Rockwood Gets Incorporated. Where IS Rockwood exactly?
Up until 1987 the Rockwood area (and areas further east and west) was considered unincorporated Multnomah County. The County Sheriff and the local fire district served the area, but Gresham and Portland didn't.
As mentioned in the first Rockwood history blog, Rockwood looked at forming its own city at one point but was eventually incorporated half into Gresham and half into Portland to support the infrastructure of new sewer systems to be required in the area.
There are many theories/stories of blame to go around on how all of this affected Rockwood. And in most cases I don't have facts to back these theories up. However there were social consequences along the line and I have no idea of knowing if Rockwood had formed its own city, or if Rockwood had not been divided whether the social changes would have been affected.
Arguments:
1) When Rockwood was separated into two cities it was on the outer edge of both cities and didn't receive the attention that the rest of these cities received. When Rockwood was incorporated, neither City took a proactive approach to welcome the residents, plan for infrastructure and work on livability issues. It was like a forgotten appendage and did not receive equal capital funds for improvements etc.
2) When Rockwood was separated, the unity and identity of the area separated with it. No longer was it a community in of itself. Portland set up a neighborhood association with a boundary at Portland's line. Gresham set up a neighborhood association with a boundary at Gresham's line. Services to the neighborhood changed. The Gresham area of Rockwood has a Portland mailing address, which confuses MANY issues (more later) because many businesses and residents still are confused if they live in Portland or Gresham.
3) Neither "old" Gresham residents nor "old" Portland residents have been willing to accept Rockwood as being part of their City, and has always been negatively portrayed by both areas.
This editorial in the Gresham Outlook illustrates and affirms these attitudes still exist:
http://vvvvvv.portlandtribune.com/go/43-opinion/18954-lets-welcome-rockwood-as-part-of-gresham
As mentioned in the first Rockwood history blog, Rockwood looked at forming its own city at one point but was eventually incorporated half into Gresham and half into Portland to support the infrastructure of new sewer systems to be required in the area.
There are many theories/stories of blame to go around on how all of this affected Rockwood. And in most cases I don't have facts to back these theories up. However there were social consequences along the line and I have no idea of knowing if Rockwood had formed its own city, or if Rockwood had not been divided whether the social changes would have been affected.
Arguments:
1) When Rockwood was separated into two cities it was on the outer edge of both cities and didn't receive the attention that the rest of these cities received. When Rockwood was incorporated, neither City took a proactive approach to welcome the residents, plan for infrastructure and work on livability issues. It was like a forgotten appendage and did not receive equal capital funds for improvements etc.
2) When Rockwood was separated, the unity and identity of the area separated with it. No longer was it a community in of itself. Portland set up a neighborhood association with a boundary at Portland's line. Gresham set up a neighborhood association with a boundary at Gresham's line. Services to the neighborhood changed. The Gresham area of Rockwood has a Portland mailing address, which confuses MANY issues (more later) because many businesses and residents still are confused if they live in Portland or Gresham.
3) Neither "old" Gresham residents nor "old" Portland residents have been willing to accept Rockwood as being part of their City, and has always been negatively portrayed by both areas.
This editorial in the Gresham Outlook illustrates and affirms these attitudes still exist:
http://vvvvvv.portlandtribune.com/go/43-opinion/18954-lets-welcome-rockwood-as-part-of-gresham
posted by Dina DiNucci at
12:56 PM
1 Comments:
That pretty much says it as I have seen it as well. We live just about 2 miles from Rockwood in another area that has been disenfranchised and taken in by Portland due to the sewers being constructed. It is a hard row to hoe to get the attention of government leaders when there is real need but consistency is key. The neighbors themselves are key to things changing I think. Get together and make things happen and the more positive the better. Someone is bound to take note eventually and even if they don't...you still have those good things to continue to build upon.
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