Hayhurst Neighborhood Boundaries
The Hayhurst neighborhood of SW Portland is south of Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy., west of SW 30th Avenue, north of SW Vermont Street, and east of SW 65th Avenue except for the south-western corner that extends to SW Olsen Road.
Adjacent neighborhoods are Bridlemile to the north, Hillsdale to the east, Multnomah and Maplewood to the south, and the City of Beaverton to the west.
About the neighborhood
Hayhurst is mostly residential, with a business district along Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy and a business center at the intersection of SW 45th and Vermont. Hayhurst’s population count within its 730 acres is 5,476 per the 2020 census.
Annexed to the City of Portland in the 1950’s, much of the neighborhood still has a rural feel with mature trees, small homes on large lots, and winding streets without curbs or sidewalks.
History of Hayhurst
Hayhurst is part of the Fanno Creek watershed that was the home of the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya people for thousands of years. The land had been fire-managed by the Atfalati and was said to be almost park-like.
Swiss immigrants started dairy farming in the area in the mid to late 1800’s to serve the growing city. SW Vermont Street was originally named Hoffman Road after Swiss immigrant and dairyman John Hoffman, who built a plank road to Hillsdale with the help of Chinese immigrants. At one time there were 17 dairies along Hoffman Road between Hillsdale and Olsen Road. Trains including the Red Electric connected the area to the city in the early 1900’s.
While some older homes still exist, construction of tract homes began in the 1950’s and several large apartment complexes have been added along Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, which was first paved in 1920. Open spaces and “Certified Backyard Habitats” support a variety of wildlife. Longtime residents and newcomers enjoy quiet streets that may still show remnants of old farm fencing.
Hayhurst School
The neighborhood was named after Hayhurst School, which was built with the proceeds of a $5M bond approved by voters in 1945 to meet the growing population of Portland school children. Initial plans were to name it after David Douglas, but it was decided to name it after Elizabeth Hayhurst, the first president of the Oregon Parent Teacher Association in the early 1900’s. It originally had grades Kindergarten through 8th but is now K-5. The neighborhood association has conducted Back-to-School safety vigils at busy intersections to remind drivers to slow down and watch for children, and recently supported the school PTA to meet additional classroom and home needs during the pandemic.
Parks, Trails, and Landmarks
Many Hayhurst neighbors have a city park within walking distance of their home. Pendleton Park, with a playground, soccer fields, and ballfield, is just west of Hayhurst school. Gabriel Park and the SW Community Center are right across SW Vermont St.
Neighbors gather for summer Movies in the Park and Neighborhood Night Out events in Pendleton Park each year, gatherings which the neighborhood association resumed in 2022. Neighborhood walks are a treasured activity, and became even more popular during the 2020 Covid lockdown.
Neighborhood Greenways on SW Illinois, SW 50th Ave, and SW Idaho Dr. provide walking and biking routes that feature beautiful trees, especially during the spring and fall.
The neighborhood association is awaiting scheduling from PBOT to improve a muddy trail connection between Pendleton Park and SW 54th Ave that is used by schoolchildren and neighbors.
Trail #7, the longest trail in the SW Trails urban network, runs north-south through the neighborhood.
A new trail under development is the Red Electric Trail which will eventually connect pedestrians and cyclists to the Fanno Creek Greenway, following the route of the historic railway.
Dairy-inspired street sign toppers remind neighbors and visitors of the area’s history. Alpenrose, Oregon’s oldest operating dairy founded in 1916, comprises 50+ acres on the west side of the neighborhood. The Cadonau family generously invited the community to visit the farm and enjoy Dairyville, the ballfields, and velodrome for many decades. The dairy and property have been sold, and in May, 2021 developers proposed a new subdivision. A full development application has not yet been submitted to the city, and the neighborhood association is watching the process closely.
Places of worship within the neighborhood include Vermont Hills Church, West Hills Covenant Church, and Hillcrest Bible Church. Long-standing non-profit Cedar Sinai Park provides community-based care to seniors and rehabilitation nursing care.
Two tributaries of Fanno Creek flow west through the neighborhood, Vermont Creek and Pendleton Creek, which has its headwaters between SW 47th and 48th. Longtime residents recall catching fish in Vermont Creek. Restoration efforts along both creeks to improve water quality are still underway. Neighbors participated in the city street tree inventory project to count and identify trees along several neighborhood streets. There is one designated Heritage Tree in the neighborhood, a Smoothleaf Elm .
Perhaps the neighborhood’s most famous resident was Rusty Nails the clown, who entertained families at Alpenrose and had his own TV show.
Contact
Email address: Contact-Hayhurst@swni.org
Neighborhood Association Chair Marita Ingalsbe: Marita.Ingalsbe@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
Hayhurst Neighborhood Association
c/o Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.
7688 SW Capitol Hwy.
Portland, OR 97219