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Multnomah County, OR
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 Established:
Dec. 22, 1854
Population: 677,850 (2003)
Elev. at Portland: 77'
Area: 465 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 38.9°, July 67.7°
Assessed Value: $47,314,670,129
Real Market Value: $87,861,122,024
Annual Precipitation: 37.39"
Economy: Manufacturing, transportation, wholesale and retail
trade and tourism.
Incorporated Cities: Fairview | Gresham | Maywood Park |
Portland | Troutdale | Wood Village
Points of Interest: Oregon Historical Center, Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry, Portland Art Museum, Washington Park and
Zoo, Rose Test Gardens, Japanese Gardens, Columbia River Gorge,
Multnomah Falls, Blue Lake Park, Oxbow Park, Pittock Mansion,
Port of Portland, Memorial Coliseum, Oregon Convention Center.
General Information: Lewis and Clark made note of the Indian
village of Multnomah on Sauvie Island in 1805, and applied that
name to all local Indians. The name is derived from nematlnomaq,
probably meaning “downriver.” Multnomah County was created from
parts of Washington and Clackamas Counties by the Territorial
Legislature in 1854, five years before Oregon became a state,
because citizens found it inconvenient to travel to Hillsboro to
conduct county business.
The county is both the smallest in size and largest in
population in Oregon. Over 50 percent of its people live in
Portland, a busy metropolis dominated by rivers and greenery.
The remaining area includes picturesque rural land, from
pastoral farms on Sauvie Island to the rugged Columbia River
Gorge and the western slopes of Mt. Hood.
County Officials: Commissioners—Serena Cruz (NP) 2007; Maria
Rojo Desteffey (NP) 2009, Diane Linn (NP) 2007, Lisa Naito (NP)
2009, Lonnie Roberts (NP) 2009; Dist. Atty. Michael D. Schrunk
(NP) 2009; Assess. Robert Ellis; Recorder Cindy Swick; Sheriff
Bernie Giusto (NP) 2007; Surv. Robert Hovden; Aud. Suzanne Flynn
(NP) 2007; Co. Chair Diane Linn (NP) 2007. |
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County History |
Multnomah County was created on December 22, 1854. It was
the thirteenth county created in Oregon Territory. The land was
taken from the eastern portion of Washington County and the
northern part of Clackamas County. The borders have remained
relatively unchanged to the present.
Multnomah County was created when the people living in Portland
found it difficult to travel to Hillsboro to conduct business at
the county seat of Washington County. They also thought that
they were paying too much in taxes to support the farmers in the
rural areas surrounding Portland. In 1854, Portland businessmen
petitioned the Territorial Legislature for a new county and
Multnomah County was created at the subsequent session. The
county was named after the Multnomah Indians who were part of
the Chinookan tribe that lived on the eastern tip of what is now
Sauvie Island in the Columbia River. The City of Portland was
chartered in 1851 and made the county seat in 1854. The
Multnomah County Commissioners met for the first time on January
17, 1855.
Multnomah County is the smallest county in Oregon, with only 465
square miles. It is bounded by Columbia County and the Columbia
River on the north, Washington County on the west, Clackamas
County on the south, and Hood River County on the east.
Multnomah County is very diverse with Portland in the west and
the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood in the east. Most of the eastern
portion of the county is covered with timber and is sparsely
populated.
The first courthouse was built in 1866. Expanding county
business required the addition of a north wing in 1885 and a
south wing in 1889. In 1914 a new courthouse was completed at
the same location.
The voters of Multnomah County approved a home rule charter on
May 24, 1966, which became effective January 1, 1967. The
primary organizational change was a governing body consisting of
a board of five full-time county commissioners, which is the
policy determining body of the county. In 1968 the board of
commissioners established administrative departments to operate
county services and administer county affairs. The commissioners
change the organization and duties of departments to meet
changing needs. The county commissioners, auditor, sheriff, and
district attorney are elected officials.
The principle industries of Multnomah County are manufacturing,
transportation, wholesale and retail trade, and tourism. Tourism
attractions in Multnomah County include the Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry, Washington Park and Zoo, Oregon Historical
Society, Portland Art Museum, Rose Test Gardens, and Japanese
Gardens in Portland, and Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River
Gorge. The Port of Portland, established in 1891, exports more
wheat from its marine terminals than any American port. The port
also ranks high in overall tonnage and the importation of
automobiles.
The population of Multnomah County has steadily increased since
1860. The 2000 county population of 660,486 represented an
increase of 13.12% over 1990. A 2005 estimate put the population
at 672,906. Portland is the county's largest city with a
population of well over 550,000. |
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