The city of Longview is the largest and most prominent city in its statistical area. Coupled with its neighbor Kelso, Longview is one of the bigger cities in between Portland and Seattle. Before the arrival of settlers from back east, Longview was an ancestral burial ground for the Cowlitz indigenous people. When migrants from the East Coast began to uproot and move west, many settled in what is now Longview and Kelso. For over 70 years it remained a small, peaceful settlement until the Long-Bell Lumber Company decided to purchase large swaths of timberland around Cowlitz County. To support this massive industry, Longview was modified and upgraded to accommodate over the growing population. The city was finally incorporated in 1924, after the lumber company’s owner, Robert Long funded several government buildings.