Any german communities in Portland? (Cedar Mill, Astoria: neighborhoods, to buy, living)

[GameHog9]

I asked a similar question in the Seattle forum and all I got was Leavenworth lol.

[EnricoV]

Well ... Albina used to be the German area of town. Many, many years back. It's not any longer. The closest you'd come to that these days are areas out in Washington County which were settled heavily by the Swiss. Verboort and Cedar Mill were huge Swiss settlements, and still have that "flavor." Tillamook had as well. All those cheese makers. Further south, Mount Angel has the big Oktoberfest celebration, so is heavily German influenced. Aurora had its beginnings as The Aurora Colony, a commune of German settlers. I'm not sure their German origins influences much these days, though.

[PNW-type-gal]

I think there is (or was) one out in Parkrose, too. I remember a German bakery and a sausage shop. When we'd go to Parkrose Hardware (back when there was only one), we'd stop in and get bread and frequently hear people conversing in German.

I don't think the bakery is there anymore, though.

[Nell Plotts]

To tell you the truth there are few ethnic communities left in the PNW, except for Native American. Poulsbo prides itself on its Norwegian roots and the Son's of Norway Hall is active but few still speak the language. Like wise the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle.

Astoria was Scandinavian, not German, because it was the center for fishing and fish processing. In its hay-day they had neighborhoods divided by Fin, Dane, Norse, and Swed. According to my dear departed Father, the Danes had the best parties.

[GameHog9]

Well all the places you guys are describing are more like themed shops lol. I was looking for a living, breathing community, as I know there are Russian/Japanese areas in Seattle. Oh well. Thanks for replying.

[Neal2009]

In Portland there are several "Stammtisches." That is a community of German speaking people who come together about once a month or so and speak German and eat good German food. Right now I belong to an Austrian Stammtisch and would highly recommend visiting one of these. However, it depends if you are looking to buy a loaf of German bread or speak the language/learn about the culture.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by GameHog9

Well all the places you guys are describing are more like themed shops lol. I was looking for a living, breathing community, as I know there are Russian/Japanese areas in Seattle. Oh well. Thanks for replying.

There aren't really neighborhoods of specific ethnicities like you'd find in New York or Chicago. For the most part, people assimilate into the community. Any "community" is more of a social one,and does revolve around stores, restaurants, churches, or lodges particular to that ethnicity.

[Todd.LA]

Portland really lacks many "white ethnic" neighborhoods like you have in the east coast or midwest. Along SE Foster there is a small Russian neighborhood, but that's a more recent immigrant group. You really don't find any German, Polish, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Scandinavian, etc. neighborhoods in Portland. Portland is pretty far from the east coast where most European immigrants landed, and by the time white folks made it out west, identities were pretty mixed up. There isn't much specific ethnic identity among white folks in Portland, unless they're from a recent immigrant group.

[GameHog9]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

There aren't really neighborhoods of specific ethnicities like you'd find in New York or Chicago. For the most part, people assimilate into the community. Any "community" is more of a social one,and does revolve around stores, restaurants, churches, or lodges particular to that ethnicity.

Yeah thats true. The PNW is too "new." Still, i like this part of the country, lots of trees and its away from the accursed sun >_<

[Minervah]

I asked a friend who is 46 and lived here all of her life about ethnic neighborhoods. She said it was more prevalent when she was a child. She told me about the various neighborhoods that were predominently this ethnic group or that. I know at the present there is a Russian area near Foster ave but that's about all I can think of.

I am orignally from Chicago so I am familiar with ethnic neighborhoods. You really do not find that here.