Multnomah County, County administrative region in Portland, United States
Multnomah County stretches along the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon and includes Portland plus several smaller towns across roughly 1207 square kilometers (466 square miles). The administration divides into several branches with offices for health, justice, and public services spread across the territory.
The founding took place on December 22, 1854, when business leaders from Portland requested separation from neighboring Washington and Clackamas administrative units. The boundary followed trade routes and the river course, which already served as a natural transport corridor.
The name comes from the Chinook people who lived along the lower Columbia River and built their fishing camps near the water. Today several place names and public sites recall this heritage and the connection these first inhabitants had with the waterways.
The administrative headquarters sits in downtown Portland and houses courts, libraries, and health offices open during regular business hours. Public transport connects the different sites, and many services are also available online.
Although the territory is the smallest by area among Oregon's administrative units, more people live here than in any other unit of the state. Over 815000 residents were counted in 2020, highlighting the central role this region plays in economic and social life.
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