Boise, Portland, Oregon

Boise
Neighborhood
Historic Mississippi business district street sign topper in the Boise Neighborhood
Location in Portland
Coordinates: 45°33′03″N 122°40′16″W / 45.55079°N 122.67122°W / 45.55079; -122.67122PDF map
CountryUnited States
StateOregon
CityPortland
Government
  AssociationBoise Neighborhood Association
  CoalitionNortheast Coalition of Neighborhoods
Area
  Total
0.43 sq mi (1.12 km2)
Population
 (2000)
  Total
3,119
  Density7,200/sq mi (2,800/km2)
Housing
  No. of households1168
  Occupancy rate90% occupied
  Owner-occupied525 households (45%)
  Renting643 households (55%)
  Avg. household size2.67 persons

Boise (/bɔɪz/ BOYZ) is a neighborhood in the North and Northeast sections of Portland, Oregon. It is officially bounded by Interstate 5 on the west, N Skidmore St. on the north, NE Rodney Ave. on the east, and N Kerby St. and NE Fremont St. on the south. The southern portion of N Mississippi Ave. forms the commercial core of the area. The neighborhood was named in honor of Reuben P. Boise, a Portland School Board member during the 1850s.

In the mid-20th century, Boise residents included a high percentage of African Americans, relative to other Portland neighborhoods. This changed rapidly in the 2000s. The 2000 Census recorded 48% of the population identifying as Black or African American, either alone or mixed with another race. By the time of the 2010 Census, this number had fallen to 26.6%, largely supplanted by Whites. This demographic change has accompanied rapid development and gentrification in the neighborhood.