Old Town Chinatown: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:27, 19 September 2011

Old Town Chinatown (also Old Town or Chinatown) is Portland's oldest neighborhood and considered by some to be the heart of Portland. Compared to its neighbor the Pearl District, Old Town is typically considered less affluent and more culturally diverse. It also serves as Portland's most historic neighborhood.

Boundaries

It is predominantly in Northwest Portland, with a small portion in Southwest Portland. It is bounded on the north and east by the Willamette River. Its southern border, separating it from Downtown, runs along W. Burnside from Broadway until SW 3rd, then SW Pine to 2nd, SW Oak to SW 1st, and finally SW Stark to the river. Its western border, separating it from the Pearl District, is NW Broadway.

History

Old Town encompasses the original township of Portland that was platted by Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove. Today, Old Town includes both the Skidmore Historic District as well as the Historic Japantown New Chinatown District.

Culture

Gateway to Chinatown at W Burnside Street

In the past, Chinatown was host to a large Chinese immigrant community, and later a Japanese immigrant community. Remnants of these communities are still evident, perhaps most prominently with the large number of Chinese restaurants and the grandiose gate to Chinatown.

Old Town has a large homeless population and is served by a number of soup kitchens, shelters, and homeless outreach and aid organizations.

Landmarks

Locally owned food and drink establishments

Adjacent Neighborhoods

Downtown to the south
Pearl District to the west

Resources

Official site

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Old Town Chinatown.png|thumb|Old Town Chinatown]]
-'''Old Town Chinatown''' (also '''Old Town''' or '''Chinatown''') is Portland's oldest neighborhood and considered by some to be the heart of Portland. It is located in [[Northwest Portland]], bounded on the north and east by the [[Willamette River]], on the south by [[Downtown]], and separated from the [[Pearl District]] on the west by [[NW Broadway]]. Compared to its neighbor the Pearl District, Old Town is typically considered less affluent and more culturally diverse. It also serves as Portland's most historic neighborhood.
+'''Old Town Chinatown''' (also '''Old Town''' or '''Chinatown''') is Portland's oldest neighborhood and considered by some to be the heart of Portland. Compared to its neighbor the Pearl District, Old Town is typically considered less affluent and more culturally diverse. It also serves as Portland's most historic neighborhood.
-Old Town includes both the Skidmore Historic District as well as the Historic Japantown New Chinatown District.
+== Boundaries ==
+It is predominantly in [[Northwest Portland]], with a small portion in [[Southwest Portland]]. It is bounded on the north and east by the [[Willamette River]]. Its southern border, separating it from [[Downtown]], runs along [[W Burnside Street|W. Burnside]] from Broadway until [[SW 3rd Avenue|SW 3rd]], then [[SW Pine Street|SW Pine]] to [[SW 2nd Avenue|2nd]], [[SW Oak Street|SW Oak]] to [[SW 1st Avenue|SW 1st]], and finally [[SW Stark Street|SW Stark]] to the river. Its western border, separating it from the [[Pearl District]], is [[NW Broadway]].
+== History ==
+Old Town encompasses the original township of Portland that was platted by [[Asa Lovejoy]] and [[Francis Pettygrove]]. Today, Old Town includes both the Skidmore Historic District as well as the Historic Japantown New Chinatown District.
+== Culture ==
+[[File:ChinatownGate.JPG|thumb|200px|Gateway to Chinatown at [[W Burnside Street]]]]
+In the past, Chinatown was host to a large Chinese immigrant community, and later a Japanese immigrant community. Remnants of these communities are still evident, perhaps most prominently with the large number of Chinese restaurants and the grandiose gate to Chinatown.
 Old Town has a large [[homeless]] population and is served by a number of [[soup kitchens]], [[shelters]], and [[homeless outreach]] and aid organizations.
@@ Line 13: / Line 21: @@
 * [[Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center]]
 * [[Oregon Maritime Museum]]
+== Locally owned food and drink establishments ==
+* [[Vegetarian House]]
+* [[Voodoo Doughnut]]
 == Adjacent Neighborhoods ==