Gales Creek shares its name with a stream, a tributary of the Tualatin River, that was named for pioneer Joseph Gale, who settled in the area[2] The locale was sometimes called Gales City.

[2] Gales Creek post office was established in 1874.

[2] In the 19th century the town was the last stagecoach stop on the way to Tillamook.

The school closed in 2011, and currently acts as a special education treatment facility.

This Washington County, Oregon state location article is a stub.