Our District

 

Cities and Unincorporated Areas

Multnomah County		Clackamas County
City of Portland		City of Damascus
City of Gresham		City of Happy Valley (portion)
City of Fairview		City of Sandy
City of Wood Village		Alder Creek
City of Troutdale		Brightwood
City of Maywood Park		Bull Run
Bridal Veil		Estacada
Latourell Falls		Marmot
Corbett		Rhododendron
Orient		Roslyn Lake
Bonneville		Welches
		Wemme
		Wildwood
		Zig Zag
		Government Camp
		Eagle Creek
		City of Boring
		Clackamas (portion)

 

Localities

North Portland

Tucked into the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, North Portland is home to a number of well-established neighborhoods like Overlook, Bridgeton, St. Johns, Cathedral Park, and the N. Mississippi neighborhood. This area boasts a number of wildlife refuges and parks, including Smith and Bybee Lakes, many of which, such as Columbia Slough, have benefited from intensive environmental restoration efforts. Delta Park, Portland International Raceway, and the University of Portland can all be found in North Portland. 

 

Northeast Portland

Northeast Portland defines classic urban living. This area is complete with thriving businesses in the Lloyd district towers and state and government offices, but is also rooted in historical homes and distinctive shops, such as those found in the Irvington and Hollywood neighborhoods. Portlanders can catch a Trail Blazers game or concert at the Rose Garden Arena or head over to the Memorial Coliseum for a Winterhawks game, both only a short stroll from the new Eastbank Esplanade.  Residents can shop in the popular Lloyd Center Mall or visit beautiful areas such as Grant or Rose City Park. The MAX light rail winds through the historic districts in the area that are packed with unique restaurants and retail stores. The Portland Streetcar now crosses over the Broadway Bridge into Northeast Portland with stops at the Memorial Coliseum and the Oregon Convention Center before traveling into Southeast Portland and ending at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). 

 

Southeast Portland

The Southeast district, between East Burnside Street and the Clackamas County line, is the largest and most populous section of the city. This eclectic area is home to the heart of Portland's counter-culture, the Hawthorne district, which is filled with coffeehouses, unique boutiques, and students from nearby Reed College. A stroll through the Sellwood neighborhood reveals many antique stores as well as the popular family destination Oaks Park. Southeast has many beautiful parks, including Mt. Tabor, Laurelhurst, Westmoreland, and the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens. OMSI can be found along the waterfront and has a planetarium, a naval submarine, and the OMNIMAX dome theater. The extension of the Portland Streetcar travels through inner southeast before arriving at OMSI.

 

East Portland

Beyond 82nd Avenue, large parts of the city were annexed in the '80s and early '90s and many residents still remember the days the area was known as "Mid-County". Having five separate school districts, Portland Public School District, Centennial School District, Reynolds School District, Parkrose School District, and David Douglas School District, East Portland is also home to many non-profits, available and affordable housing options, and a growing sense of diversity. It grew rapidly in the 1950s and '60s, and both its wide arterial streets and low-slung ranch style homes lend it a suburban feel. The Gateway District, I-205, Burnside MAX line, Glendoveer Golf Course, Springwater Corridor, Johnson Creek Watershed, and the fir-clad Buttes (Rocky, Kelly, Powell and Mt. Scott) are major landmarks.

 

Old Town

Old Town was the original urban core of Portland. It is bordered by the Willamette River, NW Broadway, and West Burnside. Old Town got its name in the 1970s when Portland businessman Bill Naito had the words painted on the highly visible water tower atop a building at the edge of what was then called Portland’s “skid-row.” Old Town is also home to the “Portland Oregon” sign formerly the “Made in Oregon” atop the former White Stag building which now houses the University of Oregon’s Portland Center. 

Portland’s Chinatown makes up much of Old Town. With a China gate marking the entrance on NW 4th and W Burnside, the China town portion of Old Town continues to NW Glisan St and is home to a variety of Chinese groceries and restaurants. In the heart of Chinatown is the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden which is one of the largest Suzhou-style gardens outside of China.

Prior to WWII, the area that is today called Chinatown was Portland’s Japantown. Beginning in the 1890s, many Japanese immigrants were processed through Portland, creating a demand for hotels, bathhouses, and other services. Businesses that formed in the city’s Japantown thrived in the low-rent areas near the river. Today the Japanese American Historical Plaza and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center in what is today Portland’s Chinatown serve as reminders of what was once Portland’s Japantown. 

 

Downtown

Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, downtown Portland is the modern heart of the city. Downtown is home to Pioneer Courthouse Square, the city’s “living room,” and the downtown shopping district that surrounds the square. All 4 MAX lines pass through the downtown shopping district.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a go-to place to enjoy the outdoors downtown with jogging and biking paths that connect with the Eastbank Esplanade. Tom McCall Waterfront Park is home to the Portland Saturday Market every weekend and also a variety of events throughout the year including the Waterfront Blues Festival, the Bite of Oregon Festival.

Downtown’s cultural district lines the South Park Blocks and is home to the Portland Art Museum, the Portland Center for Performing Arts, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and the Oregon Historical Society. Just south of the cultural district is the campus of Portland State University, Oregon’s largest public university. On Saturdays, the PSU Farmer’s Market brings people to the Park Blocks that run through Portland State to shop for farm fresh food. Both the cultural district and Portland State are served by the Portland Streetcar and Portland State is served by the Green and Yellow MAX lines.

Just west of downtown is Providence Park, the home of the Portland Timbers.

