A trip down memory lane

Learn the twists and turns of Portland’s historic street names

Portland's White Stag Sign lit up above Burnside Street with a pink sunset in the background.

Name a more iconic emblem of Portland. We’ll wait. | Photo by Justin Shen

The city of Portland was incorporated on Feb. 8, 1851, six years after business partners and pioneers William Overton and Asa Lovejoy filed to claim the land on the Willamette River’s west bank. Now that 170+ years have passed, the city and its streets are chock-full of vibrant history.

It’s safe to say that over the years, the city has been touched by countless historical figures and happenings — many of which have shaped the names of Portland’s buildings, parks, and streets. In this guide, we’re delving into the history of Portland’s streets — specifically how they were named.

Alphabet District

An area of Portland that is especially rich in history is the Alphabet District. As the name suggests, the district’s streets are in alphabetical order — ascending from south to north beginning with Ankeny Street. Additionally, each street is named after a prominent citizen from the city’s history. Some of the more notable streets in this district include:

Burnside Street — named after David W. Burnside, a council member and successful businessman from Vermont. Burnside Bridge is also named in his honor.

Couch Street (pronounced COOCH) — named after Captain John H. Couch from Massachusetts. Couch is most remembered for creating the grid of streets in the Alphabet District.

Irving Street — named after steamboat Captain William Irving. The Portland suburb of Irvington includes some of Irving’s original property investments.

Lovejoy Street — named after the aforementioned Portland pioneer, Asa Lovejoy, who originally wanted to name Portland after his birthplace, Boston.

Pettygrove Street — named for Francis Pettygrove, who helped incorporate the city after purchasing William Overton’s share of the land claim in 1845.

An aerial view of Portland's Vaughn Street Park, the home diamond of professional baseball, in 1951. — Vaughn Street Park was the home of Portland’s professional baseball teams until 1955.

Vaughn Street — named after Portland’s sixth mayor, George Washington Vaughn. Vaughn was originally from New Jersey but moved to Portland in 1850.

Wilson Street — named after Dr. R.B. Wilson as he was one of the most well known early pioneers and citizens of Portland. Dr. Wilson was also married to one of Captain Couch’s daughters.

6 MORE HISTORIC STREETS

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Monday, Feb. 13

Birding with Kindness | Monday, Feb. 13 | 6-7 p.m. | Portland Audubon, 5151 NW Cornell Rd., Portland | $20-$30 | Wildlife photographer and advocate Faraaz Abdool shows you how to do no harm to habitats while bird watching.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Valentine’s Day with Adam Cayton-Holland | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7:15 p.m. | Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE Ninth Ave., Portland | $25 | Share some laughs with your special someone, courtesy of one of Variety Magazine’s 10 Comics to Watch.
Portland Chamber Orchestra Presents: The Neuroscience of Pleasure | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 SW Crescent St., Beaverton | $19-$44 | OHSU neuroscientist Larry Sherman joins musicians and singer Naomi LaViolette to explore why beautiful music, falling in love, and eating chocolate spark euphoric emotions in our brains.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Dr., Portland | $5-$24 | Peruse more than 700 fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation-related companies showing and selling their gear, products, and services, or sit in on a seminar.

Thursday, Feb. 16

Science on Tap: How Do Scientists See Black Holes? | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m. | Online | $5-$15 | An astronomy and astrophysics postdoctoral fellow will shed light on one of the most mysterious cosmic features in the universe.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES

Weather

45º | Rain will likely return | 86% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:15 a.m.
Set: 5:34 p.m.

Listen

Tune in to All Classical Portland 89.9 FM on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. for a special encore broadcast of “An African American Requiem,” featuring the Oregon Symphony and local choirs. Composer Damien Geter created the performance to “highlight the atrocities of race relations in the United States.” 🎶

Cause

You can help beautify Rose City streets and keep local waterways and habitats litter-free by volunteering at SOLVE’s Portland Business District Cleanup this Wednesday, Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Register online, then check in between 8:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. 🗑️
Taking care of older adults in our community takes money and support. Portlanders can make a difference by donating to Meals on Wheels People — a local nonprofit that helps homebound adults thrive through nutritious foods, check-ins, light home repairs, and social interactions. 🤝 *

Sports

Rip City made one more trade before last week’s deadline. Portland reportedly sent Gary Payton II to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kevin Knox II — a 23-year-old forward who has averaged 7.4 points in 254 career games. The Blazers also got five second-round picks in the deal. 🏀 (KGW)

Outdoors

Beavers, salamanders, and turtles, oh my. The Oregon Zoo Foundation and the Oregon Zoo awarded $25,000 in grants to four projects and organizations supporting local wildlife conservation: The Beaver Coalition, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council, Northwest Ecological Research Institute, and World Salmon Council. 🦫

Ranked

Safety first. Portland is the third-safest place for solo travelers, according to new research from UK-based Post Office. The study looked at factors like food safety ratings, internet connectivity, and access to medical centers. Our friends to the north came in first. 🧳 (Post Office)

Seasonal

Valentine’s Day may be tomorrow, but it’s not too late to order that special someone a bouquet of fresh flowers. Don’t have time to cross reference all of the florists in town? Enter: Floom, an online marketplace that partners with talented florists that deliver locally. Shop Valentine’s Day arrangements. 💐 *

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THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ben and Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: This is your captain (Cambrie) speaking — I’m looking forward to hanging out here all week while Ben enjoys some much-deserved sunshine in Hawaii.

They say there’s a first time for everything. That time came for me on Friday in the form of an extended reality storytelling experience called “Symbiosis” at the Portland Art Museum. It would take more words than I can fit here to describe it — so I’ll leave it at this: the future of technology is mind-blowing. I hope you get the chance to try it for yourself.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We talked to the Portland filmmaker behind “Happy Hour History.”

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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