WEST LINN (Zip Code 97068)
With Portland about 12 miles to the north, West Linn is close to the region’s business core and urban amenities. At the same time, this “City of Hills, Trees and Rivers” is rich with cozy, small-town atmosphere and distinct neighborhoods that range from the historic Willamette district with its pioneer-era dwellings to the contemporary architecture of newer settlements nestled in wooded highlands. The city also is about 20 miles from Portland International Airport via Interstate 205.
It’s History:
Settlers first occupied the pioneer settlement now known as West Linn in the early 1840’s when Robert Moore purchased 1,000 acres of land from the “Wallamut” (Willamette) Indians. He built his cabin high on a slope overlooking the Willamette Falls and set about building a town, calling it “Robin’s Nest.” The town was situated on property now occupied by the West Linn Paper Company.
By 1846, Moore had built four flour and lumber mills, along with dwellings for the mill workers. He also operated a ferry to Oregon City. In 1845, Moore renamed the tiny town “Linn City” in honor of his friend, well-known free-state advocate Dr. Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri and sponsor of the Donation Land Claim Bill. Moore became Linn City’s first postmaster in 1850, and purchased The Spectator, an Oregon City newspaper, in 1852. By then, his Linn City enterprises included a gristmill, sawmill, warehouse, wharves, and a breakwater to create a basin for boats to load and unload cargo. Moore died in 1857.
Not long after Moore’s death, a fire destroyed the sawmill, gristmill, wharves, and a docked steamer ship. Local businessmen began to rebuild, only to see their hard work washed away in floods later that same year.
In 1868, Linn City was revived when the Willamette Transportation Locks Co. began providing passage to shipping over the Willamette Falls. The locks remain in continuous operation to this day.
In 1913, the City of West Linn was incorporated, encompassing West Oregon City, Bolton, Sunset and Willamette Heights. The incorporation allowed the settlements to obtain needed services, utilities, and improvements without annexing to Oregon City. After considerable debate on a name, the city founders decided to honor the pioneer town that Moore had established.
The city’s population historically grew steadily, but in recent years has leveled off. The 1860 census listed 225 residents. By 1920, the number had grown to 1,628. The 1960 census set the population at 2,923, and by 1970, West Linn had grown to more than 7,000. The city’s population has continued to grow each year. Here are the demographics for West Linn.
For more historical photos and information, go to the West Linn Pictorial History Book blog.
In the north end of West Linn is Robinwood, bordered by the Willamette River, Mary S. Young State Park, Marylhurst University and the Hidden Springs neighborhood. The Robinwood shopping area next to state Highway 43 (Willamette Drive) offers a variety of retail community services and is anchored by Zupan’s Market, a West Linn landmark. Cedaroak Island and an adjacent boat launch ramp, operated by the West Linn Parks and Recreation Department, are popular recreation spots.
A few miles to the south, also on Highway 43, is the Bolton neighborhood, which features a compact, active retail shopping area. Nearby are the freshly remodeled and expanded West Linn Public Library, the West Linn Post Office and West Linn High School.
At the southwestern end of West Linn is the historic Willamette area, and a portion of West Linn’s Willamette neighborhood recently won a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Workers from the Willamette Falls Electric Company platted the 15-acre area in 1893 with the intention of building a town. Local businessman and real estate speculator Nicholas O. Walden designed the town, one of the first in the nation to incorporate modern utilities in its design. The town was incorporated in 1908 and later became part of present-day West Linn. The Willamette Falls Neighborhood Historic District includes 64 primarily one- and two-story wooden houses built in the Queen Anne, colonial revival, and other late Victorian and early 20th-century styles plus vintage storefronts flank Willamette Falls Drive. Willamette Park, at the confluence of the Willamette and Tualatin rivers, hosts the city’s annual three-day celebration, the West Linn Linn Old Time Fair, held in July. Willamette also is home to a new shopping center, anchored by an Albertson’s Supermarket and new business offices that are clustered adjacent to the 10th Street interchange with Interstate 205.
Up the hill from Willamette is West Linn’s newest residential area, Cascade Summit, featuring mixed-use residential styles from luxury estates to condominiums, town homes, apartments and assisted living units. Serving this part of the city is the Cascade Summit shopping center, anchored by Safeway. West Linn City Hall occupies a two-story brick office building in the Cascade Summit shopping area.
Also situated in the heights of West Linn is the Hidden Springs neighborhood, where newer homes and spectacular vistas abound. This area’s western boundary is Rosemont Road, which creates a dividing line between the city and rural landscapes.
Special Places and Things To Do:
Among West Linn’s special assets are its dedicated parks and open spaces, where residents and visitors can stroll among Douglas firs and take in panoramic views of the Willamette and Tualatin rivers, with Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens and the Cascades as a backdrop.
The City of West Linn is home to Mary S. Young Park that sits on the edges of the Willamette River and offers you a peaceful place to walk or sit by the River. This quiet, forested park is a favorite for urban birders. As you walk deeper into the forest on the numerous trails (5-8 miles worth). It’s easy to forget you’re in a city. It’s a quick but refreshing stop if you don’t have time for a drive to the country. See a trail map and aerial photo (courtesy of the City of West Linn). For recreation, water sports are king. The Willamette River is popular for water-skiing. The smaller Tualatin River is a wildlife refuge, making it perfect for canoeing, birdwatching, and fishing. There’s also plenty of room for kids to play on the sports fields, a restroom, reservable shelter and an area for dogs to run unleashed. Here are some pictures of the park.
Summers in West Linn brings an artists’ and farmers’ market, whe
re vendors offer homemade gifts and local foods the Music In The Park series, Old Time Fair and Street Dance, ART in the DARK, the Lock
Fest, West Linn Arts Festival, and Wilderness in Willamette. In Fall – go on the Willamette River Discovery Tour. Of course, don’t forget the holidays in West Linn – the Annual Tree Lighting, Holiday Parade and Lighting of Maddox Woods.
Schools:
The schools in West Linn always get high scores and are a part of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.
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Portland
Betty Jung
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