 

Southwest

Southwest Portland is home to the city’s Washington Park. Encompassing 410 acres, Washington Park is home to the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo, and the Portland Children’s Museum as well as picnic areas, playgrounds, public art and many miles of trails through acres of forest.There are neighborhoods nestled throughout the southwest hills.  The Council Crest neighborhood sits atop the highest point in Portland and was connected to downtown by one of the city’s original streetcar lines until 1949. In the early 20thcentury, an amusement park occupied what is now Council Crest Park. Southwest Portland is also home to communities like Hillsdale and Multnomah Village that offer a less urban, small town feel just a few minutes from downtown Portland. Southwest Portland is also home to the main campus of OHSU on Marquam Hill and Lewis and Clark College nestled among the towering trees of the residential neighborhood of Dunthorpe.

 

South Waterfront

Just south of downtown, the South Waterfront is one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the United States. In converting former industrial land into Portland’s newest neighborhood, developers have emphasized alternative transportation, parks and trails, green building practices, and mixed-use retail in building high-rise offices and condos. It is connected with downtown Portland by the Portland Streetcar. The South Waterfront is home to the OHSU Center for Health and Healing which is linked to the main OHSU campus on Marquam Hill by the Portland Aerial Tram.

 

Gresham

This thriving community is the state's fourth largest city, home to over 107,000. Many residents of Gresham commute via the MAX or Interstate 84 into Portland, but Gresham itself supports a significant growing commercial and service sector. Gresham’s historical downtown services many people with their weekly Farmer's Market, numerous retail areas, such as the newly developed Gresham Station. Gresham also boasts a meeting ground for Gresham’s 3rd Thursday festival where you can enjoy local music, art and wine. Many Gresham residents take advantage of the large and reputable Mt. Hood Community College. Visitors should check out the Gresham Carnegie Museum, play a round of golf at Persimmon Country Club, and take in a show at Mt. Hood Repertory Theatre.

 

Troutdale, Wood Village, Fairview

These three cities are stretched along the Columbia Gorge at the Third District's northern boundary. Known for its small-town atmosphere, Fairview offers access to water sports, golf courses, and a number of parks. Blue Lake Park features an expansive recreational area with a 400-foot swimming beach, fishing access, playgrounds, bike and boat rentals, bike paths, and picnic grounds. Just to the east is Wood Village, an area with affordable housing and an excellent environment for families. Troutdale, a somewhat larger city, is known for its many parks and towering views of the Columbia Gorge. Residents and visitors alike enjoy shopping at the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets and unwinding with dinner and refreshments at McMenamins Edgefield (brewery and distillery on site). Troutdale proudly bills itself as the ‘Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge.’

 

Columbia Gorge and East County

Oregon's Third District extends considerably east of Portland, stretching into some of the most scenic areas of the state. Just outside of Troutdale, Oregon residents enjoy fishing, swimming, and rafting along the meandering Sandy River as it winds through Oxbow Park. Hikers enjoy the beautiful views from the rocky cliffs along the Columbia Gorge, most famously from Crown Point, just outside the small town of Corbett. A short trip down scenic Columbia River Highway leads to the impressive beauty of  Multnomah Falls, the second highest year-round falls in the nation, and a landmark many Portlanders visit annually. Just a few more minutes down the road and tourists can watch fish fight their way up the Bonneville Dam's fish ladder. All this within an hour's drive of the Portland!

 

Clackamas County

Oregon's Third District claims a substantial portion of rural Clackamas County as well as the suburban communities of Happy Valley and Damascus. To the south and east, Boring, Beavercreek, and Colton are primarily residential and agricultural communities. Well-kept beautiful homes stand in the midst of some of the country's finest Christmas tree farms. Clackamas County is also home to many nurseries and greenhouses as well as numerous berry and vegetable farms that provide sustainable produce for the Portland Metropolitan area. 

 

Sandy and the Mt. Hood Corridor

The Mt. Hood Corridor is a series of unincorporated villages east of Portland where U.S. Highway 26 begins the steep climb to Mt. Hood. Sandy, the largest incorporated city along the route, is a favorite lunch and last-minute shopping stop for snow-seeking adventurers. Visitors can obtain permits and passes for forest recreation activities at the Mt. Hood National Forest Headquarters in town. Welches is located near the junction of the Sandy and Salmon Rivers and is the largest of the unincorporated areas. It is the home of many tree farmers, those working in the tourism business, and retirees from as far away as Florida. The popular Resort at the Mountain is a mainstay of the area and attracts tourists eager to take in Oregon's beauty. For skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, Mt. Hood National Forest has some of the best year-round and night skiing facilities, including Mt. Hood Skibowl, Mt. Hood Meadows, and the magnificent Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark built through Roosevelt's Federal Works Projects Administration. Constructed from mammoth timbers and native stone in 1937, Timberline Lodge today stands as a tribute to the rugged spirit of the Pacific Northwest.

 

Estacada

Estacada is a diversifying historic timber community located at the base of the beautiful Clackamas River Gorge and the Mt. Hood National Forest. The town is located on Highway 224, a direct link west to Portland or south to the Mt. Jefferson recreation area and Detroit Lake Reservoir. The Estacada area has breathtaking scenery of the Clackamas River Gorge, and is extremely popular with over three million annual recreation-oriented visitors. Known as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World," the surrounding Estacada community is dotted with hundreds of thousands of trees cultivated for holiday enjoyment and shipped around the world