Oregon metro area populations, 2006 Census estimates

[pw72]

Oh...Beaverton in '63!

I wasn't there, but can only imagine. Big signs pointing to brand new residential developments. Lots of vacant land. A couple grocery stores, maybe a gas station or two (with no foodmart!) but not much else. This was truely "new" suburbia in '63. New homes everywhere, retail trying to keep up, and highways built for farm operations used for this new influx of population. The same issues occur today in even further out areas. But there was a certain "magic" about that new split-level in '63. Almost euphoric, in that the inner city offered little that could compare back then. No wonder this dynamic has continued for the past 45 years. The only difference is now downtown living is cool again! But the cage has been opened, and there is no turning back, despite the UGB.

[Larry Caldwell]

Beaverton in the '60s was one giant car lot, just about like it is today. Beaverton has always gotten my vote for the ugliest town in Oregon.

[bobmulk]

Bend and Medford don't have 100K+ people, they're METROS do. Jackson County (Medford) and Deschutes County (Bend) have been over 100K for years. Prineville (Crook County) is not yet part of the Bend MSA, but look for it to ultimately be included along with Madras (Jefferson County) because so many people are moving there since it's so affordable.

I also expect Grants Pass (Josephine County) to ultimately be included in Medford's MSA unless GP passes 50K soon.

Salem will probably once again be included in the Portland MSA. Personally, I felt it was foolish to separate them. I think they should have kept the CMSA standings because it makes sense. You can still have separate MSAs but the CMSAs reflect the economic interdependence more.

[Pharaoh07]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

Does Portland still have that bridge with the open steel mesh instead of pavement on the deck? Whenever I drove across that, I always wondered what would happen to my tires if I had to do a panic stop...

Ahh, the Hawthorne Bridge?? My dad used to tell me horror stories about turning the steering wheel slightly, catching the edge of the mesh, and careening across the highway. He always stayed in the protected right-hand lane instead of the double lane in the middle. Whenever I drive across mesh bridges now, I remember the Hawthorne Bridge and I hold on tight!!!