CogKnoSys

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Physical

Gresham, Oregon

Gresham is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, that borders Portland and was the fourth-most populous city in the state at the 2020 census.

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The idea

Gresham is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon. Portland borders it to the northwest and partly to the southwest. It also serves as an economic center for eastern Multnomah County.

The city is named after Walter Quintin Gresham, an American Civil War general and United States Secretary of State. A local merchant asked for a post office in his store and proposed naming it after Gresham, who was then Postmaster General. Gresham's early settlers went on to form nearby communities such as Boring, Sandy, Fairview and Estacada.

Hills line the city's eastern border. Johnson Creek runs westward through Gresham, and 23 percent of the creek's watershed lies in the city. Like most of western Oregon, Gresham has a Mediterranean climate. Summers bring warm, sunny afternoons and little rain, while winters are cloudy with frequent long rainy periods.

People travel around the city on TriMet buses and the MAX Light Rail Blue Line. The council appoints a city manager to run the city's daily operations. The council itself is made up of the mayor and six councilors, who all serve four-year terms.

Check yourself

Question 1 of 3

Gresham is named after whom?

Pick one. The first pick counts.

Composition

what it's made of

  • Neighborhoods — 16 recognized neighborhoods, including Central City and Centennial.
  • Johnson Creek — A creek that begins in the Cascade foothills and runs westward through the city.
  • MAX Blue Line — A light rail line whose eastern end is at Cleveland Avenue in Gresham.
  • Mount Hood Community College — A college in the city that offers associate degrees.
  • Main City Park — One of the city's many parks, near downtown.

Connection

how it relates

Under Lower Columbia Cities and Towns

In place

  1. Multnomah County, Oregonstrength 80 of 100

    At the 2020 census, Gresham was the second most populous city in Multnomah County.

  2. Willamette Riverstrength 60 of 100

    Johnson Creek flows west through Gresham on its way to the Willamette River.

  3. Columbia Riverstrength 50 of 100

    Gresham's hilly northeast side meets Troutdale toward the Columbia River.

Change

how and why it evolves

Past
Brothers Jackson and James Powell settled the area in 1851 and named it Powell's Valley. Gresham was incorporated in 1905, and Lewis Shattuck, from a pioneer family, served as its first mayor. From the 1910s to the 1960s, berries, grapes and vegetables were its main crops. Between 1960 and 1970, its population grew from 4,000 to more than 10,000.
Now
At the 2020 census, it had 114,247 people, ranking second in its county and fourth among the cities of Oregon by population.
Next
The city will likely remain a busy center for jobs and shopping in the eastern part of the county.

Knowledge you can walk. Read the idea, then step up, across or down.

Gresham, Oregon

Gresham is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, that borders Portland and was the fourth-most populous city in the state at the 2020 census.

See it on the map

Learn, discuss, create, buy or invest

The idea

Gresham is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon. Portland borders it to the northwest and partly to the southwest. It also serves as an economic center for eastern Multnomah County.

The city is named after Walter Quintin Gresham, an American Civil War general and United States Secretary of State. A local merchant asked for a post office in his store and proposed naming it after Gresham, who was then Postmaster General. Gresham's early settlers went on to form nearby communities such as Boring, Sandy, Fairview and Estacada.

Hills line the city's eastern border. Johnson Creek runs westward through Gresham, and 23 percent of the creek's watershed lies in the city. Like most of western Oregon, Gresham has a Mediterranean climate. Summers bring warm, sunny afternoons and little rain, while winters are cloudy with frequent long rainy periods.

People travel around the city on TriMet buses and the MAX Light Rail Blue Line. The council appoints a city manager to run the city's daily operations. The council itself is made up of the mayor and six councilors, who all serve four-year terms.

Check yourself

3 quick questions, instant feedback.