Central Eastside, Portland, Oregon
The Central Eastside is a subdistrict in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is situated in Southeast Portland along the east bank of the Willamette River and makes up a part of Portland's Central City district.History
In 1845, Oregon Trail pioneer James B. Stephens laid claim to of land situated directly across the Willamette River from the then-newly established Portland townsite. The land had been controlled by John McLoughlin of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The area consisted of orchards and hay, and its location along the east bank of the river—with its marshes, creeks, and sloughs—made development challenging. Stephens established the Stark Street Ferry to link the east and west sides of the river in 1848. A mule on a treadmill powered the vessel's paddle wheel. On April16, 1868, the Oregon Central Railroad broke ground at the settlement, which by then was being referred to as East Portland. A rail line extended from Salem the following year, helping to start the development of an industrial economy based on the shipment of agricultural products across the Willamette Valley. The railroad's presence led Stephens to incorporate the City of East Portland in 1870 with its population of 8,293.
