Multnomah County
The gateway to Portland's Chinatown from West Burnside. (Oregon State Archives Photo No. mulD0004)
Contact
County Seat: 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland 97214
Phone: 503-823-4000 (General); 503-988-3957 (Court Administrator)
Web: www.co.multnomah.or.us
About
Population (2009): 724,680
Established: Dec. 22, 1854
Elev. at Portland: 77'
Area: 465 sq. mi.
Average Temp.: January 38.9° July 67.7°
Assessed Value: $61,027,180,083
Real Market Value: $124,710,839,632
Annual Precipitation: 37.39"
Economy: Manufacturing, transportation, wholesale and retail trade, and tourism
Related resources
History
Historical
Records Inventory
Scenic
Image
Economic
Information (from OBDD)
"County
Quick Facts" (from U.S.
Census Bureau)
County
Seat Map (from Yahoo!
Maps)
County
Map (from ODOT)
Incorporated cities
Fairview | Gresham | Maywood
Park | Portland | Troutdale | Wood Village
Points of interest
Oregon History 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
History and 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 Native Americans. 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—Jeff Cogen, Chair 2015; Deborah Kafoury 2013, Diane McKeel 2013, Judy Shiprack 2013, Loretta Smith 2015; Dist. Atty. Michael D. Schrunk 2013; Assess. Randy Walruff; Recorder Cindy Swick; Sheriff Dan Staton 2015; Surv. Robert Hovden; Auditor Steve March 2013