1.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
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Oregon
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Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Washington, on the south by California, on the east by Idaho, the Columbia River delineates much of Oregons northern boundary, and the Snake River delineates much of the eastern boundary. The parallel 42° north delineates the boundary with California and Nevada. Oregon was inhabited by indigenous tribes before Western traders, explorers. An autonomous government was formed in the Oregon Country in 1843 before the Oregon Territory was created in 1848, Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14,1859. Today, at 98,000 square miles, Oregon is the ninth largest and, with a population of 4 million, the capital of Oregon is Salem, the second most populous of its cities, with 164,549 residents. Portland is Oregons most populous city, with 632,309 residents, Portlands metro population of 2,389,228 ranks the 23rd largest metro in the nation. The Willamette Valley in western Oregon is the states most densely populated area, the tall conifers, mainly Douglas fir, along Oregons rainy west coast contrast with the lighter-timbered and fire-prone pine and juniper forests covering portions to the east. Abundant alders in the west fix nitrogen for the conifers, stretching east from central Oregon are semi-arid shrublands, prairies, deserts, steppes, and meadows. At 11,249 feet, Mount Hood is the states highest point, Oregons only national park, Crater Lake National Park, comprises the caldera surrounding Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. The state is home to the single largest organism in the world, Armillaria ostoyae. Because of its landscapes and waterways, Oregons economy is largely powered by various forms of agriculture, fishing. It is also the top timber-producer of the lower 48 states, Technology is another one of the states major economic forces, which began in the 1970s with the establishment of the Silicon Forest and the expansion of Tektronix and Intel. Sportswear company Nike, Inc. headquartered in Beaverton, is the states largest public corporation with a revenue of $30.6 billion. The earliest evidence of the name Oregon has Spanish origins and this chronicle is the first topographical and linguistic source with respect to the place name Oregon. There are also two other sources with Spanish origins such as the name Oregano which grows in the part of the region. Another early use of the name, spelled Ouragon, was in a 1765 petition by Major Robert Rogers to the Kingdom of Great Britain, the term referred to the then-mythical River of the West. By 1778 the spelling had shifted to Oregon, in his 1765 petition, Rogers wrote, The rout. is from the Great Lakes towards the Head of the Mississippi, and from thence to the River called by the Indians Ouragon
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Beaverton, Oregon
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Beaverton is a city in Washington County, in the U. S. state of Oregon. The city center is 7 miles west of downtown Portland in the Tualatin River Valley, as of the 2010 census, the population is 89,803. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregons sixth-largest city, Fire protection and EMS services are provided through Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. In 2010, Beaverton was named by Money magazine as one of the 100 best places to live, along with Hillsboro, Beaverton is one of the economic centers for Washington County, home to numerous corporations in a variety of industries. According to Oregon Geographic Names, Beavertons name is derived from the proximity to a large body of water resulting from beaver dams. The area of Tualatin Valley which became Beaverton was originally the home of a Native American tribe known as the Atfalati, which settlers mispronounced as Tualatin. The Atfalati population dwindled in the part of the 18th century. The natives had a village called Chakeipi, meaning Place of the Beaver, early settlers include the Hall Family from Kentucky, the Denneys who lived on their claim near present-day Scholls Ferry Road and Hall Blvd, and Orin S. Allen, from western New York. Lawrence Hall purchased 640 acres in Beaverdam in 1847 and built a grist mill with his brother near present-day Walker Road and his was the first land claim in the area. He was soon followed by Thomas Denney in 1848, who came to the area, in 1860, a toll plank road from Portland to Beaverton was completed over a trail called Canyon Road. After the American Civil War, numerous settlers, including Joshua Welch, George Betts, Charles Angel. In 1872, Beavertons first post office opened in a store operated by Betts. Betts Street, where the current post office now stands, is named in honor of him, in 1893, Beaverton, which by that time had a population of 400, was officially incorporated. Alonzo Cady, a businessman, served as the first mayor. Many major roads in Beaverton are named for early settlers. Beaverton was a home to automobile dealerships. A Ford Motor Company dealership was established there in 1915, it was purchased by Guy Carr in 1923, there are still several dealerships near the intersection of Walker and Canyon Roads. In the early 1920s, Beaverton was home to Premium Picture Productions, the studio site was later converted into Watts Field and associated aircraft manufacturing facilities
