Beaverton, Oregon

Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, 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.

Transit service is provided by TriMet and is served by MAX light rail.

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 present-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) purchased 640 acres (2.6 km²) in Beaverdam and built 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 was completed over a trail called Canyon Road.
1868: Joshua Welch, George Betts, Charles 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 opened under George Betts, the first postmaster, in his general store. Betts Street, where the current post office now stands, is named in honor of him.
1893: The city of Beaverton, with a population of 400, was officially incorporated. Alonzo Cady, a local businessman, served 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 Boulevard and 5th.

In the 1980s a light rail system was proposed to connect Beaverton to downtown Portland.

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 landowner 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 communities in Oregon, even some Portland, Oregon 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 of these neighborhoods actively oppose annexation because of Beaverton's higher taxation and controversial policing methods (including undercover seatbelt enforcement and photo red light). Court and electoral fights could delay Beaverton's 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 is the headquarters of Tektronix, which manufactures electronics including oscilloscopes and logic analyzers. Nike headquarters are located on an unincorporated parcel of land inside, but excluded from, the Beaverton city limits.

As part of the "Silicon Forest," Beaverton is the home of the Open Source Development Labs and the Linux Technology Center of IBM (formerly Sequent Computer Systems).

Geography

Beaverton is located at (45.479686, -122.809954).

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 census of 2000, there were 76,129 people, 30,821 households, and 18,646 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,801.1/km² (4,664.5/mi²). There were 32,500 housing units at an average density of 768.9/km² (1,991.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,821 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,863, and the median income for a family was $60,289. Males had a median income of $41,683 versus $31,204 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,419. About 5.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary

Public

Beaverton School District

Private

German American School
Holy Trinity School
St. Mary's Academy
WoodHaven School
Southwest Christian School
The Portland Academy
Valley Catholic High School
St. Mary's Grade School
St. Cecilia Grade School
Valley Catholic Middle School
Jesuit High School

Colleges and universities

OGI School of Science and Engineering (part of Oregon Health & Science University, or OHSU)
Magee Brothers Beaverton School of Beauty
Cambridge College (High Tech Institute)

Sister cities

External links

Annexation plans

County Board Approves Interim Plan with Beaverton, a December 2004 article from the Washington County website
Statement By Nike Regarding The Recent Annexation Actions By The City Of Beaverton

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