Wilkes, Portland, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilkes
|
|
|---|---|
|
Neighborhood
|
|
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| City | Portland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.08 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,297 |
| • Density | 3,019/sq mi (1,166/km2) |
| Housing | |
| • No. of households | 3724 |
| • Occupancy rate | 95.4% occupied |
| • Homeownership rate | 29% |
| • Avg. household size | 2.4 persons |
Wilkes is a neighborhood located in the northeast part of Portland, Oregon. It sits right next to the Columbia River to the north. To its east is the city of Gresham, where a part of it is known as Wilkes East.
Wilkes shares borders with other neighborhoods like Argay, Russell, and Hazelwood on its west side. To the south, it borders Glenfair. A major highway, Interstate 84, runs right through the middle of the neighborhood.
Most of Wilkes is a suburban area with many homes, especially in the southern part. However, if you go north of Sandy Boulevard, you'll find lots of business parks and industrial areas.
History of Wilkes
In 1850, a man named William Wilkes claimed land on Sandy Road. This land is where the Wilkes neighborhood is today. William was the son of early settlers Payton and Anna Wilkes.
Soon after claiming his land, William went to California for the Gold Rush. When he returned, he bought more land to the east. This area is now known as Wilkes East in Gresham.
The Wilkes family also settled in other places in Oregon. These include Banks and Wilkesboro. They were an important family in early Oregon history.
Parks in Wilkes
The first park in the neighborhood was Wilkes Park. The land for this park was bought in 1998. It was officially opened on August 3, 2004.
Later, in 2011, the city's parks department and environmental services worked together. They bought 20 acres (about 8 hectares) of land. This land is at the start of Wilkes Creek. It was turned into a second park and a natural area to protect the environment.
Geography and Location
Wilkes is located in the eastern part of Multnomah County. Several important roads pass through the neighborhood.
- NE Marine Drive
- NE Airport Way
- NE Sandy Boulevard
- Interstate 84
- NE Halsey Street
The southern border of Wilkes is NE Glisan Street. Its eastern border is mostly NE 162nd Ave. The western border is mainly NE 148th Ave. The Columbia Slough, a waterway, flows through the northern part of the neighborhood.
People of Wilkes
The population of Wilkes has grown over the years.
- In 2000, there were 7,732 people.
- In 2010, the population increased to 8,781.
- By 2020, 9,297 people lived in Wilkes.
According to the 2020 US Census, the people living in Wilkes come from many different backgrounds:
- 54% are non-Hispanic White.
- 13.7% are Asian.
- 13.4% are Hispanic/Latino.
- 12.8% are Black/African American.
- 3.1% are American Indian/Alaska Native.
- 2% are Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
- 12% are from other backgrounds.
The average income in Wilkes is about $65,000 per year. People in Wilkes live for about 80.1 years on average. About 10% of the people in the neighborhood have limited English skills.
