41-475: Elmonica is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon , United States, located partially in the northwest area of Beaverton . The community is named for a station on the old Oregon Electric Railway , derived from the names of the daughters of an owner of land along the route. Samuel B. Stoy, a Portland insurance executive, owned property along the proposed OE line and only gave permission for
82-843: A dirt road, which was often muddy, ran between Portland and the Tualatin Valley—starting on Jefferson Street at the Willamette River then passing through Tanner Creek Canyon that cuts through the Tualatin Mountains . A plank road was suggested by Portland entrepreneur and proprietor Daniel H. Lownsdale as a means to transport abundant Tualatin Valley farm produce and grains to California Gold Rush -inflated markets in San Francisco, California . Col. William Williams Chapman , another proprietor, expended time and expense providing
123-424: A family was $ 76,778. Males had a median income of $ 54,417 versus $ 40,254 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 30,522. About 6.7% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 census , there were 445,342 people, 169,162 households, and 114,015 families in the county. The population density
164-756: A few miles from both the Intel and Nike headquarters campuses. It consists of heritage farms and million dollar estate properties. The area is part of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue 's service area. The Holcomb Creek Trestle , the longest wooden railroad bridge currently in use in the United States, is located in the Helvetia area. 45°34′N 123°05′W / 45.56°N 123.09°W / 45.56; -123.09 Canyon Road Download coordinates as: Canyon Road (formerly known as Great Plank Road )
205-482: A new company to complete the road, and the city's merchant leaders (including William S. Ladd and Josiah Failing ) raised $ 75,000 for the new Portland and Tualatin Plains Plank Road Company, finishing the road by the end of 1856. The road, though never completely planked, was favored by farmers of Polk , Yamhill , and Washington counties since it saved between three and ten miles (16 km) travel to
246-489: Is 6.5 miles (10.5 km), and 2.7 miles (4.3 km) of the route is coterminous with U.S. Route 26 . In addition, the segment of the road signed as Oregon Route 8 under the name Canyon Road spans for 3.8 miles (6.1 km). There is an additional, small portion of a driveway in the Oregon Zoo parking lot that is also named Canyon Road; this is a continuation of a local suburban street named Canyon Court . By 1851,
287-462: Is a 6.5 mi (10.5 km) major road and partial state highway , which serves as a connector between Beaverton and Portland, Oregon , United States . It was the first major road constructed between the Tualatin Valley and Portland, and has contributed significantly to Portland becoming the area's major deep water port , and subsequent early growth of the city. The total modern length
328-463: Is a small unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon. It is located in the Tualatin Valley along U.S. Route 26 , 15 minutes west of Portland . It was named by Swiss immigrants to Oregon in the 19th century. The reality television series Little People, Big World is set on Roloff Farms in Helvetia, making the location a popular tourist attraction. The Helvetia area is only
369-887: Is bordered on the west and north by the Northern Oregon Coast Range , on the south by the Chehalem Mountains , and on the north and east by the Tualatin Mountains , or West Hills. Major roads include sections of Interstate 5 and 205 , the Sunset Highway , Oregon Route 217 , 47 , 10 , 6 and 8 . Public transportation is primarily operated by TriMet and includes buses, the Westside Express Service commuter rail, and MAX Light Rail . Other transportation includes air travel at Hillsboro Airport , private airfields and heliports, and heavy rail cargo on rail lines. The Provisional Legislature of Oregon created
410-409: Is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km ) (0.3%) is water. It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the west of Portland . The Portland Metro Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) bisects the county. The county's highest point is South Saddle Mountain at 3,464 feet (1,056 m) above sea level in the Northern Oregon Coast Range . Most of the county is in the Tualatin Valley , formed by
451-512: Is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon and part of the Portland metropolitan area . The 2020 census recorded the population as 600,372, making it the second most populous county in the state and most populous " Washington County " in the United States. Hillsboro is the county seat and largest city, while other major cities include Beaverton , Tigard , Cornelius , Banks , Gaston , Sherwood , North Plains , and Forest Grove ,
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#1732858676921492-403: Is still a major industry in Washington County, as are lumber, manufacturing, and food processing. The development of a large electronics industry during the 1980s and 1990s is the dominating factor of the county economy, and contributing to the creation of Oregon's Silicon Forest . California -based Intel , Oregon's largest private-sector employer, has its largest concentration of employees in
533-575: Is the commencement of an era of commercial prosperity which will continue to increase until the iron horse takes the place of the plank road. —Mr. Tilford, orator at Canyon Road's laying of first plank. In August 2015, remnants of the Great Plank Road were unearthed during a road widening project in Beaverton. The pieces weren't salvageable. The historic route is almost completely paved over by modern roads. Beginning at Goose Hollow near where
