| Damascus, Oregon | |
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| Coordinates: 45°25′3.41″N 122°27′24″W / 45.4176139°N 122.45667°W | |
| County | Clackamas County |
| Incorporated | 2004 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Jim Wright |
| Elevation | 161.54 m (530 ft) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 12,851 |
| Clackamas County figures | |
| Time zone | Pacific (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | Pacific (UTC-7) |
| Website | www.ci.damascus.or.us |
Damascus (pronounced /dəˈmæskɪs/) is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. According to the county, the city had a population in 2000 of 12,851.[1] However, a July 1, 2006 United States Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 9,658.[citation needed]
The city is located east of Happy Valley and Interstate 205 and west of Boring; its northern boundary is the Multnomah County line.
According to Oregon Geographic Names, Damascus can date its existence as a community back to 1867, when a post office by that name was established. That post office was closed in 1904, but re-opened in February 2007 inside a coffee house.[citation needed] The original heart of the community is along Oregon Route 212, which as of 2004 serves as part of the city's southern boundary.
Damascus is served by the North Clackamas School District and the Gresham-Barlow School District.
Incorporation
A 2000 decision by Metro to expand Portland's urban growth boundary into the area prompted some citizens of the community to submit Measure 3-138, a measure on the ballot for the 2004 general election. The initiative's passage resulted in the incorporation of the former unincorporated communities of Damascus and Carver into the City of Damascus, a step which prevents nearby cities from annexing the community.
The city was the first new city in Oregon since the early 1980s.[2]
In a special election on September 21, 2005, a city charter was approved by 88% of its voters.[3] Voters in eleven parcels of land between Damascus and Happy Valley were given the chance to vote on annexation to Damascus: six of the areas voted for annexation, four voted against, and in the eleventh no votes were cast.
As of January 2009, the members of the Damascus city council were Jim Wright (mayor), Diana Helm (Council president), Marlo Dean, Andrew Jackman, David Jothen, Barb Ledbury, and Randy Shannon.
References
- ^ Clackamas County Overview, from the county's official website
- ^ First new city since Keizer in '80s, an Associated Press article via the Statesman Journal[dead link]
- ^ September 2005 special election results from the county's official website
External links
- City of Damascus (official website)
- Entry for Damascus from the Oregon Blue Book
Coordinates: 45°25′04″N 122°27′28″W / 45.41778°N 122.45778°W
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