Alameda, Portland, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Alameda is a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon
, United States
that is located on the Alameda Ridge
with views of Downtown
, the Willamette River
, and the Cascades
. Northeast Fremont Street is the neighborhood’s main east-west thoroughfare and NE 33rd, its main north-south thoroughfare, makes up its eastern boundary. The neighborhood is adjacent to Wilshire Park, a 14.4 acres (58,274.8 m²) neighborhood park. The community’s side streets wind around the hill, past cottages and expansive Craftsman homes. Alameda is located between the business districts of Beaumont Village
and the Hollywood District
.
The Alameda neighborhood was established on the 1859 land claim of William C. Bowering and his wife, Isabelle. The area became known as Gravelly Hill Road for a gravel pit at NE 33rd and Fremont. In 1909, the Alameda Land Company laid out the Alameda Park subdivision that was then annexed to the city of Portland. The development advertised an extremely broad exclusion in its printed brochure, declaring "no people of undesirable colors and kinds."
The name comes from the Spanish word "alamo," meaning a poplar or cottonwood tree. "Alameda" means, precisely, a public walk or promenade lined with poplar trees, and, by extension, a street lined with trees, like the English word "parkway."
Alameda Elementary School of the Portland Public Schools district
is located in the neighborhood, as is The Madeleine School, a Catholic K-8 school.
There is also an Alameda Street in the neighborhood, which is the subject of the Elliott Smith
song "Alameda" on his Either/Or
album.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that is located on the Alameda Ridge
Alameda Ridge
The Alameda Ridge is a large gravel bar located in Portland, Oregon, United States.-Geologic history:Alameda Ridge was formed between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age when the ice dam containing Glacial Lake Missoula collapsed some 40 times, causing some of the...
with views of Downtown
Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
, the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
, and the Cascades
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. Northeast Fremont Street is the neighborhood’s main east-west thoroughfare and NE 33rd, its main north-south thoroughfare, makes up its eastern boundary. The neighborhood is adjacent to Wilshire Park, a 14.4 acres (58,274.8 m²) neighborhood park. The community’s side streets wind around the hill, past cottages and expansive Craftsman homes. Alameda is located between the business districts of Beaumont Village
Beaumont-Wilshire, Portland, Oregon
The Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood of Portland, Oregon is located in the city's northeast section, on Alameda Ridge with views of Downtown, the Willamette River, and the Cascades. It is bordered by the Alameda, Concordia, Cully, Rose City Park, and Grant Park neighborhoods. "Beaumont Village",...
and the Hollywood District
Hollywood District
Hollywood District or Hollywood Historic District may refer to one of these U.S. locations:*Little Hollywood Historic District, Hartford, Connecticut, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hartford, Connecticut...
.
The Alameda neighborhood was established on the 1859 land claim of William C. Bowering and his wife, Isabelle. The area became known as Gravelly Hill Road for a gravel pit at NE 33rd and Fremont. In 1909, the Alameda Land Company laid out the Alameda Park subdivision that was then annexed to the city of Portland. The development advertised an extremely broad exclusion in its printed brochure, declaring "no people of undesirable colors and kinds."
The name comes from the Spanish word "alamo," meaning a poplar or cottonwood tree. "Alameda" means, precisely, a public walk or promenade lined with poplar trees, and, by extension, a street lined with trees, like the English word "parkway."
Alameda Elementary School of the Portland Public Schools district
Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Portland Public Schools is a public school district located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is the largest school district in the state of Oregon, and in the Pacific Northwest. It is a Pre K-12 district with an enrollment of approximately 47,000 students...
is located in the neighborhood, as is The Madeleine School, a Catholic K-8 school.
There is also an Alameda Street in the neighborhood, which is the subject of the Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
song "Alameda" on his Either/Or
Either/Or (album)
Either/Or is the name of the third album recorded by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. The album was released on Kill Rock Stars on February 25, 1997 on compact disc and vinyl LP....
album.