Treasures and Pleasures abound in the Sunrise Communities.

The five incorporated cities of the area are each unique in their offerings to residents and visitors. Between the cities are a plethora of shopping, recreational, housing, services and industrial opportunities. The Sunrise Communities of Oregon's Mt Hood Territory. Shop. Play. Stay.

The City of Milwaukie

With the trees in full bloom you'll readily see why it's called the "City of Dogwoods"; but whatever time of year you're here, you'll also recognize why Milwaukie has been hailed as one of the 50 best places to raise a family. A stone's throw from downtown Portland, Milwaukie signals the transition from urban bustle to small town charm. The "main drag", McLoughlin Blvd., was the original eastside route into Portland, and some of its commercial architecture still evokes a nostalgic 50's style. Improvements on McLoughlin and the development of Milwaukie's Riverfront Park are keeping the community connected to its river roots. New development in downtown will provide shopping, residences and recreation. With the Willamette River on the west, Milwaukie is within easy range of numerous mild-to-wild recreational options ranging from water skiing and kayaking to steelhead and salmon fishing.

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Gladstone

Just a few miles south of Portland lies the friendly community of Gladstone. Steeped in the finest small town traditions, Gladstone is host to Clackamas County's annual Chautauqua Festival, celebrated first in 1894 and now held annually the first week-end in August. The small town's ties to the past are also on view at the Pow-Wow Tree located on Clackamas Boulevard. According to local folklore, the tree served as the site for conferences among Indian tribes of the surrounding region, and is still regarded as a symbol of strong community bonding. Affectionately referred to by some Portlanders as "Happy Rock" (a playful variation on "Glad Stone") Gladstone's neighborhoods are welcoming with sidewalks for a casual stroll, yet still provide delightful shopping and other urban amenities

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Happy Valley

One of the fastest growing communities in the region and state, this town now boasts some of the region's finest housing, along with the green fields and wooded areas that say Oregon loud and clear. Through annexation and a number of new housing developments the community has grown dramatically over the past few years, and continues to grow as the City plans a new city center.

A descendent of an early settler gives this version of the origin of the name "Happy Valley": The valley was referred to as a "Hollow." Boys from the "Hollow" enjoyed drinking Grandpa Dearorff's delicious apple cider before attending church services at Sunnyside and often used to arrive there singing loudly and gaily. Sunnyside dwellers were soon regerring to them as "The happy boys from the Hollow," and after awhile the area became known as "Happy Valley."

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Johnson City

Johnson City is located on 40 acres of the beautiful Lake Leone. This is a spring fed lake with free fishing for the children. Many ducks, Canadian geese, pond turtles, and Blue Heron grace the lake. The city's population of 634 resides in owner occupied manufactured homes in individually landscaped spaces. This is a "one of a kind" city in Oregon as there is no other city with manufactured homes exclusively. The households are allowed one cat, which is licensed and tagged by the city. No dogs are allowed.

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Damascus - Oregon's Newest City

In November 2004 the citizens of Damascus voted to incorporate Oregon's newest city. This was the result of several years of hard work, grass roots public involvement and countless hours of meetings, workshops and campaigning. The goal has finally been accomplished, but the work has just begun.

Being a city involves a lot more than just drawing a line for the city limits and putting up a "Welcome to Damascus" sign. Remember, that this city is predicted to have 60,000 residents, 25,000 households and 50,000 jobs in the next 20 years. Local resident Greg DeGrazia states, "It is hard to imagine, but just 7-8 years ago there were cattle grazing in the very spot that my house sits, which is now within the boundary of the new city."

Over the next 20 years it is certain that the landscape of Damascus is sure to change. Currently a Concept Plan is being developed to help guide these changes. As with every phase of the process, the citizens of Damascus are very involved helping to shape that landscape, while maintaining the core values that make this area a wonderful place to live.

Since incorporation, Damascus' first City Council was formed and at the initial meeting, many items commemorating the formation of the new City and its rich history were placed into a time capsule. It was a historic moment and will be very interesting to see how future citizens perceive these events in years to come.

In June 2005 the first official budget was put together, again with citizen involvement, and approved by the City Council. As of this writing, the City's Charter is being drafted; you guessed it, with citizen involvement. The final draft will be put before the voters in the fall of 2005 for approval.

While there is still a lot of work left to do many challenges as the city experiences the growth that is expected, it is an exciting time to be a citizen of Damascus. Through continuing proactive citizen involvement, residents are confident that the changes in Damascus will have a positive affect on the region.

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