The economic rebound of the 40s continued into the 50s and Cowlitz County's industrial base continued to grow. Harvey Hart, new general manager of the Port, aggressively pursued new cargos to replace wartime exports, which ceased at the end of World War II. He also obtained "Terminal Port" status, allowing the Port to handle otherwise unattainable cargos.
1950
The Port of Longview was the first small port on the Pacific Coast to be granted "Terminal Port" status, designating it as one of only six ports in the transpacific route. The other ports were Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Tacoma and Seattle.
Harvey Hart launched a campaign to persuade industries in the Midwest and East to ship through the Port.
Japanese ships returned to Longview for the first time since the end of World War II. They regularly loaded logs and other materials.
1951
Cargo piled up at Port docks because of a labor shortage. Beaver Ammunition Storage Depot had priority of longshore workers, which drained the supply of local crews.
Total Port tonnage reached 2.3 million tons.
1952
Total Port tonnage reached 2.6 million tons.
1953
The Port obtained firebrick exports through a regularly scheduled freighter service. Ships returned loaded with Philippine beer and hardwoods. A warehousing and distribution system was put together to handle the trade. Cargos grew to incude imports of rattan furniture, foodstuffs and toys.
1954
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company announced plans to build chemical paper plants.
1956
A $1.5 million port expansion bond paid for another dock, more cranes and additional warehouses to handle the rising tonnage and diversified cargo entering and leaving the Port.
International Paper Compan (IP) purchased all remaining holdings of the Long-Bell Lumber Company. Operations were renamed IP-Long-Bell division.
1958
Expansion of the Port's grain elevator leased by Continental Grain Company was necessary in order to accommodate increasing grain exports. Another grain storage shed was built, doubling capacity. The volume handled was second only to Portland, and ahead of Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver and Astoria ports.
1959
The Port handled heavy-lift hydroelectric generating equipment destined for the Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River.
The Port acquired a new gantry crane, which more than doubled its capacity to load and unload bulk products.
Circa 1950s
The Port shipped war materials and supplies to Korea.
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