St. Johns

Close to downtown, but a community all its own.

We Portlanders tend to see ourselves as friendly residents of a large town more than we do denizens of a metropolis. That’s due in large part to our distinctive neighborhoods–-among them, St. Johns.

Platted at the junction of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers to take advantage of shipping channels, St Johns has been a backwater community from the beginning with its own post office, woolen mill, flour mill, and a couple lumber companies.

During the Second World War, Kaiser Shipyards dominated the economy and as working stiffs streamed in to fill the jobs, the word got out that St Johns was on pretty gritty.

Solid community-minded roots, though, stand the test of time. Fast forward 80 years. Portland’s young 30-somethings have discovered what St Johns has always been: a small community with an old fashioned friendliness.

These days St Johns is in transition marked by businesses like

–a farmers market with local growers like the Ngabireyimana (Na-ga-beery-e-mana) family,

–the out-of-time Blue Moon Camera & Machine Shop where they don’t even want to speak digital and adore manual typewriters,

–the St Johns Twin Cinema and Pub,

–and the adorable Sparrow Bakery.

More residents can reach downtown Portland in 15 minutes via the grand sweep of the St Johns Bridge.

What’s not to like? Small town vibe and a heartbeat away from Portland’s amenities.

No wonder our 30-somethings are giving St Johns and its wide streets more than a passing glance–especially since price points for starter homes haven’t quite gone through the roof yet.