Wilkes, Portland, Oregon

Wilkes is the northeasternmost neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, bordered on the north by the Columbia River and on the east by the city of Gresham. It adjoins the neighborhoods of Argay, Russell, and Hazelwood on the west, and Glenfair on the south. Interstate 84 runs through the middle of the neighborhood.

Wilkes
Neighborhood
Location in Portland
Coordinates: 45°32′N 122°30′WPDF map
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CityPortland
Government
 • AssociationWilkes Community Group
 • CoalitionEast Portland Neighborhood Office
Area
 • Total2.81 sq mi (7.28 km2)
Population
 (2000)[1]
 • Total7,732
 • Density2,800/sq mi (1,100/km2)
Housing
[1]
 • No. of households3317
 • Occupancy rate94% occupied
 • Owner-occupied2539 households (77%)
 • Renting778 households (23%)
 • Avg. household size2.33 persons

History

The Wilkes School property was donated by the Wilkes family. The Wilkes also settled Banks and Wilkesboro in the Dairy Creek area. The Wilkes were the family that Dr. John McLoughlin sent Noble Ellis up to Mt. Hood to rescue in the winter of 1847. The Wilkes Family Book "By an Oregon Pioneer Fireside" written by L. E. Wilkes is located in the Oregon State Legislative Library. The first park established in the neighborhood was Wilkes Park. The land for the park was acquired in 1998 and the park was dedicated August 3, 2004.[2] Since then, the city's parks department and its Bureau of Environmental Services partnered to acquire 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land at the headwaters of Wilkes Creek in March 2011 to create a second park and natural preservation area.[3]

References
  1. Demographics (2000)
  2. Wilkes Park, Portland Parks and Recreation website (accessed 5 March 2011)
  3. Larry Bingham, "Area short on parks will get one", The Oregonian, 5 March 2011, p. E-1
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