You have probably learned about government from your parents or at school, but how much do you know about Multnomah County? The Multnomah County government affects your schools, your health, and even your pets! There are six cities in Multnomah County – Fairview, Gresham, Maywood Park, Portland, Troutdale, and Wood Village – and if you live in those cities, you are a Multnomah County resident.
Multnomah County is both the smallest county in Oregon in size and the largest in population. It’s only 465 square miles, but over 700,000 people live here! Even though it is small, the county has a lot to offer. It is home to everything from the big city of Portland to farms to Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
Learn about what other governments do:
Multnomah County was created on December 22, 1854, five years before Oregon became a state. It was created by the Territorial Legislature because the people living in Portland found it difficult to travel to the Washington County seat of Hillsboro to conduct county business, like paying taxes.
The county is named after the Multnomah Indians who were part of the Chinookan tribe that lived on what is now known as Sauvie Island. The famous explorers Lewis and Clark visited the Indian village of Multnomah on Sauvie Island in 1805, and applied that name to all local Indians. The name comes from the Native American word nematlnomaq, probably meaning "downriver."
Animal Services protects the pets of Multnomah County. They run an animal shelter that takes in all of the stray or lost animals found in the county. No animal is ever turned away, and they’ve even helped llamas and escaped alligators! In 2008 the animal shelter took in over 8,800 cats and dogs. You can adopt cats and dogs from the shelter, and the adoptable animals even have their own web cams: Kitty Cam, Featured Doggie Cam.
Animal Services also protects you from animals in the county. They are called in to help whenever a loose or dangerous animal is spotted. They also help with animal nuisances, such as when your neighbor’s dog barks too much.
The Multnomah County Health Department’s job is to keep everyone in Multnomah County healthy. They do their job in a lot of ways:
Multnomah County does not have police force to protect it. Instead, there is a Sheriff’s Office that enforces laws and runs the county’s three jails. They focus on protecting people who live outside of the cities in Multnomah County, but are always there to help no matter where you are. They patrol 24-hours a day and respond to all 911 calls, as well as non-emergency calls, to help keep people safe. They also have three dogs in their K-9 unit that help them search for hidden drugs and missing people.
The Sheriff’s Office also patrols the county’s rivers and lakes. They not only prevent crime like stealing, but they also help people ensure that their boats are safe, do search and rescue, help people who have an emergency on the water. There is also a Dive Team that helps out if they are looking for something under the surface of water or if people need help underwater.
The Department of Community Justice keeps communities safe by helping to prevent adults and kids who have broken the law from breaking it again. They also work with the community, organizations, and schools to help prevent crime.
They focus a lot on helping kids avoid getting into trouble in the first place. For example, they run programs in schools and other organizations to help teach kids and teenagers how to deal with feelings like anger in a healthy and safe way. They also work to help kids stay in school and graduate from high school. They also have a program called “Reclaiming Futures” to help teenagers escape and avoid the drugs, alcohol, and crime hurting their community.
