dians to sound ha to indicate the territory ruled over by a chief. Thus Imnaha was the land ruled over by Imna. See also WENAHA RIVER.
IMPERIAL, Deschutes County. This place is said to have been named by someone who had formerly lived in Imperial Valley, California.
INAVALE, Benton County. Inavale post office was established July 2, 1896, with John Mitchell first postmaster and operator until May 4, 1905. The place was about eight miles southwest of Corvallis and about three miles west of Greenberry. The office was in a productive little valley and was given the descriptive name "in a vale" on that account.
INCH CREEK, Clackamas County. This stream is in the east part of the county near Salmon River. It was named by W. B. Osborne of the Forest Service because it was about an inch long on a map on the scale of 1-62,500.
INDEPENDENCE, Polk County. Independence was named by Elvin A. Thorp, who founded the community. The name was in compliment to Independence, Missouri. Thorp was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1820. He came to Oregon in 1844, took up a donation land claim at the present site of Independence, Oregon, in June, 1845. Independence post office was established April 3, 1852, with Leonard Williams first postmaster. ÎNDEPENDENCE PRAIRIE, Linn County. This small prairie is at the junction of Marion Creek and North Santiam River. It was named by the Marion County road viewing party on Independence Day, July 4, 1874. The party was in charge of John Minto. Independence Rock, a little to the southeast, was named for the prairie.
INDIAN BEACH, Clatsop County. This fine little beach, well hidden from general observation, is on the southwest front of Tillamook Head and about two miles airline northwest of the mouth of Elk Creek. Indian Point is at the north end of the beach and Bald Point at the south end, and Canyon Creek flows over the beach just south of Indian Point. The compiler is of the opinion that this is the beach referred to by Captain William Clark on January 8, 1806, in the following words: "... I proceeded on down a Steep decent to a Single house the remains of an old Kil a mox Town in a nitch imediately on the Sea Coast, at which place a great No. of eregular rocks are out and the waves comes in with great force." Clark adds that the Indians used the place to deposit their dead in canoes. His description is remarkably accurate and in addition, old Indians told Rodney L. Glisan about 1895 that Indian Beach had a village in ancient days and later was a memaloose illahe, or place of the dead. They also said that it was the place where Captain Clark first came down to the sea and brought the Indian woman. Clark's map of Tillamook Head (Point of Clark's View) is also remarkably accurate and shows Indian Beach with fidelity.
INDIAN CREEK, Hood River County. In pioneer days there was a permanent Indian town or camp in the flat where the main west side road crosses this creek, and the name was applied on that account.
INDIAN RIDGE, Lane County. In 1927 Smith Taylor of McKenzie Bridge told the compiler that Indian Ridge was named for an old Indian hunting trail that extended along its summit. The ridge is west of South Fork McKenzie River. The elevation of Indian Ridge Lookout is 5426 feet.
INDIAN VALLEY, Union County. Indian Creek, named in pioneer
