The history of Oceanlake is the most complex in the north county. Mary P. Sax, a devout Catholic, and her husband, John, donated 80 acres of land to a Catholic priest, Father Charles Raymond. Fr. Raymond had intrigued sax with the idea of creating a Catholic resort-like community where the Indians from Siletz could fraternize with his Catholic f riends from Portland. The church was built, but the priest's dream died after conflicts with his order and bishop and growing commercial development of the area.

By 1926, the area had Johnson's Sweet Shop, Oceanlake Dance Hall, a garage, grocery store, and drugstore. By 1937 Lakeside Theater had opened. St. Augustione's Church and the theater (now called the Bijou) still stand with some changes. The Dorchester House, built as a luxury hotel, restuarant, and dance hall, opened in 1935, its construction having been delayed by the Depression. The Dorchester is now a retirement community listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oceanlake incorporated in 1945.

Wecoma, an area just north of Oceanlake, was established as a town in 1935 by W.H. Lohkamp of Portland who built a grocery store and service station and became the town's first postmaster. In 1955 Wecoma was annexed to Oceanlake.

Neotsu, named for an Indian word meaning "lake near the ocean" was granted a post office in 1900. Otis was established the same year. The post office moved from Neotsu to Otis, then to Devils Lake, then back to Otis, then again to Neotsu in 1928. Otis was named for the nephew of Archibald Thompson, the community's first postmaster.