Hillsboro 150 ~ Celebrating The 150th Year As An Incorporated City– Part 1: A primer on Hillsboro Schools by local Historian Ginny Mapes and Editor Dirk Knudsen
Forward: Most people living in Hillsboro, Oregon, today lack a clear perspective on the city’s history or the surrounding Tualatin Valley. As a journalist and historian, it is my duty to share that history, with the hope of enriching the lives of our residents. Since its inception, the Herald has covered stories of historical importance. Having looked at our stories, I see that we have covered over 200 unique stories that involve Hillsboro History- and here is a link for you to dig in and discover some of them. https://hillsboroherald.com/?s=history
As we celebrate Hillsboro 150, the Herald will be producing more historical content than ever, and lead us through the year as we all reflect.
I want to be historically accurate and clear here- this is the Hillsboro 150th Anniversary of the Date the town incorporated. But the real history relative to our town’s founder, David Hill, takes us back another 26 years, so really this is Hillsboro 176. Here is a History of the real timeline, of which Hillsboro 150 is part of:
While history books often use the term “donated,” the creation of the Hillsboro town plat was actually a sale that took place just months before David Hill’s death. The transaction occurred in early 1850. Specifically, on February 2, 1850, the county court ordered that the town site be named “Hillsborough” in his honor. A few days later, on February 5, 1850, commissioners officially selected the community as the seat of Washington County.
The Deal: David Hill agreed to sell a quarter section (160 acres) of his 640-acre donation land claim to the county.
The Price: He was to be paid $200 from the proceeds of the town lot sales.
The Result: Because Hill died on May 9, 1850—shortly after the deal was struck—he never actually saw the money. The payment was eventually made to his widow, Lucinda Wilson Hill.
Kelsey’s Contribution: While Hill sold the 160 acres for the town plat, neighbor Isaiah Kelsey and his wife actually gave (donated) an additional 12 acres specifically for the site of the courthouse.
Quick Timeline
1841: David Hill arrives in the Tualatin Valley.
1842: Hill settles his land claim (then known as “Columbia” or “East Tualatin Plains”).
February 2, 1850: The court officially names the site Hillsborough.
February 5, 1850: The site is chosen as the county seat.
May 9, 1850: David Hill passes away and never sees his dream and work as a community leader realized- at least not here on Earth. Some have raised questions about the circumstances of his death
Hillsboro School District #7 began in 1854 in a one-room log cabin.
Construction started in 1853, with a log cabin for the schoolhouse. Students from ages 4 to 20 could attend school.
When the log cabin was finished, the school began in October 1854.
Hillsboro was growing.
The second building was a one-room frame building. As Hillsboro grew, so did the need for a larger school. In 1875, a two-story frame building was constructed, and the old log cabin was used as an extra room; a woodshed was added. These original schools were located on the northeast corner of Third and Baseline.
The old log school can be seen here on the left, the first addition to the right, and the 2nd addition is the main structure of the original Hillsboro, Oregon School. Located on the corner of 3rd and Baseline
The first three schools are pictured in the 1879 photo. The building burned.
In 1888, planning on the continued growth of Hillsboro, the school directors purchased a full block of ground on what is now Oak Street. Construction of a new building with eight rooms began in 1889 and was completed by the spring of 1890. There would be “nine months” of free school. A short time later, two rooms were added to the south side of the building, and the ninth grade was installed.
Located on the David Hill Donation Land Claim between Oak, Walnut, 4th, and 5th Streets, this modern beauty was erected in 1890 for the children of Hillsboro to have the finest education possible.
A Hillsboro Argus ad announced in the September 15, 1904, issue, “Every school girl and boy attending Hillsboro public school will receive a lead pencil and a pencil tablet at E. L. McCormicks, beginning Saturday and continuing one week.” This new school was constructed at the present-day location of David Hill School at Fifth and Oak.
On November 25, 1907, 582 students attended Hillsboro School. In 1908, 10th graders were housed upstairs, and 11th- and 12th-graders were added the following year.
Still growing, in 1909, a six-room addition was added to the building. By 1912, there were 75 more eighth-grade students than the previous year.
Growth continued, and a separate High School was needed. It took some time to locate the property, raise the funds, and select a builder. On September 18, 1913, after a battle between the school board and the builders, a new High School school building was dedicated.
Hillsboro High School was built on 3rd and Grant and remained our High School until 1929, when the new High School was opened. This school would later become the BW Barnes School, and the Peter Boscow Elementary School was built on this site, too.
Opened in 1929, HilHi was a favorite among many locals in Hillsboro, Oregon. The Beautiful building was designed and built in 1928 for a total cost of $175,000. The first graduating Class was in 1929. The school transitioned to a middle school, Mid High, in 1970, when the new HilHi opened off Rood Bridge Road in the southern part of the City. A few years later, it was renamed J.B. Thomas. It is remembered for its windows, massive size, multiple gymnasiums, shooting range, shop area, and beautiful auditorium with a stage, dressing rooms, and more.
It was torn down in 2009 despite strong community opposition.
So many memories- if you have some, please comment below. That is our first look at Hillsboro Schools as we look ahead to the rest of 2026.
Why does it say Hillsboro 1876-2026? The first school says October 1854.
Very astute of you Ms Sahlfield. David Hill gave of his land claim to make our town happen in 1850. He died before he ever got it dialed in – but it had an established town plat by 1850. The town was an unincorporated town until 1876. I will update the post:
While history books often use the term “donated,” the creation of the Hillsboro town plat was actually a sale that took place just months before David Hill’s death.
The transaction occurred in early 1850. Specifically, on February 2, 1850, the county court ordered that the town site be named “Hillsborough” in his honor. A few days later, on February 5, 1850, commissioners officially selected the community as the seat of Washington County.
The Details of the “Donation”
The Deal: David Hill agreed to sell a quarter section (160 acres) of his 640-acre donation land claim to the county.
The Price: He was to be paid $200 from the proceeds of the town lot sales.
The Result: Because Hill died on May 9, 1850—shortly after the deal was struck—he never actually saw the money. The payment was eventually made to his widow, Lucinda Wilson Hill.
Kelsey’s Contribution: While Hill sold the 160 acres for the town plat, neighbor Isaiah Kelsey and his wife actually gave (donated) an additional 12 acres specifically for the site of the courthouse.
Quick Timeline
1841: David Hill arrives in the Tualatin Valley.
1842: Hill settles his land claim (then known as “Columbia” or “East Tualatin Plains”).
February 2, 1850: The court officially names the site Hillsborough.
February 5, 1850: The site is chosen as the county seat.
May 9, 1850: David Hill passes away.
ANY PHOTOS OF FIRDALE SCHOOL? I ATTENDED MY FIRST & SECOND GRADES THERE. THEN THE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATED WITH FARMINGTON GRADE SCHOOLON ROOD ROAD.