Sullivan's Gulch, Portland, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Sullivan's Gulch is a neighborhood (north of the gulch
of the same name) in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon
. The name commemorates Timothy Sullivan, an early farmer in the area. Sullivan settled his donation land claim on January 27, 1851. He was born in Ireland
in 1805, received citizenship in the United States
in 1855, and most likely received title to the claim around 1863.
The compact, densely populated neighborhood borders the Lloyd District
(with which it overlaps somewhat) on the west, Irvington
and Grant Park
on the north, and Kerns
on the south.
The gulch extends east from the Willamette River
and originally was a forested riparian area featuring a spring-fed pool and waterfalls. During the Great Depression
it was home to a "Hooverville
" shanty town
. Presently the gulch is a major urban transportation corridor, used by the MAX Light Rail system, several freight railways, as well as Interstate 84, the Banfield Expressway.
when the ice dam containing Glacial Lake Missoula
thawed some 40 times, causing some of the largest floods known on earth. The flood waters spilled across Idaho and eastern Washington, surged down the Columbia River
and through the Gorge
, flooding the Willamette Valley
as far south as Eugene
. This flood covered Portland with approximately 400 feet (122 m) of water, laying down large amounts of silt and gravel, creating the Alameda Ridge
, as well as carving out Sullivan's Gulch.
Gulch
A gulch is a deep V-shaped valley formed by erosion. It may contain a small stream or dry creek bed and is usually larger in size than a gully. Occasionally, sudden intense rainfall may produce flash floods in the area of the gulch....
of the same name) in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon
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...
. The name commemorates Timothy Sullivan, an early farmer in the area. Sullivan settled his donation land claim on January 27, 1851. He was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1805, received citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
in 1855, and most likely received title to the claim around 1863.
The compact, densely populated neighborhood borders the Lloyd District
Lloyd District, Portland, Oregon
The Lloyd District is a primarily commercial neighborhood in the North and Northeast sections of Portland, Oregon. It is named after Ralph Lloyd , a California rancher, oilman, and real estate developer who moved to and started the development of the area.The Lloyd District is bounded by the...
(with which it overlaps somewhat) on the west, Irvington
Irvington, Portland, Oregon
Irvington is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon. According to the city's Office of Neighborhood Involvement, it consists of a rectanglar area extending east to west from NE 7th Ave. to NE 26th Ave., and north to south from NE Fremont St. to NE Broadway...
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...
on the north, and Kerns
Kerns, Portland, Oregon
Kerns is a neighborhood in the inner Northeast and Southeast sections of Portland, Oregon. It borders the Lloyd District and Sullivan's Gulch on the north, Laurelhurst on the east, Buckman and Sunnyside on the south, and Old Town Chinatown on the west.Parks in Kerns include Everett Community...
on the south.
The gulch extends east from 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 originally was a forested riparian area featuring a spring-fed pool and waterfalls. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
it was home to a "Hooverville
Hooverville
A 'Hooverville' was the popular name for shanty towns built by homeless people during the Great Depression. They were named after the President of the United States at the time, Herbert Hoover, because he allegedly let the nation slide into depression...
" shanty town
Shanty town
A shanty town is a slum settlement of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic...
. Presently the gulch is a major urban transportation corridor, used by the MAX Light Rail system, several freight railways, as well as Interstate 84, the Banfield Expressway.
Geology
The gulch itself was formed between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago at the end of the last ice ageIce age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
when the ice dam containing Glacial Lake Missoula
Glacial Lake Missoula
Glacial Lake Missoula was a prehistoric proglacial lake in western Montana that existed periodically at the end of the last ice age between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago...
thawed some 40 times, causing some of the largest floods known on earth. The flood waters spilled across Idaho and eastern Washington, surged down the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and through the Gorge
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to deep, the canyon stretches for over as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south...
, flooding the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
as far south as Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. This flood covered Portland with approximately 400 feet (122 m) of water, laying down large amounts of silt and gravel, creating 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...
, as well as carving out Sullivan's Gulch.