Damascus, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Damascus is a city in Clackamas County
, Oregon
, United States
. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley
and Interstate 205 and west of Boring
. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000. The population estimate for the city on July 1, 2005, was 9,670 (the first estimate available after incorporation), with the population growing to 10,539 residents as of the 2010 census.
, Damascus can date its existence as a community back to 1867, when a post office by that name was established. That post office was closed in 1904, but re-opened in February 2007 inside a coffee house. The original heart of the community is along Oregon Route 212, which as of 2004 serves as part of the city's southern boundary.
A 2000 decision by Metro
to expand Portland's
urban growth boundary
into the area prompted some citizens of the community to submit Measure 3-138, a measure on the ballot for the 2004 general election in November. The initiative's passage resulted in the incorporation of the former unincorporated communities of Damascus and Carver
into the City of Damascus, a step which prevents nearby cities from annexing
the community. The city was the first new city in Oregon in 22 years.
In a special election on September 21, 2005, a city charter was approved by 88% of its voters. Voters in eleven parcels of land between Damascus and Happy Valley
were given the chance to vote on annexation to Damascus: six of the areas voted for annexation, four voted against, and in the eleventh no votes were cast.
line. Boring
lies to the east, and Clackamas
to the west.
, Oregon Trail
, Estacada, Centennial
, and Gresham-Barlow
school districts. The latter is the second-largest employer in the city. As of January 2011, the members of the Damascus city council were Steve Spinnett (mayor), Diana Helm (Council president), Marlo Dean, Andrew Jackman, Barb Ledbury, Randy Shannon and Mary Wescott.
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley
Happy Valley, Oregon
Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
and Interstate 205 and west of Boring
Boring, Oregon
Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty-two miles southeast from downtown...
. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000. The population estimate for the city on July 1, 2005, was 9,670 (the first estimate available after incorporation), with the population growing to 10,539 residents as of the 2010 census.
History
According to Oregon Geographic NamesOregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names is an authoritative compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon. , the book is in its seventh edition and is compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur, who took over from his father, Lewis A. McArthur, as of the fourth edition...
, Damascus can date its existence as a community back to 1867, when a post office by that name was established. That post office was closed in 1904, but re-opened in February 2007 inside a coffee house. The original heart of the community is along Oregon Route 212, which as of 2004 serves as part of the city's southern boundary.
A 2000 decision by Metro
Metro (Oregon regional government)
Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area...
to expand Portland's
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...
urban growth boundary
Urban growth boundary
An urban growth boundary, or UGB, is a regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urban sprawl by mandating that the area inside the boundary be used for higher density urban development and the area outside be used for lower density development.An urban growth boundary circumscribes an...
into the area prompted some citizens of the community to submit Measure 3-138, a measure on the ballot for the 2004 general election in November. The initiative's passage resulted in the incorporation of the former unincorporated communities of Damascus and Carver
Carver, Oregon
Carver is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, which as of 2004, is part of the city of Damascus, Oregon. Before 2004, when the city of Damascus incorporated, Carver was an independent, unincorporated community...
into the City of Damascus, a step which prevents nearby cities from annexing
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
the community. The city was the first new city in Oregon in 22 years.
In a special election on September 21, 2005, a city charter was approved by 88% of its voters. Voters in eleven parcels of land between Damascus and Happy Valley
Happy Valley, Oregon
Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
were given the chance to vote on annexation to Damascus: six of the areas voted for annexation, four voted against, and in the eleventh no votes were cast.
Geography
Damascus sits 712 feet (217 m) above sea-level. Located in north-central part of Clackamas County, the city's northern boundary is the Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
line. Boring
Boring, Oregon
Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty-two miles southeast from downtown...
lies to the east, and Clackamas
Clackamas, Oregon
Clackamas was a census-designated place in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Portland, Oregon.It is the location of Camp Withycombe, a military base...
to the west.
Government
Fire protection in the city is provided by the Boring Fire District, with two fire stations located in the community. Damascus' police force is provided under contract by the county sheriff's office. The city is served by the North ClackamasNorth Clackamas School District
The North Clackamas School District is a school district located in the upper middle portion of Clackamas County, Oregon. This district encompasses the communities of Clackamas, Milwaukie, Damascus, Happy Valley, and Carver.-Board:...
, Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail School District
The Oregon Trail School District is a public school district in the U.S. state of Oregon. It spans from the outskirts of the city of Gresham to the top of Mount Hood, on the Oregon Trail. It encompasses several distinct, mostly unincorporated, rural areas of Clackamas County, including the...
, Estacada, Centennial
Centennial School District (Oregon)
Centennial School District is a school district in the U.S. state of Oregon. It serves the cities of Gresham and southeast Portland, with an enrollment of approximately 6,700 students.-Demographics:...
, and Gresham-Barlow
Gresham-Barlow School District
Gresham School District is a school district in the U.S. state of Oregon. It serves the cities of Boring, Damascus and Gresham.-Demographics:In the 2009 school year, the district had 145 students classified as homeless by the Department of Education, or 1.2% of students in the district.-Elementary...
school districts. The latter is the second-largest employer in the city. As of January 2011, the members of the Damascus city council were Steve Spinnett (mayor), Diana Helm (Council president), Marlo Dean, Andrew Jackman, Barb Ledbury, Randy Shannon and Mary Wescott.
External links
- Entry for Damascus from the Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...
- Map of the city