Downtown Oregon City Receives National Award

OREGON CITY, OR — From a 19th century tavern town — a "pioneer's oasis" at the end of the dusty Oregon Trail, to a 20th century timber industry powerhouse in the expanding Portland metro region, to today's diverse 21st century iteration as an inviting suburb with an identity all of its own, Oregon City has experienced some changes over its nearly 200-year history.

Celebrating Oregon City's changes, and highlighting its beautifully revitalized downtown, Main Street America on March 26 named the Downtown Oregon City Association (DOCA) one of three 2018 Great American Main Street Award winners.

According to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, DOCA "was recognized for its role in harnessing the community's entrepreneurial spirit to stimulate the local economy and drive investment in their downtown."

Going forward, Oregon City — along with Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Howell, Michigan — will serve as examples to other communities across the nation for how one city can reinvent itself without losing any of its earned history.

"Oregon City wowed our jury this year," Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center, said in a statement. "From the natural splendor of its surroundings, to its fascinating history, to the cluster of dynamic downtown businesses, Oregon City is a special community made even more impressive by the efforts of the Downtown Oregon City Association."

Founded in 1829, Oregon City in 1844 became the first city west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. But unlike many small Oregon towns that boomed for mining and logging for a time only to suffer setbacks caused by changes in the local economy, Oregon City throughout its history has met its challenges head on and persevered by adapting to change and finding new ways to employ its residents and keep the city flourishing.

Roughly $42 million has been invested into downtown Oregon City over the past 10 years, state Parks and Rec officials explained. From buildings and infrastructure to small businesses and downtown aesthetics, DOCA's work has also helped sparked the creation of 24 new businesses, simultaneously establishing nearly 900 new job opportunities.

"Once a district filled with taverns catering to a now-defunct paper mill, Downtown Oregon City is now an emerging and vibrant destination," DOCA Executive Director Jonathon Stone said in a statement. "It is a transformation that began with catalytic investments in the streetscape and facade grant programs which have attracted a diverse group of independent businesses."

Images via Oregon Parks and Recreation Department