Editing Salem, Oregon (section)

===Europeans===
The first people of European descent arrived in the area as early as 1812; they were animal trappers and food gatherers for the fur trading companies in [[Astoria, Oregon]].

The first permanent American settlement in the area was the [[Jason Lee (missionary)|Jason Lee]] Methodist mission (1840) located in the area north of Salem known as [[Wheatland, Oregon|Wheatland]].<ref name=SOH>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salemhistory.net/brief_history/brief_history.htm|title=Salem (Oregon) Online History - Brief History|website=www.salemhistory.net|access-date=December 8, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031339/http://www.salemhistory.net/brief_history/brief_history.htm|archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1842, the missionaries established the [[Oregon Institute]] (the forerunner of [[Willamette University]]) in the area that was to become the site of Salem. In 1844, the mission was dissolved and the town site established.

In 1851, Salem became the territorial capital after it was moved from [[Oregon City, Oregon|Oregon City]]. The capital was moved briefly to [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]] in 1855, but was moved back to Salem permanently that same year. Salem incorporated as a city in 1857, and with the coming of statehood in 1859, it became the state capital.