- Damascus, Oregon
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Damascus, Oregon City Hall, in a strip mall
Location in Oregon
Coordinates: 45°25′48″N 122°26′47″W / 45.43°N 122.44639°WCoordinates: 45°25′48″N 122°26′47″W / 45.43°N 122.44639°W Country United States State Oregon County Clackamas County Incorporated 2004 Government – Mayor Steve Spinnett Elevation 712 ft (217 m) Population (2010) – Total 10,539 Time zone Pacific (UTC-8) – Summer (DST) Pacific (UTC-7) ZIP codes 97009, 97015, 97030, 97080, 97089 Area code(s) 503 and 971 Website www.ci.damascus.or.us Elevation from U.S.G.S.[1] Damascus (
/dəˈmæskɪs/) is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 2004, the city is located east of Happy Valley and Interstate 205 and west of Boring. The area that later became the city had a population of 9,022 in 2000.[2] The population estimate for the city on July 1, 2005, was 9,670 (the first estimate available after incorporation), with the population growing to 10,539 residents as of the 2010 census.Contents
History
According to Oregon Geographic Names, Damascus can date its existence as a community back to 1867, when a post office by that name was established. That post office was closed in 1904, but re-opened in February 2007 inside a coffee house.[citation needed] The original heart of the community is along Oregon Route 212, which as of 2004 serves as part of the city's southern boundary.
A 2000 decision by Metro to expand Portland's urban growth boundary into the area prompted some citizens of the community to submit Measure 3-138, a measure on the ballot for the 2004 general election in November. The initiative's passage resulted in the incorporation of the former unincorporated communities of Damascus and Carver into the City of Damascus, a step which prevents nearby cities from annexing the community.[3] The city was the first new city in Oregon in 22 years.[3]
In a special election on September 21, 2005, a city charter was approved by 88% of its voters.[4] Voters in eleven parcels of land between Damascus and Happy Valley were given the chance to vote on annexation to Damascus: six of the areas voted for annexation, four voted against, and in the eleventh no votes were cast.
Geography
Damascus sits 712 feet (217 m) above sea-level.[1] Located in north-central part of Clackamas County, the city's northern boundary is the Multnomah County line. Boring lies to the east, and Clackamas to the west.[2]
Government
Fire protection in the city is provided by the Boring Fire District, with two fire stations located in the community.[5] Damascus' police force is provided under contract by the county sheriff's office.[6] The city is served by the North Clackamas, Oregon Trail, Estacada, Centennial, and Gresham-Barlow school districts. The latter is the second-largest employer in the city.[7] As of January 2011, the members of the Damascus city council were Steve Spinnett (mayor), Diana Helm (Council president), Marlo Dean, Andrew Jackman, Barb Ledbury, Randy Shannon and Mary Wescott.[8]
References
Post office
- ^ a b "City of Damascus". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 11, 2008. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:2410292. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
- ^ a b "Damascus Community Profile". Infrastructure Finance Authority. Business Oregon. http://www.orinfrastructure.org/profiles/Damascas/. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ a b Tims, Dana (February 21, 2010). "Is Damascus in danger of death by initiative?". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/02/is_damascus_in_danger_of_death.html. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ September 2005 special election results from the county's official website
- ^ http://www.ci.damascus.or.us/communitylocalservices.aspx
- ^ http://www.ci.damascus.or.us/communitylocalservices.aspx
- ^ http://www.yourroadmaptohome.com/neighborhoods_damascus_oregon.htm
- ^ http://www.ci.damascus.or.us/Default.aspx
External links
Municipalities and communities of Clackamas County, Oregon Cities Barlow | Canby | Damascus | Estacada | Gladstone | Happy Valley | Johnson City | Lake Oswego‡ | Milwaukie‡ | Molalla | Oregon City | Portland‡ | Rivergrove‡ | Sandy | Tualatin‡ | West Linn | Wilsonville‡
CDPs Hamlets Village Unincorporated
communitiesBarton | Boring | Brightwood | Bull Run | Carus | Carver | Cazadero | Cherryville | Clackamas | Colton | Cottrell | Eagle Creek | Government Camp | Jean | Kelso | Ladd Hill | Lakewood | Liberal | Logan | Lone Elder | Macksburg | Marmot | Marquam | Marylhurst | Milwaukie Heights | Mountain Air Park | Needy | New Era | Redland | Rhododendron | Ripplebrook | Riverside | Shadowood | Springwater | Wankers Corner | Welches | Wemme | Yoder | Zigzag
Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Categories:- Cities in Oregon
- Populated places in Clackamas County, Oregon
- Portland metropolitan area
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