Pioneering Legacy Linn County’s First Black Resident
Cora Cox, the first Black resident of Linn County, Oregon, was born into slavery in Virginia. Cora traveled with the Johnsons on the Oregon Trail, becoming one of the few Black people in the Oregon Territory. Despite legal barriers, Cora remained in Oregon, eventually purchasing land and becoming one of the earliest Black landowners in the state. Cora’s story highlights the resilience and determination of Black pioneers in the face of adversity.