This article will address the topic of North Williams Avenue, a concept that has gained relevance in recent years due to its impact on various aspects of daily life. Since its emergence, North Williams Avenue has captured the attention of experts and the general public, generating debates, research and different interpretations. Over time, North Williams Avenue has become a topic of interest both in academia and in daily conversation, and its influence has spread to multiple areas, becoming a fundamental reference point for understanding current phenomena. In this review, different perspectives on North Williams Avenue will be explored, in order to provide a broad and enriching vision of its relevance and impact on contemporary society.
North Williams Avenue is a north–south street located in Portland, Oregon, United States, and it defines the eastern boundary of North Portland. North Williams Avenue stretches from its southern terminus at Northeast Winning Way, near the Moda Center, to its northern terminus at North Winchell Street, a distance of 3.3 miles (5.3 km). It is a street common to the Portland neighborhoods Eliot, Boise, Humboldt, and Piedmont.
History
The town of Albina, Oregon, was platted in 1872 by Edwin Russell, William Page, and George Williams, and streets were named for each of the founders. Albina expanded northward in successive plats, resulting in slight misalignments of Williams Avenue at Alberta Street and Dekum Street. In 1891 Albina was annexed into Portland.[3]
In the early 20th century, property owners and politicians sought to restrict access to nonwhites in most residential areas in Portland. In 1919 the Portland Realty Board declared that selling property in a white neighborhood to Negro or Chinese people was unethical, and by 1940, half of Portland's Black community lived in the North Williams Avenue area.[4][5] The street became known as the central hub of African American Portland.[6]
A redevelopment plan in the late 1980s caused a gradual shift in demographics along North Williams Avenue and the surrounding area.[7] One stretch of the avenue began to carry 3,000 bicycle commuters per day, making the street a vital artery for non-motorized traffic,[8] but changes along North Williams Avenue were not always well received.[9]