Before the Social Security Act was passed, the public supported the poor, particularly those who cannot find a home for themselves, through poor farms. One example of such is the Multnomah County Poor Farm in the state of Oregon. The site was built in 1911 as a replacement to the first poor farm constructed in the area.

The Multnomah County Poor Farm immediately became the home of 211 residents. Upon completion, it was the biggest county-funded relief institution in the state. It functioned as such for quite a long time, and was transformed to house various other folks like emotionally disturbed children, tuberculosis patients, and the elderly as a nursing home.

In 1990, it was purchased by the McMenamins and transformed into a lodging and entertainment complex known as the McMenamins Edgefield.