601 4th Avenue

Once the bustling terminus of navigation on the upper Willamette River, Canemah is located on the river’s east bank just above Oregon City's side of the Willamette Falls. The name is Chinookan for “the canoe place" which is descriptive of the sandy beach and natural harbor that attracted thousands of Native Americans over many millennia during annual salmon runs.

The site caught the eye of Absalom F. Hedges, who arrived by covered wagon in 1844. A carpenter and former steamboat captain on the Ohio River, he staked his donation land claim there. Hedges recognized that the area was a natural townsite and shipbuilding center. In 1849, he platted Falls City and headed to New York to purchase steamboat machinery. Within a few years, the name of the town reverted to Canemah through popular usage.

Hedges and his partners later launched the Canemah, a 135-foot side-wheeler, in September 1851, three months after the Hoosier, a converted longboat, became the first steam-powered vessel on the upper river. More than thirty steamboats would be built at Canemah.

Canemah prospered until 1861, when a flood swept most of the town over the falls. Wharves and warehouses were rebuilt, but the town had lost its vitality. Its importance to river commerce ended in 1873 with completion of the Willamette Falls Locks. Ships no longer docked and unloaded goods and passengers for portage around the falls to Oregon City. In the 1880s, Canemah became home to retired merchants and river captains, many of whose houses still stand. The economy also shifted from a service and shipping-based economy to one firmly rooted in manufacturing. The Imperial Flour Mills was built from 1863 to 1864, and the Oregon Manufacturing Company (Oregon Woolen Mills) was established in 1864.

It would be approximately 50 years later (i.e. 1929) before the town of Canemah was officially annexed to Oregon City, and even though the area retains its distinction as a historical district, many residents don't even think of Canemah as its own entity nowadays. Regardless of the semantics, it's clear that the two are intertwined, so it makes sense to widen our lens a bit and view the Canemah area and central Oregon City together as a whole, when reviewing this area's next era.

Industrial growth and diversification well underway, the first paper mill in Oregon was established in Oregon City in 1866 as the Pioneer Paper Manufacturing Company (also known as the Oregon City Paper Mill and the Oregon City Paper Manufacturing Company) began operations. Although financial difficulties resulted in the closure of the mill the following year, it introduced an industry that perhaps has had the greatest impact on Oregon City over the years.

The Oregon and California Railroad Company began laying tracks in Portland in 1868 and heading south on the east side of the Willamette River, crossed the Clackamas River and arrived in Oregon City in 1869. The line was completed as far as Roseburg before being stalled by financial difficulties. As the first rail transport in the state, it opened the Willamette Valley to shipping ports to the north. High rail freight costs, however, resulted in the construction of the Willamette Locks to improve river transport by the Willamette Falls Company in 1873. Not only did the opening of the locks serve to drop the freight rates, but it further stimulated shipbuilding as crops could then be shipped directly to Astoria for transfer to European ships. The railroad, which helped extend the life of steamboat transportation for a while, was eventually its undoing as rail lines - and freight rates - became more accessible throughout the valley.

In 1888, the West Linn and Oregon City suspension bridge was constructed across the Willamette River.

The timber and wood products industries developed into major contenders, and at the end of this time period were the largest employers in Oregon City and the county. The Willamette Falls Pulp and Paper Company was organized in 1889 and the Crown Mill in 1890. The Hawley Paper Company was established in 1908.

In 1889, the Willamette Falls Electric Company also made history when it transmitted the first electricity over long-distance power lines to Portland. The growing use of electricity made possible the construction of the first interurban electric railroad in the county, the East Side Railway, which made its first run between Portland and Oregon City in 1893. The establishment of the railway made the concept of commuting a reality for the first time and paved the way for further growth by persons wishing to live in Oregon City and work in Portland.

The Willamette and Crown Mills merged in 1914 to become The Crown Willamette Pulp and Paper Company. The Great Depression, however, brought a slowing to the industry and several smaller mills closed. In 1937, Anthony Zellerbach took control of several mills, including Crown Willamette, which became Crown Zellerbach.

The arrival of the automobile brought significant changes to this area. The first automobile arrived in Oregon City in 1903 when C.G. Miller established his automobile dealership. Several others followed and a number of auto-related businesses, including garages and service stations, were established. The State Highway Commission was created in 1913 and legislation in 1917 created the State Highway Fund. Soon after, construction on a modern highway system began. Highway 99E, referred to in 1923 as the "Super Highway," was constructed through downtown Oregon City. In addition to the construction of the highway, street paving improved. A new bridge across the Willamette River replaced the Oregon City-West Linn suspension bridge in 1922.

Moving ahead a few decades, World War II brought an end to the Great Depression and ushered in a fully modern period. Although growth and development were slowed during the war, the period following the war was one of substantial expansion in Oregon City, as it was in most communities around the country. The timber and wood industry recovered from the Great Depression slump and was restored to its position as the state's leading industry with the building boom that followed the war. New residential neighborhoods expanded eastward to the third terrace above the river as newfound prosperity allowed many to buy their own homes. Schools followed and churches that had been located downtown for years migrated to the bluff as well. Commercial growth in the area continued, although only a handful of new buildings were constructed; almost none of them in Canemah. Much of the development involved the creation of new "modern" businesses, which opened their doors in Oregon City's existing buildings.

Fast forward to today, and it's easy to see that Canemah has a lot to offer, and why most of its residents consider it a great place to live! Here is a suburban neighborhood with a crime score of 2, making it safer than the average American neighborhood. Canemah also has 6 parks for recreational activities. It is sparse in population with 2.5 people per acre and a median age of 44, and the average household income is $103,265 (which is above the national average). College graduates make up 31% of the population, and the majority of residents in Canemah are also property owners, with just 23.3% renting and 76.7% owning their homes.

The Willamette River and the surrounding natural spaces play a big part in this neighborhood’s natural vibe. It’s a quiet area, slightly secluded from the rest of Oregon City, where residents are welcoming yet protective of their community. Even with its rich history, incredible views of the river, and abundant nature on hand, it may appear to some as little more than a rather sleepy hamlet, but Canemah also offers proximity to Portland and surrounding metropolitan areas to the west, putting manufacturing, tech jobs, and the bustle of various cities within easy commuting reach.

Towering over the neighborhood, Canemah Bluff Nature Park provides sights and hikes, and features play areas for children, as well as a basketball court for pick-up games and friendly competition. Old Canemah Park, at the north end of town, is secluded and forested, providing a great view across the Willamette River. Heading downward, the McLoughlin Promenade offers different sightlines to the Willamette Falls. Further along the way, residents may stop off for some indoor activity at the Museum of the Oregon Territory, reflecting on the culture and history of Clackamas County.