Beaumont-Wilshire, Portland, Oregon
Encyclopedia
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", located on NE Fremont Street, from NE 33rd Ave. to NE 50th Ave., is the main commercial district in the neighborhood, but the neighborhood also lies within walking distance of the Hollywood District
, a major commercial and shopping area to the south.
Beaumont-Wilshire is an older, well established neighborhood with a strong sense of community. It has a mixture of residential and commercial properties. The Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood is in actuality two separate neighborhoods separated by NE Fremont Street, with Beaumont to the south and Wilshire to the north. The two neighborhoods agreed to form the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association to recognize their common interests, including their common commercial center of Beaumont Village.
The original Beaumont neighborhood was platted in 1910. It was originally part of the Rose City Park subdivision which was platted in 1907. The original Rose City Park subdivision was part of a land claim of Joseph Backenstos, which was assigned to his widow by President Andrew Johnson in 1866. Early maps, around 1890, refer to this area as the Crook Tract. The name Beaumont means "beautiful mountain" in French. The south slope of Alameda Ridge
, originally known as "Beaumont Hill" or "Gravel Hill", trends northwest-southeast through the southern part of the neighborhood. The ridge provides spectacular views of northeast Portland and the downtown skyline, and boasts some of the most expensive homes in Portland
. Reportedly, concrete sidewalks and curbs were poured south of NE Fremont in 1911, and the streets were paved within the following few years.
The Wilshire neighborhood was initially platted in 1921 around the area of NE 33rd and N.E. Skidmore. Wilshire includes
Wilshire Park, a 14.83 acres (60,014.9 m²) park with a canopy of mature trees, playgrounds, and picnic facilities. In 1928 the area between NE Fremont and Prescott, and from NE 42nd to 52nd was annexed into the city of Portland
, and part of this annex later became the eastern part of the Wilshire neighborhood.
According to 1996 Census data, the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood consists primarily of owner-occupied, single-family housing, with approximately 5,463 residents. South of Fremont, most of the homes were built in the early 1900s and include Tudors, Craftsman, and bungalow style homes. North of Fremont early 1900s classic styles are present along with a few homes that were built after 1950.
In early August of each year, Beaumont Village hosts the "Fremont Fest", which includes live music, artists and craftspeople, sidewalk sales, face painting, horse and carriage rides, and a children's parade.
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...
is located in the city's northeast section, on 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...
. It is bordered by the Alameda
Alameda, Portland, Oregon
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...
, Concordia
Concordia, Portland, Oregon
Concordia is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon, United States, named after Concordia University, which is located within it. The neighborhood borders are NE 22nd Ave. on the west, NE Columbia Blvd. on the north, and NE 42nd Ave. on the east. On the south, the border is...
, Cully
Cully, Portland, Oregon
Cully is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon. The neighborhood, as well as NE Cully Blvd. that runs diagonally through it, is named after English stonemason Thomas Cully , an early settler...
, Rose City Park
Rose City Park, Portland, Oregon
Rose City Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Portland, Oregon. It borders Beaumont-Wilshire and the Hollywood District on the west, Cully on the north, Roseway and Madison South on the east, and Center on the south....
, and Grant Park
Grant Park, Portland, Oregon
Grant Park is a neighborhood and park in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon. The neighborhood is bordered by Alameda and Beaumont-Wilshire to the north, Rose City Park to the east, Hollywood District, Laurelhurst, and Sullivan's Gulch to the south, and Irvington to the west, and best known...
neighborhoods. "Beaumont Village", located on NE Fremont Street, from NE 33rd Ave. to NE 50th Ave., is the main commercial district in the neighborhood, but the neighborhood also lies within walking distance of 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...
, a major commercial and shopping area to the south.
Beaumont-Wilshire is an older, well established neighborhood with a strong sense of community. It has a mixture of residential and commercial properties. The Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood is in actuality two separate neighborhoods separated by NE Fremont Street, with Beaumont to the south and Wilshire to the north. The two neighborhoods agreed to form the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association to recognize their common interests, including their common commercial center of Beaumont Village.
The original Beaumont neighborhood was platted in 1910. It was originally part of the Rose City Park subdivision which was platted in 1907. The original Rose City Park subdivision was part of a land claim of Joseph Backenstos, which was assigned to his widow by President Andrew Johnson in 1866. Early maps, around 1890, refer to this area as the Crook Tract. The name Beaumont means "beautiful mountain" in French. The south slope of 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...
, originally known as "Beaumont Hill" or "Gravel Hill", trends northwest-southeast through the southern part of the neighborhood. The ridge provides spectacular views of northeast Portland and the downtown skyline, and boasts some of the most expensive homes in Portland
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...
. Reportedly, concrete sidewalks and curbs were poured south of NE Fremont in 1911, and the streets were paved within the following few years.
The Wilshire neighborhood was initially platted in 1921 around the area of NE 33rd and N.E. Skidmore. Wilshire includes
Wilshire Park, a 14.83 acres (60,014.9 m²) park with a canopy of mature trees, playgrounds, and picnic facilities. In 1928 the area between NE Fremont and Prescott, and from NE 42nd to 52nd was annexed into the city of Portland
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...
, and part of this annex later became the eastern part of the Wilshire neighborhood.
According to 1996 Census data, the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood consists primarily of owner-occupied, single-family housing, with approximately 5,463 residents. South of Fremont, most of the homes were built in the early 1900s and include Tudors, Craftsman, and bungalow style homes. North of Fremont early 1900s classic styles are present along with a few homes that were built after 1950.
Fremont Street ("Beaumont Village")
NE Fremont Street, between NE 33rd and NE 50th Avenues, locally known as "Beaumont Village", serves as the focal point of activity for the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood. As a neighborhood center, NE Fremont Street provides a mix of housing, commercial, institutional and retail services to residents and visitors. It is a place where people can socialize, run their errands, window shop, and dine at local restaurants. Interspersed between the commercial activity are small professional offices that provide medical, legal, and financial services to the greater community.In early August of each year, Beaumont Village hosts the "Fremont Fest", which includes live music, artists and craftspeople, sidewalk sales, face painting, horse and carriage rides, and a children's parade.
Schools
Beaumont Middle School is located near the center of the neighborhood, immediately west of NE 41st Avenue on the north side of NE Fremont Street. Beaumont School originally opened in 1914, and its current two story, brick building was completed in 1926.External links
- Guide to Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood (PortlandNeighborhood.com)
- Map of Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood
- Beaumont Neighborhood