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Gabriel Park
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Gabriel Park is a 90. 65-acre public park in Portland, Oregon, United States. The park is located between the Maplewood, Multnomah, and Hillsdale neighborhoods of Southwest Portland at 45th Avenue and Vermont Street, the Southwest Community Center is located at the Northwest corner of Gabriel Park. Amenities include indoor swimming pool, indoor basketball court, fitness room, gymnasium, rock climbing wall, weight room, kitchen, meeting room, party room, and wireless Internet access. In October 1950, the Parks Bureau purchased an 87-acre tract of land featuring two small creeks and wooded areas between Vermont and Canby Streets for $120,000. The land had been bought in 1890 by a Swiss immigrant named Ulrich Gabriel, in July 1995, Portland Parks & Recreation offered a 1. 75-acre dog off-leash area on a six-month trial basis in Gabriel Park. The Southwest Community Center was funded by Measure 26-10 and opened in June 1999, the park costs the city approximately $231,000 per year in maintenance. Gabriel Park includes a fenced,1. 75-acre dog off-leash area, water fountains, feces cleanup bags, picnic tables and benches help make this one of the areas most popular off-leash areas. In November 2006, Portland Parks & Recreation Commissioner Dan Saltzman recommended funding for the construction of a skatepark at Gabriel Park, later that month, the City Council approved the funding for the Gabriel Park Skatepark along with another skatepark at Ed Benedict Park in Southeast Portland. The skateparks grand opening was July 12,2008, the design and construction of the park was done by Airspeed Skateparks of Reedsport, Oregon. Map Portland Parks & Recreation Skaters For Portland Skateparks Courts Of The World Court profile of Gabriel Park basketball court
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Ardenwald-Johnson Creek, Portland, Oregon
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Ardenwald-Johnson Creek is a neighborhood straddling the border between Portland and Milwaukie, Oregon. It is recognized by both Portlands Office of Neighborhood Involvement as well as Milwaukies Neighborhoods Program, Ardenwald was named in 1888 for Arden M. Rockwood, whose father platted the community. The last syllable of Rockwood is rendered in German and spliced onto the first name, the Tideman Johnson Natural Area is located along Johnson Creek in Ardenwald. SE Tacoma/Johnson Creek MAX Station Kerf, public art installed at the station
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Beaumont-Wilshire, Portland, Oregon
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The Beaumont-Wilshire /ˈboʊmɒnt ˈwɪlʃər/ neighborhood of Portland, Oregon is located in the citys 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, 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 center of Beaumont Village. The original Beaumont neighborhood was platted in 1910 and 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 claim of Joseph Backenstos. 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, 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, the Wilshire neighborhood was initially platted in 1921 around the area of NE 33rd and N. E. Wilshire includes Wilshire Park, a 14. 83-acre park with a canopy of trees, playgrounds. In 1928 the area between NE Fremont and Prescott, and from NE 42nd to 52nd was annexed into the city of Portland, 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, north of Fremont early 1900s classic styles are present along with a few homes that were built after 1950. NE Fremont Street, between NE 33rd and NE 50th Avenues, locally known as Beaumont Village, serves as the 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 it is a place where people can socialize, run their errands, window shop, and dine at local restaurants. Interspersed between the activity are small professional offices that provide medical, legal, and financial services to the greater community. Beaumont Middle School is located near the center of the neighborhood, Beaumont School originally opened in 1914, and its current two story, brick building was completed in 1926. Guide to Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Beaumont Neighborhood
7.
