Gresham-Centennial - Gresham, OR Area Guide

In the late 1800s, the area that would later become Gresham began as a settlement for early pioneers seeking cheap land. Powell Boulevard was named after three of these early settlers, all with the last name Powell. As the town expanded and got its first post office, they named it after the postmaster, Walter Q. Gresham. Gresham was incorporated into the city in 1905, and has since become a booming residential area.

The neighborhood does not have any museums, although the Gresham Historical Society lies to the east of Gresham-Centennial. Art thrives in this neighborhood, however, with Creative Haven Art Enrichment Childcare near its center and Black Diamond Recording Studios providing a space for local musicians. Artists come to this neighborhood to attend specialized art schools. Centennial High School holds Eagle Scream Fest every year, with classic carnival games.

Nightlife in Gresham-Centennial remains among the best in the Portland area. Unlike other evening hot spots in Portland, the entertainment venues here never get too crowded on the weekends. People come from miles away to eat at some of the restaurants along Division Street, which is this area's central restaurant location.

One of these popular restaurants is Duke's Country Bar & Grill. Portland isn't known as a major country-style city, but this restaurant brings classic Southern charm to the Pacific Northwest. Order a rack of Texas-sized, home-smoked ribs, or stuff yourself with a half-pound burger. If you're in the mood for a cocktail, try Duke's specialty Tennessee tea with whiskey, triple sec, cola and sweet and sour mix.

For something on the lighter side, head over to Division Street Cafe. Get to this brunch spot early, since they serve customers only until 2 p.m. Early birds get first pick of this cafe's famous biscuits and gravy. Choose breakfast staples with a twist, such as hash browns smothered in onions. While most people come for a hearty breakfast, grab a homemade chili and BLT sandwich on your lunch break.

No visit to Gresham-Centennial is complete without stopping by a Portland food cart, and Bora Bora Taqueria takes the genre to the next level with whole barbecue chicken cooked on an outdoor grill. Bring their food to your special events when you order one of their catering options. Their most popular dishes include al pastor tacos, marinated chicken wings and salsa made from scratch. Call ahead to order a whole chicken to go.

Music venues don't sit on every block as they do in areas of downtown Portland, but the neighborhood maintains a thriving local music scene. Check out up-and-coming country music artists at Duke's Country Bar & Grill's live music showcases. Dance the night away at Al Narah Hookah Lounge on Stark Street — this venue features '80s dance music nights on one of the largest dance floors in Portland.

For an old-fashioned pub atmosphere in which to sip on a few draft beers, visit Pub 181 on Division Street. For karaoke and drinks, pop in to The Pink Feather Restaurant and Lounge, on the same street. This bar serves fine dining alongside dive-bar-priced happy hour specials.

While most people drive around Gresham-Centennial, you have plenty of other options to get around. Take the MAX light rail system to quickly get between Gresham and downtown Portland. TriMet provides affordable bus trips to any part of the neighborhood.

Hail a cab anywhere in Gresham-Centennial, especially near Division and Powell. Since most tourist spots sit on these major streets, taxis drive along them frequently. Uber doesn't operate in this neighborhood.

When you drive, get anywhere quickly using Powell Boulevard. As the main road between downtown Portland and Gresham, it connects drivers to Interstate 205 and leads to the Portland International Airport. Continue along Powell Boulevard west until you reach Interstate 5 to go north into Washington.

Find free public parking in nearly every residential neighborhood in the area. Parking along major traffic spots requires paying a parking meter if you can't find one of the free spaces along the sidewalk.

Feel safe walking in this neighborhood knowing that paved pedestrian crossings and sidewalks exist on every major street. Travel to any location on foot, since most stores sit along the outskirts of the central residential neighborhood. The neighborhood's biking lanes are some of the safest in the city, with plenty of room for cyclists to get anywhere in town.

When you need some time in the outdoors, visit one of Gresham-Centennial's three parks. Two parks are nestled between residential areas to the north, while the neighborhood skirts a huge nature park to the south.

Parklane City Park borders Main Street and includes a play area for children, a basketball court, a soccer field and a softball field. Have a picnic lunch while you cheer on your team at one of the park's picnic tables. Joggers come to the park for secluded unpaved paths.

Lynchview City Park has a convenient location next to Lynch View Elementary School, making this a popular spot for families to bring their kids after school. Families play Frisbee on the park's grassy fields.

The neighborhood borders the northern region of Powell Butte Nature Park, which houses some of the best hiking trails in Portland. This park is meant for nature-lovers wanting to take in the sights of Pacific Northwest pine trees. Parks in Gresham-Centennial are free to the public, with leashed pets welcome in most areas.

Living in Gresham-Centennial costs about 6 percent less than living in downtown Portland. Expect an average rental rate of $730 per month, though residences run anywhere from $700 to $1,000.

Pay about $2.50 to get anywhere in the neighborhood or downtown Portland by the TriMet bus or MAX train. When you go out for entertainment at night, you pay about $4 for a bottle of draft beer on average, though many restaurants sell beer for as low as $3 per bottle. Expect to pay about 4 percent more for gas in Gresham-Centennial than the national average.

You'll discover three major centers of commerce in Gresham-Centennial: Powell Boulevard in the southern region of the neighborhood, Division Street and the Stark Street border. Gresham-Centennial does not house major high-end stores, as most of the stores in the neighborhood are affordable boutiques and locally-owned businesses.

Thifting becomes simple at Robin's Walk-In Closet. This small boutique has a wide selection of used women's clothing by well-known brands for those who don't want to spend a fortune on designer clothes.

A Bead Source on Division Street caters to the neighborhood's crafty residents. Whether you need simple glass beads for a necklace or skull-shaped beads for a costume, this store has you covered. When you walk in, you find walls and tables filled with every color, shape and size of bead imaginable. The store's employees are happy to help you navigate the enormous collection.

Many locals shop for basic groceries at Fred Meyer on Division Street - its central location makes it the main grocery source in the area. Stop in at Safeway for other basic grocery needs, or try out one of the neighborhood's many specialty grocery stores. Tortilleria Y Tienda De Leon's carries a wide range of Mexican cuisine items. Stop by the Gresham Farmers' Market from the start of Mother's Day until the end of October for fresh produce from local farms.