Pacific County, Washington Territory. The Long Beach Peninsula was the scene of extraordinary change during the 2nd half of the 19th century. The great Westward Movement was at its height in the United States with Pacific County's abundant natural wealth attracting a flood of pioneer immigrants eager and willing to compete for the resources to build a new life for themselves and their families. This competition created conflict and no other pioneer was more emblematic of these conflicts than Judge John Briscoe.