Tag Archives: Oregon’s need for psychiatric care

Oregon’s Insane

Wagon Train on Oregon Trail

Wagon Train on Oregon Trail

Oregon’s settlers initially put the care of the insane up for bid, with the lowest bidder winning the job (as had been the practice much earlier in New England). Eventually, Oregonians petitioned their government for an insane asylum at at time when the territory’s population was only about 14,000. Of that number, approximately five were insane and four were “idiots” requiring care. Continue reading