Cowlitz County Health and Human Services has been serving the community since the 1930s. In the early years under the leadership of its first Health Officer, Dr. A. L. Ringle, the department tackled significant public health challenges, including outbreaks of smallpox, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. Rabid dogs roaming the streets also posed a serious threat to public safety. Beyond disease control, the department played a crucial role in developing the community’s first landfills, sewage systems, and public water infrastructure, laying the foundation for modern public health in Cowlitz County.
What We Do Today