Bridgeton

Bridgeton occupies a slender strip of land on a levee between the Columbia River's North Portland Harbor to the north and Bridgeton Slough to the south — making it the smallest of all Portland's 95 recognized neighborhoods, home to roughly 1,000 residents. The area developed between 1915 and 1930 as housing for workers arriving via the Vancouver Interurban streetcar line, which terminated here. A one-room Columbia School was built in the area as early as 1907.

What distinguishes Bridgeton today is its unique residential texture. The neighborhood includes several floating-home moorages, boat marinas, high-rise and low-rise condominiums, upscale apartment complexes, row houses, and individual craftsman homes — all within walking distance of the Columbia River. Bordered by Kenton, Piedmont, and East Columbia on the land side, and by Hayden Island and the Columbia River to the north, Bridgeton feels more like a Pacific Northwest marine village than a city neighborhood.

Bridgeton is exceptionally well-connected despite its small size. Freeway ramps to I-5 run alongside the neighborhood, putting downtown Portland 12 minutes away and Portland International Airport 15 minutes away. Marine Drive, the neighborhood's spine, is a popular cycling and running corridor connecting to the 40-Mile Loop trail system along the Columbia River.