Beaverton is a city in Washington County , Oregon , United States , seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley. As of May 2006 , its population is estimated to be 84,270,[1] 9.1% more than the 2000 census figure of 76,129. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon 's sixth largest city. Beaverton's controversial annexation plans during the next decade are likely to result in major growth in both population and area .

Many beavers that chose their habitat in four streams that ran through this area.

In the 1600s, the French migrated from Canada and ripped out the beaver dams, causing the beavers to be land-bound and helpless. The French killed the beavers and skinned them for their hides, which were sold and shipped to France.

Furs, in those days, were a rare commodity known as a status symbol of royalty and wealth and were considered a valuable product in Europe. By 1754, William Penn had purchased this section of land from the Shawnee Indians. As settlers migrated to the area, the land still was somewhat swampy. In 1770, this land was granted to John Swift by Penn.

Swift later sold the plot to Jacob Lechner, who named it Swifttown in honor of the former owner and then later changed the name to Beavertown. The beavers eventually were taken care of, and the streams went back to their natural banks.

The land became dry enough for settlement around the year 1800. In 1810, the streets were laid out, as they are today, in the center of Beavertown.

Beavertown was a slow-growing Pennsylvania Dutch community, and in the early days, farming was the chief occupation, but as time went on, new improvements and inventions made this little town prosper.