Happy TravellerWelcome to Milwaukie, a charming city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. With a population of 21,119 as of the 2020 census, Milwaukie is a suburb of Portland and is known as the Dogwood City of the West. Founded in 1847 on the banks of the Willamette River, Milwaukie is the birthplace of the Bing cherry and has a rich history that is worth exploring. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history, geography, demographics, economy, housing, education, transportation, and government of Milwaukie, Oregon.
History:
Milwaukie was settled in 1847 by Lot Whitcomb, who named it for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The city was formally platted in 1849 as a rival to the upriver Oregon City. Milwaukie rivaled Portland and Oregon City for a time, but Portland eventually became the bigger city because it had a deeper port. The first post office at Milwaukie was established in 1850, with Whitcomb as the first postmaster. The community was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on February 4, 1903, originally as the Town of Milwaukie. The Bing cherry, among other varieties, was developed in Milwaukie by Ah Bing, an orchard foreman employed by Seth Lewelling. A mural in the city commemorates Mr. Bing’s accomplishment.
Geography:
Milwaukie has a total area of 4.85 square miles (12.56 km2), of which 4.82 square miles (12.48 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water. Parks include Dogwood Park, Elk Rock Island, Kronberg Park, Milwaukie Riverfront Park, and Spring Park.
Demographics:
As of the census of 2010, there were 20,291 people, 8,667 households, and 5,075 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,209.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,625.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.5% White, 1.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.
Economy:
Milwaukie is the home of Dark Horse Comics, which is known for publishing works including Sin City, the character Hellboy, and the original graphic novel series 300. The total office space of Dark Horse Comics occupies three city blocks in downtown Milwaukie, sporting numerous display windows visible to transit riders. Bob’s Red Mill is located here and employs a few hundred people.
Housing:
In 2015–2016, Milwaukie saw a boom in real estate. It was named the ninth hottest real estate market in 2016 by realtor.com. A big draw to the city was noticed right after the Orange Line from TriMet finished in 2015. A $1.4 billion project connecting the close-in suburb right to the heart of downtown Portland. A year into the new Orange Line, pricing for homes raised up 12.2% and city officials said there are zero vacancies for retail storefronts in Milwaukie’s downtown area.
Education:
Milwaukie is served by the North Clackamas School District and most children attend one of ten public elementary schools, Alder Creek Middle School or Wilbur Rowe Middle School, depending on area of residence, Rex Putnam High School, Milwaukie High School for regular high school education, and New Urban High School for alternative education. The city is home to the Ledding Library, a public library that is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County. The city has one college campus, Clackamas Community College Harmony.
Transportation:
Milwaukie is within the TriMet transit district and is served by several TriMet bus lines. TriMet’s MAX Light Rail service was extended to Milwaukie on September 12, 2015. The 7.3-mile (11.7 km) line was sufficiently complete by May 15, 2015, for 500 passengers to make an initial special run along its whole length. Regular passenger service began four months later. Amtrak passenger trains pass through Milwaukie without stopping.
Government:
The Mayor and City Council are elected at-large for four-year terms. Current mayor Lisa Batey took office on January 1st, 2023 after winning the November 2022 election against Kathy Hyzy. Milwaukie is in Oregon’s 5th congressional district, which is represented by Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer. In the Oregon Legislative Assembly, Milwaukie is in the 21st Senate district, represented by Democrat Kathleen Taylor, and in the 41st House district, represented by Democrat Mark Gamba, a former mayor of the city.
In conclusion, Milwaukie, Oregon is a charming
