Beaverton, Oregon
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ORMap-doton-Beaverton.png
Location of Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city located in Washington County, Oregon, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.
As of July 2003, its population is estimated to be 80,520, 5.8% more than the 2000 census figure of 76,129. This makes it the largest city in the county and Oregon's fifth largest city. Beaverton's controversial annexation plans during the next decade are likely to result in major growth in both population and area.
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History
According to Oregon Geographic Names, Beaverton got its name because of the settlement's proximity to a large body of water resulting from beaver dams.
The area of Tualatin Valley which became Beaverton was originally the home of a Native American tribe known as the Atfalati or the Tualatin. They were hunter-gatherers whose land including a village that was called Chakeipi, meaning Place of the Beaver. The Atfalati population dwindled in the latter part of the 18th century, and the prosperous tribe was no longer dominant in the area by the 19th century when westerners first visited.
19th century
Early settlers referred to the place as "Beaverdam", later changed to "Beaverton". Early settlers include the Hall Family from Kentucky, the Denneys who lived on their claim near current day Scholls Ferry Road and Hall Blvd, and Orrin S. Allens who resided at SW Allen and Hall Blvd.
- 1847: Lawrence Hall (for whom Hall Boulevard is named) purchases 640 acres (2.6 km²) in Beaverdam and builds a grist mill with his brother near present-day Walker Road (maybe on Cedar Mill Creek??).
- 1849: Thomas Denney came to the area and built its first sawmill.
- 1860: A plank road from Portland to Beaverton is completed over a trail called Canyon Road.
- 1868: Joshua Welch, George Betts, Charle Angel, W.P. Watson, John Henry and other settlers of the area laid out what is now known as Beaverton hoping they could bring a railroad to an area once described as "mostly swamps & marshes connected by beaver dams to create what looked like a huge lake".
- 1872: Beaverton's first post office opens under George Betts, the first postmaster, in his general store. Betts street, where the current post office now stands, was named in honor of him.
- 1893: The city of Beaverton is officially incorporated with a population of 400 and Alonzo Cady, a local businessman, as the first mayor.
20th Century
Beaverton was an early home to automobile dealerships. A Ford Motor Company dealership was established there in 1915; it was purchased by Guy Carr in 1923 and over the years Carr expanded it into several locations throughout Beaverton.
In the early 1920s, Beaverton was home to Premium Picture Productions, a movie studio which produced about fifteen films.
The town's first library opened in 1925. Originally on the second floor of the Cady building, it has moved repeatedly; in 2000 it was moved to its current location on Hall Street and 5th.
21st century
In December 2004, the city and Washington County announced an "interim plan" which will lead to Beaverton becoming the second-largest city in Oregon, second only to Portland.
The so-called "interim" plan actually covers a period of more than ten years; from the county's perspective, the plan supports its strategy of having cities and special districts provide urban services. From the city's perspective, it supports its strategy of continued annexation, beginning with areas already surrounded by the city, which Oregon state law allows to be annexed without land owner approval.
The city and county also agreed to work on ending the "double taxation" of Beaverton property owners who subsidize urban services provided to residents of unincorporated area.
Several nearby unincorporated neighborhoods, even some considered Portland neighborhoods, are affected during the plan's first decade, including Cedar Hills, West Slope, Raleigh Hills and Garden Home. Property owned by Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Nike, and Tektronix would also be affected.
Neighborhoods affected after the plan's first ten years include Bethany, Cedar Mill and Aloha. If all areas covered by the plan were to be immediately incorporated into Beaverton, the city's present-day population would be 280,000.
Many if not all of these neighborhoods actively oppose annexation, due to Beaverton's higher taxation and controversial policing methods (including undercover seatbelt enforcement and photo red light). Court and electoral fights could delay Beaverton's ambitious annexation plans.
Economy
Since 1929, Beaverton has been home to Beaverton Foods, a manufacturer of nationally-distributed condiments. Reser's Fine Foods, processor and distributor of fresh prepared foods, has headquartered in Beaverton since 1960.
More recently, Beaverton was the headquarters of Tektronix, which manufactures electronics including oscilloscopes, computer printers and monitors, and the headquarters of Nike, both located just outside of the city limits.
Beaverton is the home of the Open Source Development Labs and the Linux Technology Center (http://www-124.ibm.com/developerworks/oss/linux/) of IBM (formerly Sequent Computer Systems).
Geography
Beaverton is located at 45°28'47" North, 122°48'36" West (45.479686, -122.809954)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.3 km² (16.3 mi²), none of which is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 76,129 people, 30,821 households, and 18,646 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,801.1/km² (4,664.5/mi²). There are 32,500 housing units at an average density of 768.9/km² (1,991.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 78.31% White, 9.65% Asian, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.36% Pacific Islander, 5.53% from other races, and 3.74% from two or more races. 11.12% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 30,821 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 29.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.07.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $47,863, and the median income for a family is $60,289. Males have a median income of $41,683 versus $31,204 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,419. 7.8% of the population and 5.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
Primary and Secondary
Public
Private
- German American School
- Holy Trinity School
- St. Mary's Academy
- WoodHaven School
- Southwest Christian School
Colleges and Universities
- Business Computer Training Institute
- Magee Brothers Beaverton School of Beauty
- OGI School of Science and Engineering (part of OHSU)
- Cambridge College (High Tech Institute)
Sister cities
- Birobidzhan, Russia
- Cheonan, Korea
- Cluses, France (in Haute-Savoie)
- Gotenba, Japan
- Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Trossingen, Germany (in Tuttlingen)
External links
- City of Beaverton (http://www.ci.beaverton.or.us/)
- Beaverton Chamber of Commerce (http://www.beaverton.org/)
- Beaverton Library (http://www.beavertonlibrary.org/)
Annexation plans
- County Board Approves Interim Plan with Beaverton (http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/cao/news/bvtnplan.htm), a December 2004 article from the Washington County website
- Deal maps course for far bigger Beaverton (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1103720296104150.xml), a December 2004 article from The Oregonian about the new interim plan
- Statement By Nike Regarding The Recent Annexation Actions By The City Of Beaverton (http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/news/pressrelease.jhtml?year=2004&month=12&letter=h)
Commercial websites
- Beaverton Real Estate Resources (http://www.ebeaverton.info/dir/real-estate/)
- Welcome to Beaverton (http://www.el.com/to/beaverton/)
- Buy, Sell, Save - in Beaverton Oregon (http://www.eBeaverton.com/)
| State of Oregon | 
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| Regions Columbia River Gorge and Plateau | Eastern Oregon | Inland Empire | Mt. Hood Corridor | Oregon Coast | Western Oregon | Willamette Valley | |||
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