Multnomah, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

Multnomah is a neighborhood in the southwest part of Portland, Oregon. It is known for its central area called Multnomah Village. This community started growing in the 1910s around a train station from the Oregon Electric Railway. The city of Portland officially added Multnomah to its boundaries on November 7, 1950.

Multnomah is surrounded by SW 45th Ave. on the west and SW Capitol Hill Road on the east. To the north is SW Vermont St., and to the south is I-5. Some parts have slightly different borders. For example, an area north of SW Nevada Ct. is part of Hillsdale. The neighborhood shares borders with Maplewood, Ashcreek, and Crestwood to the west. To the north are Hayhurst and Hillsdale. To the south and east are South Burlingame, Markham, and West Portland Park.

The street fair in Multnomah Village during Multnomah Days 2009. Looking northeast down SW Capitol Highway from its bridge over SW Multnomah Blvd.

A notable event in Portland's history happened in Multnomah Village. On April 7, 1987, the city's mayor, Bud Clark, met with Police Chief Jim Davis at the Fat City Cafe. During this meeting, the mayor decided to remove the police chief from his position.

Every year, the neighborhood celebrates "Multnomah Days." This event includes a fun parade and a lively street festival. It takes place on the third Saturday of August.

Historic Buildings in Multnomah

Multnomah is home to several old buildings with interesting new uses.

• The Multnomah School was built in 1913. Since 1979, it has been home to the Multnomah Art Center.
• The Nelson Thomas building also dates back to 1913. Today, it houses Marco's Cafe, a popular spot.
• The building that was a Masonic Lodge (Orenomah Chapter No. 141) from 1925 is now the Lucky Labrador Public House.

Community Use of the Jerome F. Sears Building

In November 2015, the City of Portland opened the Jerome F. Sears building. It was used as a temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The shelter was managed by an organization called Transition Projects. The mayor at the time, Charlie Hales, had said the shelter would close on May 31, 2016. However, in June 2016, the city asked to keep it open for three more months. Neighbors in the area wanted the shelter to close as planned. They pointed out that the building, a former Army Reserve facility, was given to the city for emergency management use only. The shelter eventually closed.

Parks in Multnomah

Multnomah has two important parks for the community to enjoy.

• Gabriel Park was established in 1950. It offers green spaces for recreation.
• A Park opened in 1954. It was originally named Custer Park, after Gen. George Armstrong Custer. In December 2020, its name was changed to A Park by Amanda Fritz.