Downtown Portland, Oregon
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Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the corner of the southwest section of the city. The downtown neighborhood is defined to extend west from the Willamette to Interstate 405, Portlands downtown features narrow streets—64 feet wide—and square, compact blocks 200 feet on a side, to create more corner lots that were expected to be more valuable. The small blocks also made downtown Portland pleasant to walk through, the 264-foot long combined blocks divide one mile of road into exactly 20 separate blocks. By comparison, Seattles blocks are 240 by 320 feet, by the early 1970s, parts of Portlands central city had been in decay for some time. New suburban shopping malls in the cities of Beaverton, Tigard. Unlike many downtown revitalization efforts around the United States at this time, downtown, which had been a virtual ghost town after regular business hours, became more of an all-hours shopping, dining, and business venue. During the two starting in 1990, downtown Portland dominated city development, with 500,000 square feet more development there than on the east side. Downtown development has not been without criticism, downtown also has numerous surface parking lots, which contradict the citys efforts to promote higher density and create the storefronts needed for a vibrant downtown. Portland is sometimes known as Bridgetown, due to the number of bridges cross its two rivers. There are nine bridges entering downtown and immediately adjacent areas. S, most streets in downtown Portland are one-way. Naito Parkway is the farthest east, while most of the end by I-405 to the west. Interstate 5 runs on the bank of the river, crossing over on the Marquam Bridge. U. S. Route 26 connects downtown Portland to the Oregon Coast, downtown is also served by several forms of public transportation. The southern part of downtown and the West End are also served by the Portland Streetcar system, operating from South Waterfront north into the Pearl and Northwest Portland districts. The system currently has two routes, measuring 7.2 miles end to end, and connects in South Waterfront with the Tram to Oregon Health & Science University. The five tallest are, Wells Fargo Center, rises to 166 meters and was constructed in 1972 U. S
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Foster-Powell, Portland, Oregon
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Foster-Powell is a neighborhood in the Southeast section of Portland, Oregon. The triangular neighborhood is bounded by three major arteries, Powell Boulevard to the north, Foster Road to the south. It is likely that much of the construction in the Foster-Powell Neighborhood followed the construction of Portlands original electric streetcar line in the 1890s, the neighborhoods sidewalks were constructed in 1912. On November 10,2009 the southeast wing of Foster-Powells Marysville Elementary School burned down in what was attributed to an electrical fire, additionally, the 17 runs down Holgate Avenue to downtown and North Portland. The distance to bike from Foster-Powell to downtown is about 45 minutes to an hour, the official plan for the future extension of the Portland Streetcar envisions a line running down Foster. There has also been discussion of constructing a new MAX light rail line on Powell Blvd, both plans, however, remain on the drawing board. Foster-Powell is home to three parks, Essex Park on 79th and Center, Kern Park on 66th and Center, additionally, the Firland Parkway, a median with large trees in the middle of 72nd Ave between Foster and Holgate, also lies within the neighborhood. Most of the activity occurs at the fringes of the neighborhood – on Powell, Foster and 82nd. Foster-Powell has gained a reputation as a diverse neighborhood, with growth in the neighborhoods Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese
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Hayden Island, Portland, Oregon
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Hayden Island is an island in the Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The wide main channel of the Columbia passes north of the island, to the south, sheltered by the island, is a smaller channel known as North Portland Harbor. Much of Hayden Island is within Portland city limits, and recognized as one of its 95 neighborhoods. Interstate 5 provides the only connection to the island, via the northernmost Oregon exit, to the rest of North Portland and, with the Interstate Bridge. The BNSF Railway crosses North Portland Harbor and the part of the island to the west of I-5. The east end of the island, often called Jantzen Beach, has highly developed areas near the freeway, hotels, offices, manufactured home communities. Further east there are several houseboat moorages and marinas, until the Interstate Bridge opened in 1917 ferries provided service between Portland and Vancouver from landings on the islands north shore. After the opening of the bridge, streetcar service opened Hayden Island to amusement park developments due to its beaches, Jantzen Beach, the last operating amusement park, closed in 1970. Tomahawk Island, just off the east tip of Hayden Island, the Jantzen Beach Shopping Center and many hotels populate this part of the island. A narrow neck of land connects Hayden Island to Tomahawk Island, the west side of the island is as yet undeveloped, though it was added to the urban growth boundary by voters in 1983. The Port of Portland purchased the land in 1993 with the intention of building a cargo facility. Metro, the government, has designated West Hayden Island as both high value regionally significant habitat and an industrial land. Environmental activists have successfully blocked annexation for industrial development in 1999, in 1805, Lewis and Clark named the island Image Canoe Island after a large canoe carved with images of men and animals emerged from the opposite side of the island. Hudsons Bay Company called it Vancouver Island, and in the early 19th century it was called Shaw Island for Colonel W. Shaw who owned land on the island. He built a home and lived on the island for five years with his wife Mary Jane Hayden. In 2008, the Port of Portland began exploring and planning the annexation, the proposed plan would develop 300 acres for industrial use and leave 500 acres of natural area untouched. The plan was opposed by groups, such as the Audubon Society of Portland. The city of Portland commissioned ECONorthwest to measure the net economic benefits and impacts of the proposed development, the report compared a no-development scenario to the proposed 300-acre development scenario
