Foster-Powell, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Foster-Powell
Neighborhood
Country	United States
State	Oregon
City	Portland
Area
• Total	0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	7,368
• Density	8,297/sq mi (3,203/km2)
Housing
• No. of households	2,776
• Occupancy rate	95% occupied
• Owner-occupied	1,678 households (60%)
• Renting	1,098 households (40%)
• Avg. household size	2.65 persons

Foster-Powell is a lively neighborhood located in the southeast part of Portland, Oregon. It's shaped like a triangle and is surrounded by three main roads: Powell Boulevard to the north, Foster Road to the south, and 82nd Avenue to the east. This makes it easy to get around!

A Look Back: Foster-Powell's History

Fire Damage to Marysville Elementary, March 2010

Many of the buildings in the Foster-Powell neighborhood were likely built after Portland's first electric streetcar line started running in the 1890s. The sidewalks in the neighborhood were put in place in 1912. On November 10, 2009, a fire damaged the southeast part of Marysville Elementary School, which is located in Foster-Powell. The fire was thought to be caused by an electrical issue.

Getting Around: Transportation in Foster-Powell

The three roads that border Foster-Powell are all major routes for getting around. This means it's easy to drive to the city center using Foster or Powell roads. You can also reach North Portland or Clackamas via 82nd Avenue, or get to the interstate by heading east on Foster.

Public Transportation

All three main roads have frequent bus services from Trimet:

• Bus line 14 connects Foster Road to Hawthorne and downtown Portland.
• Bus line 9 links Powell Boulevard with downtown and Northeast Portland.
• Bus line 72 runs on 82nd Avenue, going from Clackamas Town Center to North Killingsworth Avenue.
• Additionally, bus line 17 travels down Holgate Avenue to downtown and North Portland.

Biking in the Neighborhood

Biking from Foster-Powell to downtown Portland usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. This depends on where you start in the neighborhood. While the main roads around Foster-Powell can be busy for bikes, there are special east-west bike routes. You can find these on Center Street within the neighborhood and just north of it on Woodward Street.

Future Transit Plans

There are ideas for future public transportation in Foster-Powell. One plan suggests extending the Portland Streetcar line down Foster Road. Another idea is to build a new MAX light rail line on Powell Boulevard. However, both of these plans are still just ideas and have not been started yet.

Exploring Foster-Powell: Parks and Places

Foster-Powell is home to several green spaces where you can relax and play.

• Essex Park is located at 79th and Center.
• Kern Park can be found at 66th and Center.
• Laurelwood Park is situated where Foster Road and Holgate Boulevard meet.

You'll also find the Firland Parkway, which is a tree-lined area in the middle of 72nd Avenue between Foster and Holgate. Most of the shops and businesses in Foster-Powell are located on the edges of the neighborhood, along Powell, Foster, and 82nd roads. The inner parts of the neighborhood are mostly homes.

Who Lives Here: Foster-Powell's Diverse Community

Foster-Powell is known for being a neighborhood with many different cultures and backgrounds. The number of people from Russia, Vietnam, China, and Hispanic countries has grown here. We know this because the local Multnomah County Library branch, located at 79th and Holgate, has seen more people checking out books and materials in Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Spanish languages.