Northwest Industrial, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northwest Industrial
Neighborhood
Aerial view of a portion of the area (foreground) from the west in 2018, with Swan Island in the background
Country	United States
State	Oregon
City	Portland
Area
• Total	1.84 sq mi (4.77 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	21
• Density	11.40/sq mi (4.40/km2)

The Northwest Industrial Area is a special part of Portland, Oregon. It's mostly filled with businesses and factories. The city of Portland says it's one of the biggest industrial areas left in the United States. It's also one of the most important industrial spots in the Pacific Northwest. This area is bordered by other neighborhoods like Linnton and Forest Park. It also sits across the Willamette River from places like Cathedral Park.

A big railroad bridge, the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 5.1, crosses the Willamette River here. This bridge helps Amtrak and BNSF trains travel between the neighborhood, North Portland, and even Washington state.

This neighborhood is unique because it has very few people living there. In fact, it has the smallest population of all 95 neighborhoods in Portland! You won't find any schools or parks here. Since 2001, most of the area has been set aside as the Guild's Lake Industrial Sanctuary. This means the land is protected for factories and businesses, not for homes.

History of Northwest Industrial Area

From Wetlands to Industry

A long time ago, in the 1800s, this area was mostly wetlands. Wetlands are like marshy, watery lands. In 1848, an early settler named Peter Guild received this land.

By the 1880s, the Northern Pacific Railroad built a large train yard here. It was called the Guild's Lake Rail Yard. Train tracks and the nearby US Highway 30 have always been very important for the area's growth.

The Lewis and Clark Exposition

In 1905, a huge event called the Lewis and Clark Exposition took place here. It was held on the shore of Guild's Lake. There was even a special island built in the middle of the lake. Water was constantly pumped from the Willamette River to keep the lake full for the event.

After the exposition, the lake was slowly filled in with dirt and other materials. This process was finished by the 1920s. The land then became ready for new buildings.

World War II and Beyond

During World War II, many people moved to Portland to work in shipyards. A massive temporary housing complex was built in this area for these workers and their families. It even had schools for the children.

After the war, this housing complex was removed. The land was then used to build more factories and warehouses. This helped the area become the industrial center it is today.

There were plans for a new freeway, Interstate 505, to go through the neighborhood. This freeway would have connected I-405 with US Route 30. However, these plans were canceled in 1979. Some of the roads built for the freeway are now part of US Highway 30 (Yeon Avenue).