574-653: Is the main river in Washington County. Henry Hagg Lake , southwest of Forest Grove, is the largest lake. The Willamette River lies to the east, the Columbia River to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west of the county. As of the 2010 census , there were 529,710 people, 200,934 households, and 134,323 families residing in the county. The population density was 731.4 inhabitants per square mile (282.4/km ). There were 212,450 housing units at an average density of 293.3 per square mile (113.2/km ). The racial makeup of
615-599: The Tualatin Mountains to the east and north, the Chehalem Mountains to the south, and the Northern Oregon Coast Range to the west and north. The Tualatin River , located almost entirely within the county, flows through the Tualatin Plains . The northern and western portions of the county are forested, while the remainder of the county includes urban areas, agricultural lands, and floodplains. The Tualatin River
656-698: The Vista Bridge is now ( 45°31′09″N 122°41′53″W / 45.51925°N 122.697973°W / 45.51925; -122.697973 ( Canyon Road (east end) ) ), Jefferson Street transitions into Canyon Road, both in street signs and modern maps. It went up the canyon behind the Vista Ridge Tunnels where the Sunset Highway —also known as U.S. Route 26 —goes over Sylvan hill. Slightly west of Sylvan, an interchange with modern Canyon Road, also known as Oregon Route 8 , continues southwest into Beaverton. Two blocks west of Cedar Hills Boulevard, at
697-484: The Vista Ridge Tunnels . However, Tanner Creek Canyon was originally a much deeper and narrower ravine. In the early twentieth century, when Tanner Creek was buried as it passes through Tanner Creek Canyon, the canyon was enlarged and infilled to raise Canyon Road. Then, in the 1960s when I-405 was being constructed, the excavated dirt was trucked into the canyon to further expand and fill Tanner Creek Canyon. This
738-651: The County and the City of Beaverton agreed to a plan where the city would annex both unincorporated residential neighborhoods as well as high-value areas of land. This would result with Cedar Hills , Garden Home , Raleigh Hills , West Slope being incorporated by 2010, and the communities of Aloha , Bethany , and Cedar Mill at some point after that. Those plans have since been put on hold after Beaverton attempted to annex Nike, Inc. 's World Headquarters, which would have increased Nike's taxes substantially. Nike successfully lobbied
779-407: The age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 35.3 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 62,574 and the median income for
820-406: The age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14. The county population contained 26.90% under
861-467: The age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 34.10% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 52,122, and the median income for a family was $ 61,499. Males had a median income of $ 43,304 versus $ 31,074 for females. The per capita income for
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#1732858676921902-515: The basics for fledgling Portland in an effort to counter competition by other upstart towns and Hudson's Bay Company . He founded The Oregonian , enlarged Portland's platt, improving the city's streets, and ushered construction of Canyon Road. Others already invested in the city contributed to help make Portland the prime seaport of the region, including persuading others to join them, removing river obstructions, and importing goods from Asia and beyond. The Portland & Valley Plank Road Company
943-606: The board. Like all of the Yankee -influenced Willamette Valley and Oregon Coast, Washington County was in its pre- Depression history strongly Republican. After Oregon achieved statehood in 1859, Washington County voted for the Republican presidential nominee in every presidential election from 1860 to 1928, except in the 1912 presidential election when the county supported Progressive Party candidate and former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt . In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt became
984-558: The contract to a sawmill owned by himself and Simeon Reed , and the first plank was laid on September 27, 1851, leading to a large celebration. By November 1851, less than $ 3,000 in pledges had been collected, while $ 11,000 had been spent. The road had progressed fewer than three miles. The route, however, was excavated, following the canyon of Tanner Creek on the east side of the Tualatin Mountains. By spring of 1852, just over $ 6,000 had been collected and $ 14,000 spent, leading to
1025-578: The county as Twality District on July 5, 1843. Twality was one of the original four districts of the Provisional Government of Oregon in Oregon Country along with Clackamas , Champooick (later Marion ), and Yamhill counties. Columbia, later known as Hillsboro , was selected as the county seat in 1850. Washington County lost significant portions of its original area when Columbia and Multnomah counties were created in 1854. The county area
1066-403: The county was $ 24,969. About 4.90% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over. The county is governed by an elected board of five commissioners. The county is divided into four commissioner districts. One commissioner sits for each district, and the fifth commissioner is at-large and is the chair of
1107-407: The county was 76.6% white, 8.6% Asian, 1.8% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 7.5% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were German , 12.4% were English , 12.1% were Irish , and 3.2% were American . Of the 200,934 households, 36.0% had children under
1148-616: The county was decisive in narrowly carrying the state of Oregon during that year's presidential election. Since the 1990s, the increasing drift of the Republican Party nationally towards the South and evangelicalism, along with urbanization, has resulted in Washington County shifting strongly towards the Democratic Party. No Republican presidential candidate has carried Washington County since George H. W. Bush did so in 1988, and in four of
