North Williams Avenue facts for kids
The Rinehart Building on North Williams Avenue
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| Part of | North Portland Albina |
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| Namesake | George Henry Williams |
| Maintained by | City of Portland |
| Length | 3.3 miles (5.3 km) |
| Width | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Postal code | 97211, 97217, 97227 |
| North end | North Winchell Street 45°34′49″N 122°40′01″W / 45.580140°N 122.666807°W |
| South end | North Winning Way 45°31′59″N 122°40′00″W / 45.533101°N 122.666790°W |
North Williams Avenue is a street in Portland, Oregon. It runs from north to south. This street marks the eastern edge of a part of the city called North Portland.
North Williams Avenue starts near the Moda Center at Northeast Winning Way. It goes all the way to North Winchell Street. This journey covers about 3.3 miles (5.3 km). The street passes through several Portland neighborhoods. These include Eliot, Boise, Humboldt, and Piedmont.
The Story of North Williams Avenue
The area around North Williams Avenue has a long history. In 1872, a town called Albina, Oregon was planned. Three people, Edwin Russell, William Page, and George Williams, helped create it. They named streets after themselves.
As Albina grew north, some parts of Williams Avenue didn't quite line up perfectly. This happened near Alberta Street and Dekum Street. In 1891, Albina became part of the larger city of Portland.
In the early 1900s, many neighborhoods in Portland had rules about who could live there. These rules often limited where people of color could buy homes. Because of this, by 1940, many of Portland's Black families lived in the North Williams Avenue area. The street became a very important center for the African American community in Portland.
Later, in the late 1980s, a plan was put in place to update the area. This led to changes in who lived along North Williams Avenue. The street also became very popular for people riding bikes. About 3,000 bike riders use one part of the avenue every day. This made it a key route for people who don't use cars. However, not everyone was happy with all the changes that happened on North Williams Avenue.
Important Historic Buildings
North Williams Avenue is home to several important historic sites. Three of these places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are special places recognized for their history.
The historic sites include:
- The Rinehart Building
- The Charles Crook House
- The Henry C. and Wilhemina Bruening House
In 1984, a survey of Portland's historic places found 26 interesting sites on North Williams Avenue.
Getting Around: Public Transportation
You can get to North Williams Avenue using public transportation. TriMet bus lines 4 and 44 serve the street. These buses help people travel up and down the avenue and connect to other parts of Portland.
