The original inhabitants of Kelso were Native Americans in the United StatesNative Americans from Cowlitz tribe. The Cowlitz people were separated into the Upper (or Taidnapam) and Lower (or Mountain) Cowlitz tribes, who were members of the Sahaptin and Salish language families respectively. In 1855, European Explorers noted that there numbered over 6000 individuals of the Cowlitz Tribe. The present city of Kelso was founded by Peter Crawford, of Kelso, Scotland, in 1884. It was known as "little Chicago" early in its history because of the large number of taverns and whorehouses that catered to local loggers. The economy continues to be based largely on wood products. On May 18, 1980, Kelso residents had front row seats for the eruption of Mt St Helens. Many areas of the city - most notably the Three Rivers Shopping Mall - are built on volcanic ash that was dredged from the Cowlitz River from the mudflow caused by the volcano's eruption. In March, 1998, 64 houses in the Aldercrest development began to shift their location; eventually 129 houses were destroyed by this landslide. Investigation showed that these houses had been built on top of an active landslide area, and heavy rains had set the earth into motion. This disaster at Aldercrest led to stricter city zoning ordinances and oversight over geological surveys. http://web.umr.edu/~rogersda/professional_experience/aldercrest-banyon_ls.htm. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelso%2C_Washington