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Portland, Oregon
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Portland is a port and the largest city in the U. S. state of Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It is in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest, at the confluence of the Willamette, the city covers 145 square miles and had an estimated population of 632,309 in 2015, making it the 26th most populous city in the United States. Approximately 2,389,228 people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area and its Combined Statistical Area ranks 17th with a population of 3,022,178. Roughly 60% of Oregons population resides within the Portland metropolitan area, named after Portland, Maine, the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1830s near the end of the Oregon Trail. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the industry was a major force in the citys early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. After the citys economy experienced a boom during World War II. Beginning in the 1960s, Portland became noted for its liberal political values, and the city has earned a reputation as a bastion of counterculture. According to a 2009 Pew Research Center study, Portland ranks as the eighth most popular American city, the city operates with a commission-based government guided by a mayor and four commissioners as well as Metro, the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States. The city government is notable for its planning and investment in public transportation. Its climate is marked by warm, dry summers and cool and this climate is ideal for growing roses, and Portland has been called the City of Roses for over a century. Keep Portland Weird is a slogan for the city. During the prehistoric period, the land that would become Portland was flooded after the collapse of glacial dams from Lake Missoula and these massive floods occurred during the last ice age and filled the Willamette Valley with 300 to 400 feet of water. The Chinook people occupying the land which would become Portland were first documented by Meriwether Lewis, before its European settlement, the Portland Basin of the lower Columbia River and Willamette River valleys had been one of the most densely populated regions on the Pacific Coast. Large numbers of settlers began arriving in the Willamette Valley in the 1830s via the Oregon Trail. In the early 1840s a new settlement began emerging ten miles from the mouth of the Willamette River and this community was initially referred to as Stumptown and The Clearing because of the many trees cut down to allow for its growth. In 1843 William Overton saw potential in the new settlement but lacked the funds to file a land claim. For 25 cents Overton agreed to half of the 640-acre site with Asa Lovejoy of Boston
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Neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon
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There are five sections of Portland, Oregon and 95 officially recognized neighborhoods, each of which is represented by a volunteer-based neighborhood association. These associations serve as the liaison between residents and the city government, as coordinated by the citys Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the city subsequently provides funding to this network of neighborhoods through district coalitions, which are groupings of neighborhood associations. Downtown Portland lies in the Southwest section between the I-405 freeway loop and the Willamette River, centered on Pioneer Courthouse Square, downtown and many other parts of inner Portland have compact square blocks and narrow streets, a pedestrian-friendly combination. The south Willamette riverfront along SW Macadam Ave. over 100 acres of industrial land. This area is undergoing redevelopment as a mixed-use, high-density neighborhood, Northwest Portland includes the Pearl District, most of Old Town Chinatown, the Northwest District, and various residential and industrial neighborhoods. A range of primarily in Northwest Portland is named alphabetically from Ankeny through York. The street between Wilson and York was called X Street until it was renamed as Roosevelt Street, Burnside Street, the B in the sequence, divides the Northeast and Northwest quadrants of the city from the Southeast and Southwest. The Pearl District is a recent name for a former warehouse, many of the warehouses have been converted into lofts, and new multistory condominiums have also been developed on previously vacant land. The increasing density has attracted a mix of restaurants, brewpubs, shops, the galleries sponsor simultaneous artists receptions every month, in an event known as First Thursday. Between the Pearl District and the Willamette is the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood and it includes Portlands Chinatown, marked by a pair of lions at its entrance at NW 4th Ave. and W Burnside St. and home to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. Before World War II, this area was known as Japan Town, Chinatown was previously located just south of W. Burnside St. along the riverfront. Farther west is the compact but thriving NW 21st and 23rd Avenue restaurant and retail area, parts of this area are also called Uptown and Nob Hill. Nicknames include Snob Hill and Trendy Third, the residential areas adjacent to the shopping district include the Alphabet Historic District and a large district centered on Wallace Park. The neighborhood has a mix of Victorian-era houses, apartment buildings throughout the 20th century. The Portland Streetcar connects Nob Hill to downtown, via the Pearl, North Portland is a diverse mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. It includes the Portland International Raceway, the University of Portland, slang-names for it include NoPo and the Fifth Quadrant. North Portland is connected to the area of Northwest Portland by the St. Johns Bridge. During World War II, a development named Vanport was constructed to the north of this section between the city limits and the Columbia River
