Neighborhood Notes

As part of our advocacy for families that live, work, learn and play in central Portland, we've been searching for factual as well as anecdotal information. Zimmerman Community Center just sent a document that contains useful facts and figures about the River District gleaned from research that they commissioned. Here it is, for those of you who are curious.

A recent study by Portland State University estimates that over 250 children currently live in the River District. Zimmerman Community Center’s survey of River District residential buildings suggests this figure may be an undercount.

ZCC’s survey of River District residential buildings identified at least 30 apartment and condo buildings in the area where children are verified to live.

The number of children residing in the River District is increasing:
o The number of River District Children enrolled in Portland Public Schools has increased by at least 20% a year over the past few years.
o The birth rate in the River District has increased significantly in recent years. The number of births per year in 2007 was two and a half times what it was in 2000, with an average annual increase of 18%.

There are approximately 1,200 residential units currently in the River District that are suitable for families. Estimates by PSU indicate that about 16% of those units currently house families with children.

Data trends indicate that many families leave the River District before their children reach school age. The birth rate in the neighborhood is increasing at a higher rate than the increase in the number of children ages 0-4, suggesting that many families leave the neighborhood before their children turn 4.

ZCC surveyed the employees of ten of the neighborhood’s largest employers, with a total of 186 respondents:
o 61% of respondents have children under age six
o 38% of respondents expect to be the parent or guardian of a child under age six in the near future
o 33% of respondents have children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade

The 97209 zip code has a total of 21,495 employees. US Census data indicate that 15% of employees in Multnomah County have children under age 6, and 28% have children ages 6-17. Applying these percentages to the River District, we get 3,224 employees with children under age 6 and 6,019 employees with school age children.