Linnton, Portland, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Linnton is a Portland, Oregon
neighborhood located between Forest Park
and the Willamette River
along U.S. Route 30 (NW St. Helens Rd.), close to the agricultural community of Sauvie Island
. It borders the neighborhoods of Northwest Industrial
on the south, St. Johns
and Cathedral Park
via the St. Johns Bridge
across the Willamette on the east, and Forest Park
(with which it overlaps substantially) on the west. The neighborhood extends north somewhat beyond Portland city limits into unincorporated Multnomah County
, ending at the Sauvie Island Bridge
.
, the Town of Linnton was plat
ted in 1843 by Peter Burnett (later, the first governor of California
) and Morton M. McCarver. The two named the community for U.S. Senator Lewis F. Linn
of Missouri
, a proponent of settling the Oregon Country
. Linnton had its own post office
from 1889–1975. Industrialization began in 1889 when the Portland Smelting Company started to build a smelting plant
, followed by the Linnton Manufacturing Company starting in 1892. Columbia Engineering Works arrived in Linnton in 1910.
Linnton was incorporated on October 5, 1910, after a vote on September 12. At that time it was a company town for Clark-Wilson and West Oregon lumber mills, and the Columbia Engineering Works shipyard. In 1913, the Portland Gas & Coke Company moved its manufacturing plant to the town's southern border large oil refiners began to purchase sites for shipping and storage. Linnton was soon annexed by Portland in 1915, bringing with it much of today's Forest Park
.
In 2006 there was talk of secession following a rejection by Portland Mayor Tom Potter
and two other city council members of a waterfront revitalization plan over toxic industrial waste concerns.
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...
neighborhood located between Forest Park
Forest Park (Portland)
Forest Park is a public municipal park in the Tualatin Mountains west of downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Stretching for more than on hillsides overlooking the Willamette River, it is one of the country's largest urban forest reserves...
and 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...
along U.S. Route 30 (NW St. Helens Rd.), close to the agricultural community of Sauvie Island
Sauvie Island
Sauvie Island, in the U.S. state of Oregon, originally Wapato Island or Wappatoo Island, is the largest island along the Columbia River, at 26,000 acres , and the largest river island in the United States...
. It borders the neighborhoods of Northwest Industrial
Northwest Industrial, Portland, Oregon
Northwest Industrial is an almost entirely industrial neighborhood in the Northwest section of Portland. According to the Portland Bureau of Planning, it "is one of the few remaining large urban industrial districts in the United States" and "one of the premier heavy industrialdistricts in the...
on the south, St. Johns
St. Johns, Portland, Oregon
St. Johns is a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States located in North Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the Willamette River and the Columbia River....
and Cathedral Park
Cathedral Park, Portland, Oregon
Cathedral Park is a both a park and a neighborhood in the North section of Portland, Oregon on the east shore of the Willamette River.-Neighborhood:...
via the St. Johns Bridge
St. Johns Bridge
The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, USA, between the St. Johns neighborhood and the northwest industrial area around Linnton. It is the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of three public highway suspension...
across the Willamette on the east, and Forest Park
Forest Park, Portland, Oregon
Forest Park, a neighborhood on the northwestern edge of Portland, Oregon, combines rolling green pastures, views east and west, and proximity to the attractions of Northwest District. The Forest Park neighborhood is named because of its proximity to Forest Park, the southern portion of which lies...
(with which it overlaps substantially) on the west. The neighborhood extends north somewhat beyond Portland city limits into unincorporated Multnomah County
Multnomah 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...
, ending at the Sauvie Island Bridge
Sauvie Island Bridge
The Sauvie Island Bridge crosses the Multnomah Channel of the Willamette River near Portland, Oregon, United States. The original Parker truss bridge, built in 1950 with a main span, was replaced with a tied arch bridge with a span in 2008 due to cracks discovered in 2001.-Old bridge:Opened on...
.
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...
, the Town of Linnton was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1843 by Peter Burnett (later, the first governor of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) and Morton M. McCarver. The two named the community for U.S. Senator Lewis F. Linn
Lewis F. Linn
Lewis Fields Linn was a Jacksonian Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Missouri born in Kentucky. He served in that role from 1833 to 1843. Four states named counties in his honor: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Oregon. West Linn, Oregon and Linnton, Oregon also get their name from the ex-senator...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, a proponent of settling the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
. Linnton had its own post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
from 1889–1975. Industrialization began in 1889 when the Portland Smelting Company started to build a smelting plant
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
, followed by the Linnton Manufacturing Company starting in 1892. Columbia Engineering Works arrived in Linnton in 1910.
Linnton was incorporated on October 5, 1910, after a vote on September 12. At that time it was a company town for Clark-Wilson and West Oregon lumber mills, and the Columbia Engineering Works shipyard. In 1913, the Portland Gas & Coke Company moved its manufacturing plant to the town's southern border large oil refiners began to purchase sites for shipping and storage. Linnton was soon annexed by Portland in 1915, bringing with it much of today's Forest Park
Forest Park (Portland)
Forest Park is a public municipal park in the Tualatin Mountains west of downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Stretching for more than on hillsides overlooking the Willamette River, it is one of the country's largest urban forest reserves...
.
In 2006 there was talk of secession following a rejection by Portland Mayor Tom Potter
Tom Potter
Tom Potter is the former Mayor of the city of Portland, Oregon in the United States. He was elected in 2004, and left office in January 2009. He was succeeded by City Commissioner Sam Adams. Prior to Potter's service as mayor, he was Portland's police chief....
and two other city council members of a waterfront revitalization plan over toxic industrial waste concerns.
Parks
- Clark & Wilson Property - NW Germantown Rd.
- Forest Park - NW 29th Ave. & NW Upshur St. to Newberry Rd.
- Kingsley Park - NW St. Helens Rd.
- Linnton Park - NW 105th Ave. & St. Helens Rd.
External links
- Linnton Neighborhood Association
- Guide to Linnton Neighborhood (PortlandNeighborhood.com)
- Linnton Community Center