Portland Area Guide · No. 2
North Portland
Community feel · Craftsman homes · Parks
North Portland is the city's most distinct small-town corner: the riverside village of St. Johns beneath its gothic green bridge, the historic commercial street of Kenton, and quiet residential neighborhoods of craftsman bungalows and tree-lined parks. It is a close-in, community-first part of the city with some of Portland's best park access and a housing stock that mixes classic homes with newer infill.
Portland · Multnomah County · Oregon
The St. Johns Bridge · North Portland
Craftsman bungalows on a quiet North Portland street
01 · Area Highlights
A small town inside the city
North Portland sits on the peninsula between the Willamette River and the Columbia Slough, and it has always felt like its own town. St. Johns is the anchor, with a small-town main street on N Lombard, the 1931 St. Johns Bridge overhead, and Cathedral Park at the bridge's foot. Kenton grew around the old Swift & Company meatpacking plant and keeps a historic commercial district on N Denver Avenue.
Arbor Lodge and Overlook are the residential heart of North Portland: classic craftsman and foursquare homes on quiet streets, with parks like Peninsula Park and Overlook Park woven through. The MAX Yellow Line runs through the neighborhood, and Interstate Avenue connects straight into downtown. Housing here is more affordable than the close-in east side, and the community identity is strong.
- Small-town feel
- Craftsman homes
- St. Johns Bridge
- Parks & riverfront
- MAX Yellow Line
01b · Navigable Map
Explore North Portland on the map
Pan, zoom, and drag around this live map to get your bearings before you even call us: pin the St. Johns Bridge, Cathedral Park, the Kenton commercial district, the MAX Yellow Line, and the neighborhoods this guide covers.
North Portland · Multnomah County
02 · Community Detail
Four neighborhoods, one small town
North Portland has the strongest neighborhood identity of any part of the city. St. Johns is the village center, Kenton is the historic commercial district, and Arbor Lodge and Overlook are the residential streets around them, all connected by parks, schools, and a fierce sense of community.
The housing stock is mostly early 20th-century craftsman, foursquare, and bungalow homes, with newer infill and apartments along the main corridors. Buyers come for the character, the parks, and prices that still undercut the close-in east side.
St. Johns
Distinctive small-town atmosphere, older homes, and the iconic St. Johns Bridge.
Kenton
Historic commercial district, neighborhood restaurants, and varied housing.
Arbor Lodge
Residential streets, parks, and a mix of classic and renovated homes.
Overlook
Residential character, hillside views in parts, and access to MAX light
Kenton's historic commercial district
Swan Island anchors the district's industrial economy
03 · Major Employers
Industry, logistics, and local anchors
North Portland's economy is built on Swan Island and the Columbia corridor, with a strong layer of neighborhood businesses in between. Here are the anchors:
Daimler Trucks North America
The global headquarters of Freightliner sits on Swan Island, with a $150 million HQ campus and a new engineering facility announced in 2024.
Port of Portland, Swan Island
A 430-acre industrial park on the Willamette with distribution, warehousing, and manufacturing tenants including UPS and CEMEX, plus the historic Swan Island Shipyard.
Amazon
A fulfillment center at 15000 N Columbia Blvd and a delivery station in the Arbor Lodge area anchor the neighborhood's logistics employment.
FedEx Freight
A major FedEx Freight and warehouse operation at 751 NE Columbia Blvd keeps freight moving through the north end.
Neighborhood anchors
McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub, StormBreaker Brewing, and the independent shops of N Lombard and N Denver employ hundreds across the district.
04 · Restaurant Guide
Where North Portland eats
St. Johns and Kenton have built a genuinely local dining scene, from a theater pub in a 1920s movie house to breweries and food carts on the main street. Some of our favorites:
St. Johns
McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub
VisitA historic movie theater turned pub, with a full kitchen, local brews, and a screening room.
8203 N Ivanhoe St
StormBreaker Brewing St. Johns
VisitA neighborhood brewery and taproom with wood-fired pizza and a rotating lineup of craft beer.
8409 N Lombard St
LoveVerona Pizza & Pasta
VisitA family-run Italian spot on N Ivanhoe serving pizza, pasta, and classic Italian plates.
8436 N Ivanhoe St
St. Johns Beer Porch
VisitA food cart pod on N Lombard with a covered beer garden, one of the neighborhood's favorite gathering spots.
7316 N Lombard St
Worth the short drive: the food carts and restaurants of North Mississippi Avenue, just south of the district, are among the most celebrated in the city.
Neighborhood pubs and breweries line N Lombard
Cathedral Park, beneath the St. Johns Bridge
05 · Activities
Things to do in North Portland
North Portland has some of the best park access in the city, from the riverfront to the wetlands. Here is how locals spend their weekends:
Cathedral Park
Learn moreA 22-acre Willamette riverfront park beneath the gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge, on the site where Lewis and Clark camped in 1806.
Peninsula Park
Learn moreA North Portland landmark with formal rose gardens, a community center, and one of the city's best-loved sunken gardens.
Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area
Learn moreOne of the largest urban wetlands in the United States, with a boardwalk trail and abundant bird life at the north end of the peninsula.
St. Johns main street
N Lombard Street is the neighborhood's living room: independent shops, cafes, breweries, and the Saturday farmers market.
North Mississippi Avenue
Just south of the district, this bustling commercial strip is packed with restaurants, shops, and music venues.
Ready to make North Portland home?
From a St. Johns craftsman to a Kenton bungalow, we know this side of the river block by block. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you the home that fits.
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