Located in Portland's NW section is a local area known as the Alphabet Blocks.
Maybe for ease of locating 2105 NW Hoyt, for example, the City Planners of yore developed a nice block/address identifying system. And here it goes:
Burnside St. is the great divider. It dissects Portland north and south.
The Willamette River is the other great divider. It dissects Portland east and west.
I guess our Alphabet begins with "B" since "Burnside" begins the Alphabet Blocks lettering method.
(I think Alder might be the missing "A" block, but it doesn't run the length of the city as Burnside St. does).
Streets NORTH of the Burnside and WEST of the river = NW Portland.
Streets SOUTH of the Burnside and WEST of the river = SW Portland.
Street NORTH of the Burnside and EAST of the river = NE Portland.
Streets SOUTH of the Burnside and EAST of the river = SE Portland.
On the NORTHWEST side of Burnside St. are the "Alphabet Blocks":
Alder (which doesn't run / transverse the City as Burnside), Burnside, Couch (pronounced COO-ch), Davis, Everett, Flanders, Glisan, Hoyt, Iriving, Johnson, Kearney, Lovejoy, Marshall, Northrup, Overton, Pettygrove, Quimby, Raleigh, Savier, Thurman, Upshur, Vaughn, Wilson . . . and X Y Z apparently didn't exist in those days of yore -- since we don't have any more Alphabet Block street names for those renegade letters.
The City Planners also named city blocks using numbers, as well.
Using the Williamette River as the starting point, all streets running perpendicular to the river are numbered. SW First Ave. = WEST of Burnside, one block up from the river, southside.
2105 NW Hoyt is 21 blocks up from the river, north side and 7 blocks off of Burnside.
Easy as ABC, 123 . . .
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Thanks. I've always wondered about the layout of Portland streets. Now, I see there is some kind of a plan after all.
Sounds like a good way to set things up to me. We just sort of toss out street names and hope you know what part of town you're in.
Well, now, the next time I'm in Portland, I'll know how to get around!
Great job letting the masses know how to traverse the great city of Portland, OR.
Carla I think this is one of your best local blogs. This is great information to share with folks!
Hi Jim -- there is some ryhme to the reason . . . :-)
Hey JL . . . I didn't want to mention those "one-way" streets that are: Odd numbered = running south, Even numbered = running north (or is it the other way around . . . )
Howdy Craig . . . we can call this blog "Mass transit" LOL
THANKS Melina! What a nice compliment! Much appreciated.
Carla - Finallly!!!! Now I understand! I keep seeing NW and SE etc. all over Portland and it confuses me more than directs me. That is excellent information for me and for anyone wanting to move to beautiful Portland. Now I have an good idea of how to use this system. Once again you provide great information about your local area. A new to the area home buyer would benefit greatly from your knowledge.
Hi Nevin . . . THANKS for this! Glad you get it now . . . so come back, and test drive!! LOL