In the late 1800s, Beaver and the neighboring community of Blaine, six miles up the Nestucca River, were thriving communities that boasted of as many as six sawmills between them.

Beaver in those days was home to a school, churches, grocery stores, general stores, a hotel, blacksmith shop, feed store, taverns and the Beaver Creamery Association cheese factory. Its first postmaster was appointed in August of 1889.

The sawmills and the cheese factory no longer exist and some of the businesses have disappeared as well, but Beaver still boasts of grocery stores, a gun shop, service
stations and a number of other businesses.

Beaver has an active community church and is home to Nestucca Valley Middle School.

Blaine still has a community church, fire station and a Grange hall.

Upper Nestucca River Road is a nationally designated Scenic Back Roads Byway connecting Beaver to the community of Carlton and the Willamette Valley.