Editing Beaverton, Oregon (section)

===Early settlement===

According to ''[[Oregon Geographic Names]]'', Beaverton's name is derived from the settlement's proximity to a large body of water resulting from [[American Beaver|beaver]] dams.

The area of Tualatin Valley that became Beaverton was originally the home of a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe known as the ''[[Atfalati]]'', which settlers mispronounced as ''Tualatin''. The Atfalati population dwindled in the latter part of the 18th century, and the prosperous tribe was no longer dominant in the area by the 19th century when settlers arrived. The tribe named their village Chakeipi, which translates to "place of the beaver",<ref name="hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/community/history.aspx | title = Beaverton History | publisher = City of Beaverton | access-date = September 7, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928062919/http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/community/history.aspx | archive-date = September 28, 2007 | url-status = dead}}</ref> which early settlers referred to as "Beaverdam."

Early settlers include the Hall Family from [[Kentucky]], the Denneys who lived on their claim near present-day Scholls Ferry Road and Hall Blvd, and Orin S. Allen, from western New York.<ref name="hist"/> Lawrence Hall purchased {{convert|640|acre|km2}} in Beaverdam in 1847 and built a [[grist mill]] with his brother near present-day Walker Road.<ref name="hist" /> His was the first land claim in the area. He was soon followed by Thomas Denney in 1848, who came to the area and built its first sawmill. In 1860, a toll [[plank road]] from Portland to Beaverton was completed over a trail called [[Canyon Road]].<ref name="hist" />

After the [[American Civil War]], numerous other settlers, including Joshua Welch, George Betts, Charles Angel, W. P. Watson, and John Henry, laid out what is now known as Beaverton hoping they could bring a railroad to an area once described as, "mostly swamps & marshes connected by beaver dams to create what looked like a huge lake." In 1872, Beaverton's first post office opened in a general store operated by Betts, who also served as the first postmaster of the community. Betts Street, where the current post office now stands, is named in honor of him. In 1893, Beaverton, which by that time had a population of 400, was officially incorporated. Alonzo Cady, a local businessman, served as the first mayor. Many major roads in Beaverton are named for these early settlers.