1189-475: The county's oldest city. Originally named Twality when created in 1843, the Oregon Territorial Legislature renamed it for the nation's first president in 1849 and included the entire northwest corner of Oregon before new counties were created in 1854. The Tualatin River and its drainage basin lie almost entirely within the county, which shares its boundaries with the Tualatin Valley . It
1230-404: The county's votes. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden hit 65.5% of the county's vote, the highest ever for a Democratic presidential nominee. Washington County is centered on a fertile plain that attracted farmers before the first wagon trains . In 1997, orchards covered 8,403 acres (34.01 km ) of the county's lands and 1,163 acres (4.71 km ) were devoted to vineyards. Agriculture
1271-663: The county, mainly in Hillsboro. Other technology companies include Electro Scientific Industries , FEI Company , Qorvo , Tektronix , SolarWorld , Planar Systems , and EPSON . Nike , one of two Fortune 500 corporations based in Oregon, has its headquarters in Washington County. Until it was acquired by IBM , Sequent Computer Systems was headquartered near Nike. Other companies with headquarters in Washington County include optical instruments manufacturer Leupold & Stevens , Columbia Sportswear , and Reser's Fine Foods . Helvetia
Elmonica, Oregon - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-466: The first-ever Democrat to win the Washington County vote, and he repeated this success in 1936 and 1940. Between 1944 and 1988, Washington County was never won by a Democrat except in Lyndon B. Johnson 's landslide victory in 1964. As recently as 1976, Washington County was the second-most Republican county in the state behind Malheur County in southeast Oregon. Gerald Ford 's 17,529-vote margin of victory in
1353-518: The junction with Hocken Road ( 45°29′17″N 122°48′46″W / 45.488163°N 122.812858°W / 45.488163; -122.812858 ( Canyon Road (west end) ) ), the contemporary road name changes to Tualatin Valley Highway ("TV Highway", though the original plank road continued farther west. A plaque to commemorate the road was placed in the South Park Blocks by
1394-486: The legislature for a law that would prohibit their annexation for 99 years. Since that decision, annexation plans have been halted, and Washington County started urban planning to provide city-level services to the unincorporated urban areas in the county. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km ), of which 724 square miles (1,880 km )
1435-411: The next nearest ports at St. Johns and St. Helens , but on a rough muddy road through deep woods. Harvey W. Scott said this new toll road was still difficult for travel and the entrance was "almost inaccessible", but the road was finished. Part of Highway 26 now passes through Tanner Creek Canyon—the canyon near the Oregon Zoo as the highway approaches Portland's Goose Hollow neighborhood via
1476-522: The past five presidential elections, Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , and Kamala Harris all prevailed the county by over twenty percentage points. The last Republican to win a statewide election in Washington County was Gordon H. Smith in the 2002 Senate contest . In the 2008 Senatorial election , Democrat Jeff Merkley won 48.8 percent of the county's vote (111,367) while Republican incumbent Smith won 46.5 percent (106,114), but no subsequent Republican Senate candidate has won 40 percent of
1517-419: The railroad to go through his property if the company agreed to name the station after his daughters, Eleanor and Monica. After the station was named Elmonica, this then led to the area around the station becoming known as Elmonica as well. This Washington County , Oregon state location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Washington County, Oregon Washington County
1558-412: The replacement of management and directors. The project remained incomplete for three years until Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Olney required subscribers to pay at least 80% of the pledged amount. Back wages were still owed by December 1855, leading Olney to demand full payment from subscribers and for county sheriffs to find delinquent subscribers. On January 25, 1856, the territorial government hired
1599-669: Was 615 people per square mile (237 people/km ). There were 178,913 housing units at an average density of 247 units per square mile (95/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 82.19% White , 1.15% Black or African American , 0.65% Native American , 6.68% Asian , 0.30% Pacific Islander , 5.86% from other races , and 3.17% from two or more races. 11.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.2% were of German , 9.9% English , 8.2% Irish , and 6.7% American ancestry. 81.7% spoke only English at home, while 9.6% spoke Spanish and 1.2% Vietnamese. There were 169,162 households, out of which 35.60% had children under
1640-531: Was chartered in January 1851 by the territorial government . Editor of the Weekly Oregonian newspaper, Thomas J. Dryer , immediately invested $ 500 and promoted the project. Stephen Coffin and William W. Chapman pledged $ 3000, with Daniel H. Lownsdale pledging $ 2,000. Ultimately over $ 35,000 was pledged but not all was paid, with Coffin, Chapman and Lownsdale likely to have not paid in full. Coffin gave
1681-419: Was increased by 160 acres (65 ha) in 2014 when a section of Multnomah County was attached to Washington. The area was returned to Washington County to allow for property development. The construction of Canyon Road to Beaverton helped Portland to consolidate its position as the primary port of Oregon, and defeat the rival efforts of settlements such as Oregon City and Milwaukie . In November 2004,