In the early 19th century, Coquille was quiet and inhabited by Upper Coquille Native Americans. This changed when Evan Cunningham, the first European settler, arrived in the 1860s. Soon thereafter, others arrived. In the 1880s, homes, businesses, and a sawmill appeared. Riverboat transportation became established. The first wagon road was completed to Marshfield. In the 1890s, a railroad was constructed from Marshfield to Coquille and on to Myrtle Point, setting the stage for a dramatic expansion of the timber industry, dairy farming, and coal mining. By the 1920s, electric power, telephones, automobiles, and paved roads were the norm. Technology supported growth in the timber industry and stimulated population growth. As a result, many new and larger buildings were erected, giving Coquille a vibrant downtown with a bit of an urban feel.
