Gresham, OR

With a population of approximately 100,000, Gresham is the fourth-largest city in the state of Oregon. This ethnically diverse city is made up of individuals from a variety of ethnicities, especially European and Hispanic. Gresham is located in Northwest Oregon and is next to Portland. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's total area is a little more than 22 square miles.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Gresham contains a number of neighborhoods, each of which provides its own ambience for life in the city. Notable neighborhoods include:

• City Center: The setting for this neighborhood is citylike, based on its density. Although the neighborhood is primarily made up of single-family homes, most of the homes are small and contain only one to two bedrooms. City Center is made up of people who are described as "urban sophisticates," and the neighborhood is artsy and offers lots of amenities within walking distance.
• Orient/Pleasant Home: This suburban neighborhood is accented by farms. In spite of this, the people here are described as urban sophisticates.
• Ruby: Most of the homes here are small, containing one to two bedrooms. Ruby is known as mostly artsy, or "funky."

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

With more than 27,000 employers in Gresham, residents can apply for jobs in a number of important industries. Many employers represent the manufacturing, finance and healthcare industries.

There is a number of reasons Gresham provides a beneficial environment for businesses looking for a place to set up and establish themselves:

• Close location to major travel routes, such as Interstate 84, the Troutdale Airport and the Portland International Airport.
• Prime industrial sites that are situated in the city.
• A city that's full of skilled workers .
• A high-quality school system that continues to further educational opportunities and development.

FUN FACTS

Gresham is a Green Power Community, one of a handful of cities that buys "green" power in amounts that fulfill or surpass the Green Power Community purchase requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Green" power is electricity that has been produced using the power of renewable resources, such as solar power, wind power or water power.

Gresham is only the 14th community in the nation to be recognized for its attempts to reduce carbon dioxide, focus on renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint. More than 1,000 Gresham homes and businesses have enrolled in one of the area's renewable energy programs.

EDUCATION

The area school district, which serves more than 12,000 students, has been commended for its commitment to excellence, and students consistently exceed the national average on standardized tests.

The district includes a number of elementary, middle and high schools:

• Elementary schools: There are 16 elementary schools in Gresham, including East Gresham Elementary School, North Gresham Elementary School, West Gresham Elementary School, Kelly Creek Elementary School and Powell Valley Elementary School.
• Middle schools: The city has 10 middle schools, including Clear Creek Middle School, Dexter McCarty Middle School, Gordon Russell Middle School, West Orient Middle School and Damascus Middle School.
• High schools: Eight high schools are present in the city, including Gresham High School, Serp Alternative School, Sam Barlow High School and Springwater Trail High School.

In addition, Gresham is home to Mount Hood Community College, which offers more than 60 professional and technical programs and enrolls more than 27,000 students each year. Higher education is valued in Gresham: More than 18 percent of Gresham's residents holds a bachelor's degree or higher, a number beats the national average of 14.96 percent.

BEST BETS

Historic Gresham, located in the downtown section of the city, offers local history and charm to both residents and visitors. This area hosts a number of annual events, which has drawn even more people to this exciting and enticing area:

• Mount Hood Jazz Festival: This August festival features jazz musicians from all over the country.
• Artwalk: On the third weekend in July, visitors to the Gresham downtown can purchase art, listen to live music and participate in arts and crafts. This event draws more than 90 artists from Oregon and Washington.
• Rockin' Around the Block Car Show: The largest outdoor car show in the area, this August event features more than 300 hot rods and classic cars.
• Gresham's Farmer's Market: This market is open on Saturdays from May through October.

LOCAL MEDIA

Local Gresham media includes newspapers and radio stations:

• Gresham Outlook: This twice-weekly newspaper is locally owned by Pamplin Media Group.
• Mount. Hood Advocate: This newspaper is published by Mount Hood Community College.
• KMHD 89.1 FM: This station plays jazz, blues, and NPR.