South Bend
Welcome to South Bend, Washington
Located on the scenic shores of the Willapa River, South Bend is the county seat of Pacific County. The beautiful Pacific County Courthouse overlooks the town and is open to the public for self-guided tours. Explore the unique history of Pacific County at the Pacific County Historical Society Museum. Enjoy the South Bend waterfront at Robert Bush Park, site of the Robert E.Bush Memorial. Fresh Willapa Bay oysters and seafood are readily available at South Bend restaurants, seafood stores and canneries.
The Pacific County Seat and Oyster Capital of the World
The town of South Bend had its beginnings in 1869 when the Riddell brothers, Valentine and John, built a sawmill on the bend of the Willapa River. In April 1890, the South Bend Land Company signed a contract with the Northern Pacific Railroad, donating half of the property the company owned to the railroad.
The railroad announced that South Bend would be the ocean terminus of the Yakima and Pacific Coast branch line. The local chamber of commerce and South Bend Land Company expansively promoted the town as the future “Baltimore of the Pacific”. Although the railroad was completed in 1892 and South Bend benefited, the Panic of 1893 ended the “Baltimore” dream.
The Pacific County seat since 1855 was Oysterville, a prosperous settlement located on the Long Beach Peninsula. As South Bend grew, the town demanded a vote to move the county seat from Oysterville to South Bend….[visit website]
The Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Discovery and Adventure Awaits!
Take a step back in time and explore the charming farming communities of Raymond, South Bend, Bay Center, Menlo, Lebam & Frances, located in the beautiful Willapa Hills. Historic Willapa Harbor is home to a vibrant fishing and oyster farming industry, a wide array of agriculture farms, an amazing art corridor, winery and breweries, and a spectacular variety of outdoor adventures.
Come and experience the beauty of Willapa Harbor while discovering the stories that make this place so special.