Our Community
Longview, Washington establishes its borders at the junction of the Columbia and Cowlitz rivers. Longview lies along Interstate 5 with Seattle 47 miles to the north and Portland, Oregon 135 miles south. The Pacific Ocean beaches and scenic Cascade Mountains are each within a 90-minute drive.
Longview (population 34,660, 2000 Census) is the largest city in Cowlitz County. This southwestern WA community is the principal city of the Longview Washington MSA, which includes all of Cowlitz County. Notable residents affiliated with Longview include Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Jason Schmidt and James P. Fleming, a heroic Air Force helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. The city was also the inspiration for a Green Day song named “Longview”.
Longview boasts an actively pro-business environment, where the interests of the community play a significant role in the vitality of the economy. Located 66 miles from the Pacific Coast, the Port of Longview offers eight marine terminals capable of handling an impressive variety of cargo ranging from windmills to logs and steel. Longview operates a sizeable manufacturing base that continues to diversify as the community grows. Major manufacturers include Longview Fibre, Pacific Lamination, and Weyerhaeuser.
Eight public elementary schools, three middle schools, and two public high schools serve the residents of Longview. In addition, two private parochial schools are available. Lower Columbia College (LCC), the first junior college in Washington, has a wide variety of courses and programs.
Longview features a vibrant downtown district with tree lined streets and businesses, restaurants, and unique shops. A short walk to the west of the downtown area reveals the Civic Center. Originally planned as Longview’s geographic center and focal point, the Civic Center now holds a listing as a National Register Historic District. The Center is also the site of a stately old library building with a beautiful rose garden, Monticello Convention Markers, a chunk of Plymouth Rock, and the renowned Knowles paintings found in the lobby of the Monticello Hotel. Longview has a charming bridge dedicated entirely to the local squirrel population. “Nutty Narrows Bridge” includes suspension cables made from wire, with a surface built out of retired fire hoses.
The beautiful Lake Sacajawea is perfect for a scenic stroll, before taking in a performance at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Golfers have access to the outstanding Mint Valley Championship Golf Course, and Longview is home to some of the nation’s only 18-and-over casinos. Popular destinations in the region include the Clark County Amphitheater, Columbia River Gorge, the Pacific Ocean Beaches, Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier. Seattle offers sites such as Lake Washington, the Museum of Glass, the Space Needle, and Washington State History Museum.
Longview, Washington enjoys its designation as Tree City, U.S.A.. With a moderate climate and mean average temperature of 51 degrees, Longview offers a centralized location, modern amenities, and a charming small-town atmosphere.
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