Brentwood-Darlington, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

Brentwood-Darlington is a neighborhood located in Portland, Oregon. It sits on the southern edge of the city. The neighborhood borders SE 45th Avenue to the west and SE 82nd Avenue to the east. To the north, you'll find SE Duke Street.

Most of the southern boundary of Brentwood-Darlington is also the line between Multnomah County and Clackamas County. This means a small part of the neighborhood is actually in Clackamas County. Also, some areas within Multnomah County that are part of the neighborhood are not officially inside Portland city limits.

The Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association was started in 1974. It was first called the Errol Heights Improvement Association. This group helps the communities of Errol Heights, Brentwood, Darlington, Harney Park, Woodmere, and Crystal Springs. In 2013, the association worked with residents to plan for the neighborhood's future.

The Brentwood-Darlington Community Center helps families in the area. It offers programs for young children and other services. Schools in the neighborhood include Woodmere Elementary, Whitman Elementary, Lane Middle School, ACCESS Middle School, and Community Transition Project School.

This neighborhood is also known for its large urban gardening projects. The Brentwood Community Garden was made bigger and better in 2010. It received help from The Home Depot and Fiskars. The Portland State University Learning Gardens Laboratory is also located here.

Brentwood-Darlington has several parks. These include Brentwood Park (opened in 1951), Errol Heights Natural Area (1966), and Hazeltine Park (2001). Hazeltine Park was named after Dick Hazeltine, a long-time leader in the community. In 2010, a new full-service grocery store opened in the neighborhood, making shopping easier for residents.

Who Lives in Brentwood-Darlington?

As of 2010, about 12,994 people live in Brentwood-Darlington. Most residents (72%) are White. About 10.4% are Asian, 3.6% are Black, and 1.6% are American Indian. About 5.4% of the people are of mixed races. Also, 13.9% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.

A Look at Brentwood-Darlington's Past

SE 82nd and Duke in 1958

Brentwood-Darlington began as small family farms in 1882. The streets were laid out in a grid, but many roads led to the nearby town of Milwaukie, not Portland. The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 helped people get land to settle in the Oregon Territory. George Wills, a farmer and preacher, eventually owned most of the land in this area.

In 1920, the Apostolic Faith International Headquarters was built here. It was first known as the Apostolic Faith Meeting Park.

During World War II, many new people moved to the area. This caused the community to grow very quickly. It was common for people to run small businesses from their homes back then. Because Brentwood-Darlington was not officially part of Portland, many homes were not built very well. Roads were also in bad shape.

Fires were a big problem, with grass and brush fires happening every year. There were also fires from a local sawmill. Because of this, the first fire department for the area was started in 1947.

In 1974, Brentwood-Darlington became an official neighborhood. It was first named Errol Heights. The community tried to join Portland in 1961, 1971, and 1977, but residents voted against it. However, in the 1980s, people became worried about pollution and not having enough water. So, the area finally joined Portland in 1986. The name was changed from Errol Heights to Brentwood-Darlington in February 1986.

Parks in the Neighborhood

Brentwood Park, Fall 2019

Brentwood-Darlington is home to several parks where you can play and relax:

• Brentwood Park (opened in 1951)
• Errol Heights Park (opened in 1966)
• Flavel Park (opened in 1953)
• Harney Park (opened in 1979)
• Hazeltine Park (opened in 2001)