hometown in Missouri, as well as in honor of Andrew Jackson's characteristic of "Independence".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items belowFinish Independence’s story
Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.
1 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewMigratory field workers in hop fi…, 1939: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Independence, decade by decade
LOCMigratory field workers in hop field. Near Independence, Or…1939
LOCOn main street of Williamette Valley town. Independence, Po…1939
LOCStreet corner, Williamette Valley. Small town during hop se…1939
LOCUntitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field worker…1939
LOCUntitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field worker…1939
LOCUntitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field worker…1939
LOCUntitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field worker…1939
LOCUntitled photo, possibly related to: Migratory field worker…1939
LOCHop farmer's children, small owner, and backyard of house. …19391990s
Then & now
No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Migratory field workers in hop field. Near Independence, Oregon (1939) and it appears here side by side.
🔁 Retake this view · +15Historic places
National Register · via Wikidata
From the Library of Congress (9) and the National Register (2). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.