South Portland, Portland, Oregon facts for kids

South Portland is a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. It is a long, narrow area located just south of Downtown Portland. The neighborhood is nestled between the Willamette River on the east and the West Hills on the west.

South Portland stretches from I-405 and the Marquam Bridge in the north to SW Canby Street and the Sellwood Bridge in the south. Its western edge is mostly defined by SW Barbur Boulevard. Other neighborhoods nearby include Southwest Hills, Homestead, Hillsdale, and South Burlingame to the west. Across the river to the east are Hosford-Abernethy, Brooklyn, and Sellwood-Moreland.

This neighborhood used to be called Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill, or CTLH for short. Its name was changed to South Portland on September 6, 2006. The new name is shorter and includes everyone in the area. South Portland was also the name of an older community from the 1800s that covered some of the same land.

Exploring South Portland's Unique Areas

South Portland is made up of several distinct areas, each with its own character.

South Waterfront: A Growing Modern Hub

The northeastern part of South Portland is called South Waterfront. This area is currently being developed with many new, tall buildings. The Portland Aerial Tram connects this district to the Oregon Health & Science University campus. This campus is located in the Homestead neighborhood, across Interstate 5. The Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge also links South Waterfront to the Lair Hill area.

Lair Hill: A Historic Neighborhood

Lair Hill is in the northwestern part of South Portland. It is bordered by I-405 to the north, SW Barbur Boulevard to the south and west, and SW Naito Parkway to the east. This area is named after William Lair Hill, who was a lawyer, author, and editor.

Lair Hill was once part of the original South Portland community. It was home to many Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants. In 1958, a large part of this area was torn down during a city project. However, you can still find some historic synagogues and local shops that show its past.

Corbett: Named for a Senator

The Corbett area is located south of Lair Hill. It is named after Senator Henry Winslow Corbett. This area is bordered by I-405 to the north, SW Naito Parkway to the west, and SW Macadam Avenue to the east. Its southern boundary is marked by the SW Corbett Street bridge over I-5. It is important not to confuse this area with the community of Corbett, Oregon, which is located in a different part of the state.

Terwilliger: A Scenic Stretch

The Terwilliger area lies south of Corbett. It is found between SW Barbur Boulevard and SW Macadam Avenue, with Terwilliger Boulevard running through it. This area gets its name from an old neighborhood called Terwilliger Park. There was once a train station called Terwil on the Oregon Electric Railway that served this area.

John's Landing: From Industry to Riverside Living

John's Landing is another part of South Portland. The name comes from the B. P. John Furniture company, which was a large factory here in the past. It also honors architect John W. Storrs and John D. Gray, who helped turn the area into a place with homes and businesses along the river. This area used to be known as Fulton. You can find more information on the John's Landing website.

South Portland Historic District

Some parts of the Lair Hill and Corbett areas are protected because they are historically important. This area is known as the South Portland Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 31, 1998. This helps keep its unique history alive.

Parks in South Portland

South Portland has many parks and green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

• Butterfly Park - Located at 7720 SW Macadam Avenue.
• Caruthers Park
• Cottonwood Bay - Found off Landing Drive at SW Hamilton Court.
• Duniway Park - Located at SW 6th Avenue & Sheridan Street. This park was once a garbage dump, but it was cleaned up and used for sports by Portland State University and the YMCA in 1979.
• Front & Curry Community Garden - Found at SW Naito Parkway & Curry Street.
• Heritage Tree Park - Located at SW Corbett Avenue & Lane Street.
• Lair Hill Park - Found at SW 2nd Avenue & Woods Street.
• SW Terwilliger Blvd. Parkway - Stretches from SW 6th Avenue & Sheridan Street to Slavin Street.
• Water & Gibbs Community Garden - Located at SW Water Avenue & Gibbs Street.
• Willamette Park - Found at SW Macadam Avenue & Nebraska Street.