Boring, Oregon

Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located along Oregon Route 212, approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland.

History

The community was named for W. H. Boring, an early resident of the area.cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1
pages = 101] Boring was platted in 1903 as "Boring Junction". The post office was established and named "Boring" the same year, and the builders of the interurban railway adopted Boring as the name of the community.

The unique name of the town often prompts its inclusion on lists of unusual place names. The name "Boring" is embraced by locals, however, and found in many local businesses, resulting in many road signs that seem humorous to outsiders.

In 2005, citizens of Boring applied to become one of the first legally recognized villages in Oregon. [http://web4.co.clackamas.or.us/mrm/1547.html]

Boosters of the village designation use the slogan "The most exciting place to live."cite web |url=http://www.wolfpk.com/boringvillage/ |title=Boring Village |accessdate=2008-01-01]

After many months of polarizing debate on the village issue, residents narrowly defeated the village designation in a town hall referendum, with 293 votes in favor and 298 against. [ [http://www.sandypost.com/news/story.php?story_id=115645677539036400 Five votes sink Boring village ] ]

Economy

Boring was a timber industry town throughout much of the 20th century. The Portland Traction Company, a now-defunct railroad, operated a rail line from Portland (near the current location of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on the Willamette River) to Boring via Gresham. In the 1950s, the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads jointly took over operation of the remaining portion of the line for freight operations. Much of the line has since been purchased by local governments for the creation of a long-distance rail trail named the Springwater Corridor. It is also home to Westcott's, manufacturer of reproduction fiberglass bodies for hot rods and custom cars. ["Rod & Custom" 9/00, p.56.]

ee also

* Boring Lava Field
* Springwater Corridor, a bicycle trail ending in Boring

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.wolfpk.com/boringvillage/ Boring Village]
* [http://www.sandypost.com/news/search_results.php?keywords=boring&writer=Any&month=Any&year=Any Sandy Post coverage of Boring]
* [http://www.boringnews.tk/ Boring News]
* [http://www.boringgrange.org/ Boring-Damascus Grange]