Kenton

Born as a company town for the Swift Meat Packing Company, North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood has transformed tremendously. Today, Kenton is a mostly residential neighborhood with a walkable historic business district marked by an enormous statue of Paul Bunyan built for the 1959 Oregon Centennial celebrations. Visitors to this gem of a neighborhood will enjoy great eats, fun local watering holes, mom-and-pop shops, attractions and more. Just outside Kenton, Portland favorites like the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, Portland International Raceway and Peninsula Park await.

Where to Eat and Drink in Kenton

Since 2007, Fino Bistro & Pizzeria has been serving up Italian fare on North Denver Avenue — they specialize in New York-style pizza and handmade pasta, and their gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are sure to keep everyone in your group happy. Just across the road, An An brings Vietnamese cuisine to Kenton’s main drag, with flavorful dishes like passion fruit shrimp ceviche, star anise beef stew and a roasted pork belly banh mi. North Lombard Street’s Tiny Bubble Room serves an extensive menu of Southern-style eats, plus craft beers, house cocktails and local wine.

Specializing in excellent craft cocktails, Parkside is located right across the street from Kenton Park — they also offer beer and wine (not to mention a menu of satisfying, seasonal bar food). Enjoy views of the park through the garage door, or catch some rays on the patio on warmer days. Mayfly, a taproom and bottle shop, is another community watering hole, known for great local brews, frequent events and expansive patio seating.

For a cup of joe and a house-baked pastry, be sure to plan a stop at Posies Bakery & Café, located just down the block from the Kenton Library. Since 2009, this locally owned coffee shop has provided a community hub in the heart of Kenton (there’s even a dedicated playroom for kids).

Things to Do, Sights to See

Kenton is home to a variety of shopping experiences, from perusing the Kenton Farmers Market to crate-digging at Speck’s Records & Tapes. For treasures of the vintage and thrift variety, head to Give & Take Resale, where you’ll find a carefully curated collection of apparel, antiques, housewares, decor and more. Since 2012, they’ve offered a consignment shop experience and a community hangout for locals and visitors alike.

Oregon Contemporary is an art center housed in an airy 12,000-square-foot (1,115 sq m) space. From visual art and films to performance art and drag shows, there’s so much to see and experience. It’s been home to the Portland Biennial — which draws thousands of visitors for symposia, exhibitions and talks — since 2010.

You don’t have to go far to play outdoors in Kenton — located just one block off the main drag, Kenton Park offers a recently renovated playground with a splash pad, swings and accessible play equipment, including an adaptive swing and sensory elements. On the western edge of the neighborhood, you’ll find Columbia Park, a perfect place for a stroll through a natural forest landscape just blocks from North Portland’s bustle.

Credit: Annie Gilbert

In Kenton, Portland sports enthusiasts thrive. Golfers will want to play a round at Heron Lakes Golf Club, a 36-hole club with two championship courses and a practice facility complete with a driving range. Nearby Portland International Raceway (PIR) is a motorsport facility comprising a 2-mile (3.2 km) track, a dragstrip and a motocross track. PIR hosts hundreds of events each year, including drag racing, motocross, auto racing, fun runs, bicycle racing and holiday light shows.

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Located on a 53-acre (21.5 ha) campus on Kenton’s northeastern edge, the Portland Expo Center is Oregon’s largest multi-purpose facility. This massive convention center hosts a wide range of large events, like antique shows, swap meets and music festivals.

Where to Stay — Kenton Neighborhood Guide

If you’re looking for accommodations in the heart of Kenton, consider the Kenton Hotel. Each of the 18 eco-friendly rooms in this restored midcentury property features the Oregon-inspired work of local artists. The nearby Jantzen Beach area has a range of options located a few miles from Kenton.

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History

Today, Kenton is a modern, growing community with over 7,000 residents— but things looked much different in the not-so-distant past. Following Kenton’s 1911 origins as a company town for the Swift Meat Packing Company, it grew into a hub for the cattle trade in the Pacific Northwest. Cows were herded right down the main drag — the street now known as North Denver Avenue and still the heart of the business district.

Much of northern Kenton was once the historic city of Vanport, a wartime housing development that was home to more than 40,000 people at its peak, many of whom were Black. In 1948, persistent rains led to the collapse of a poorly constructed embankment, resulting in a massive flood. Vanport was destroyed in a matter of hours — at least 15 people were killed, and 20,000 more were displaced. Vanport Mosaic, a community memory-activism center, works to keep this history alive via an oral history project, pop-up displays, tours, exhibits and events, including the annual Vanport Mosaic Festival.

In 1959, the Oregon Centennial was celebrated across the state, but the major events took place in Kenton. In addition to a massive exposition and epic performance at the Portland Expo Center, locals created monuments to honor the occasion. The best-known of these still stands today: a 31-foot-tall (9.5 m) statue of Paul Bunyan at the intersection of North Denver and North Interstate avenues. The massive lumberjack is an iconic landmark and a must-stop photo op during any Kenton visit. Experience another piece of history at the nearby Victorian Belle Mansion. Constructed in 1885, this historic wedding venue also hosts events like high tea and burlesque shows.

Location and Transportation

Kenton is located in North Portland, about 5 miles (8 km) from downtown. Without traffic, you can drive from Kenton to downtown Portland in about 15 minutes (it’s likely to take longer on weekdays and during peak hours). Making the trip by bike usually takes a little more than half an hour.

The neighborhood is conveniently served by MAX Light Rail via the Yellow Line, with a station located on the northern edge of the business district (when you see the Paul Bunyan statue, you’ll know you’re in the right place). From there, it’s just a 20-minute ride to the central city.