Beaumont-Wilshire, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

The Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood is in Portland, Oregon. It's located in the northeast part of the city. This area sits on Alameda Ridge, offering cool views of Downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and the Cascade Mountains.

Beaumont-Wilshire is surrounded by other neighborhoods like Alameda, Concordia, Cully, Rose City Park, and Grant Park. The main shopping area, "Beaumont Village," is on NE Fremont Street. You can also easily walk to the Hollywood District, which is another big shopping spot nearby.

Beaumont-Wilshire is an older, well-known neighborhood. It has a mix of homes and businesses. Even though it's called one neighborhood, it's actually two areas: Beaumont (to the south) and Wilshire (to the north). These two parts decided to join together to form the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association. They share common interests, especially their main shopping area, Beaumont Village.

History of Beaumont-Wilshire

How Beaumont Began

The Beaumont neighborhood was first planned out in 1910. It was originally part of a larger area called the Rose City Park subdivision, which was planned in 1907. This land was once owned by Joseph Backenstos. In 1866, his widow received the official land claim from President Andrew Johnson.

Older maps from around 1890 called this area the "Crook Tract." The name "Beaumont" comes from French and means "beautiful mountain." The southern part of the neighborhood has a slope called Alameda Ridge. This ridge was once known as "Beaumont Hill" or "Gravel Hill." It offers great views of northeast Portland and the city skyline. Some of the most expensive homes in Portland are found here. Records show that sidewalks and curbs were built south of NE Fremont Street in 1911. The streets were paved in the years that followed.

The Wilshire Area

The Wilshire neighborhood was first planned in 1921. It was built around the area of NE 33rd and N.E. Skidmore. Wilshire includes Wilshire Park, a large park with old trees, playgrounds, and picnic spots. In 1928, the area between NE Fremont and Prescott, from NE 42nd to 52nd, became part of Portland. A part of this area later became the eastern side of the Wilshire neighborhood.

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  The border of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood.

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  A map showing the hills and valleys of Beaumont-Wilshire.

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  NE 46th Avenue between Siskiyou St. and Stanton St.

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  NE 42nd Avenue, south of Fremont Street.

Homes in Beaumont-Wilshire

Beaumont-Wilshire is mostly made up of single-family homes where people own their houses. Most of the homes south of Fremont Street were built in the early 1900s. You can find different styles like Tudors, Craftsman, and bungalow homes. North of Fremont, there are also classic homes from the early 1900s, along with some houses built after 1950.

Fremont Street: Beaumont Village

NE Fremont Street, especially between NE 42nd and NE 50th Avenues, is known as "Beaumont Village." This area is the main center of activity for the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood. Beaumont Village has a mix of homes, businesses, and shops. It's a place where people can meet friends, do errands, look at shop windows, and eat at local restaurants. You'll also find small offices for doctors, lawyers, and financial services here.

Every year in early August, Beaumont Village hosts the "Fremont Fest." This fun event includes live music, local artists, craft sales, and sidewalk sales. There's also face painting, horse and carriage rides, and a special parade for children.

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  The lively "Beaumont Village" on NE Fremont Street.

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  Beaumont Market, a local store in the village.

Schools in the Neighborhood

Beaumont Middle School is located right in the middle of the neighborhood. It's just west of NE 41st Avenue, on the north side of NE Fremont Street. Beaumont School first opened its doors in 1914. The brick building you see today was finished in 1926.

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  Beaumont Middle School, a school in the neighborhood.