What You Get For The Money

To help you understand what your money can buy in three different markets, we’ve looked at homes currently for sale in Scappoose. Portland and Beaverton around the $400,000 range.  We use a range because Scappoose is a much smaller city than, let’s say, Beaverton, and so there are fewer houses for sale in Scappoose.  This is part of the reason that move-in ready homes in Scappoose sell quickly – there just aren’t as many to choose from; supply is lower than in the Portland suburbs.  This does create tough competition for certain homes in Scappoose.  When a really nice home comes on the market, it doesn’t last long.

$400,000 Homes For Sale in the Portland Metro Area Market

Let’s look at the houses in 3 different markets:

What We Compare

It is important to compare the main drivers of buyer choice.

Most buyers make their home purchase decisions with a certain budget on several factors beyond location – school district, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, yard size and condition/finishesupdates.

Here is where these houses come out.

It’s Pronounced What?!?

Portland has its unexpected pronunciations of Couch and Glisan streets which can out a foreigner in one or two syllables. And, of course, a person’s pronunciation of the Willamette can pin point them as a tourist with laser precision. And don’t even get us started on the ways people mispronounce Oregon.

The very name of the town of Scappoose can trip up the residents of even our nearest suburbs just over the pass. So, we’re here to help you fit in with the locals by pronouncing Scappoose correctly.

The key is that the emphasis is on the second syllable. Also, the letter “a” sounds like it does in the word “that,” or “at,” not like “ugh.”.

Scappoose rhymes with:

• That Moose
• Smack Loose

Things Scappoose doesn’t rhyme with:

• Suppose
• Skull Crows

Now try it and see if you can fit in with the locals on Karaoke night!

Scappoose – what’s in a name?

Many of us are familiar with the story of how Portland got its name in a coin toss (it was almost called Boston!) in 1845, but where did the name “Scappoose” come from?

The story is not a simple one to answer.  The written history of the Native Americans who settled on this land goes back to the days of Lewis & Clark (1806) and there are several different stories in circulation about how Scappoose got its name.

There are four prevailing stories:

Since there is no way to verify the true origin of the name Scappoose, you can pick the tale that you like the best.  We happen to have quite a bit of preference for the version from John McPherson, as you might have guessed!  

1850 Cadastral Survey of the Scappoose Plains, John McPherson’s land claim

Story #1: John McPherson

You may have noticed Scappoose sign, the totem pole and history placards on Columbia Boulevard. They tell the history of Scappoose and a bit about the fur trader Thomas McKay. We know not why his good friend John McPherson is not mentioned on this sign, but the two worked together at the Hudson’s Bay Company and both settled in the area of Scappoose. Both John McPherson and Thomas McKay are buried, along with their Native American wives, on land that John McPherson owned.

Reported in the Rainier Review, December 17, 1914:

According to the great authority pertaining to the history of Scappoose and which is given by John McPherson, a Scotchman who is said to be the earliest settler in the vicinity of Scappoose, the place gets its name from the Indians. McPherson was an employee of the old Hudson Bay Company, and acting in this capacity he came in contact with most of the hunters and trappers of the early days, which enables him to relate much interesting history of this part of Oregon.

Most of the men in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company in early days were Chapeaus Frenchmen, who wore chapeaus; a peculiar head gear. They spent most of their time hunting and trapping in the winter time on what is now known as Scappoose creek. It was while they were thus engaged that they had the misfortune to have a wreck in which they lost all of their stock and traps including their chapeaus.

It is said however, they recovered all their belongings after much labor with the exception of their chapeaus. Being disgusted with their bad luck, they returned to Vancouver, Washington, where was located their source of supplies — the Hudson Bay company. To the agents of the mentioned company, they related their accident and of losing their chapeaus.

Scappoose Creek was called by the Indians, “Cappo Creek,” the name finally became twisted into “Scappoose”, which in addition to the creek, the whole country was known for many years afterwards.

Story #2: James Grant Watts

This next story comes a bit later in the timeline.  However, James Grant Watts’s grandfather came to Scappoose along the Oregon Trail in 1852.

Reported in the Rainier Review, July 9, 1925:

Between St. Helens and Scappoose is an area comprising 1,000 acres of land that has never been timbered and never was inundated by the backwaters that periodically crept up from the river. It was level, free from the dense growth of timber that grew to the very water’s edge in other portions of this region; and because of this was used as a meeting place by the Indians.

Because it was so easily turned into cultivation, the Hudson Bay people from Vancouver, Wash., came to Scappoose plains to raise their grain and vegetables. It is believed to be the first cultivated land in Oregon, for this reason.

The origin of the word “Scappoose” is indefinite, but it is generally understood to mean “gravelly ground,” as applied to the lighter soil of the plains compared with the soil of the hills in the background. Quite probably the name originated in connection with the plains, which were “gravelly,” low lying, level, and convenient for a meeting place for Indians from all over this section. The name then became applicable to the bay, the creek, the hills (or “mountains”) and finally to the town.

That is the explanation for the word “Scappoose” as Grant Watts of Scappoose understands it. He is in a position to know from as nearly first hand knowledge as anyone has now, for his grandfather, William Watts, drove across the plains from Pike county, Missouri, in 1852. In that party was James Watts, then only 17 years old, who later became the father of Grant Watts.

Story #3: Alexander H. Boncer

The Boncer (also Bonser) family came to Sauvie Island in 1852 and moved in 1862 to homestead about 4 miles south of Scappoose.

Reported in the Rainier Review, September 25, 1926:

There are so many explanations for the name “Scappoose” that a new one always is interesting. If it does not solve the riddle it is no less interesting for it. Mr. Boncer’s derivation for the word is from French origin.

“The French have a word — ‘capoose’ – meaning a tall hat,” said Mr. Boncer, in discussing the probable origin of the name. “Later the word was changed to ‘Scappoose.’ The word has no meaning in Indian phrases, that I know of, and I know practically all of the jargon.”

Story #4: Oregon Historians

The name Scappoose appears several times in letters and journals dated January and February 1846 from the French-Canadians of the Hudson Bay Company. Each one is related to John McPherson (of the Hudson Bay Company) and his settlement and farm in Scappoose (aka Scappoose Country and Fort Scappoose).

George Gibbs, a man educated at Harvard, was an ethnologist who studied the languages of indigenous peoples in Oregon and Washington Territories.  In 1851, he traveled to the area of Scappoose and from his publication (Indian Nomenclature of Localities in Washington & Oregon Territories: Chinookan and Salishan, 1853) we learn that Scappoose was the native Chinook name for a creek at the former village of Chief Kiesno (who, after the death of Chief Concomley in 1830, lead the Chinook tribes until his death in 1847).

This creek fed into what we now call Scappoose Bay.  Further south of Scappoose Bay, along the west banks of Multnomah Channel are plains areas.  And on these plains, the Chinook from all over the area converged for their annual potlatch (feasts and gift-giving ceremonies that serve a variety of functions: creating alliances, promoting altruism, redistributing wealth, vanquishing rivals and, not least, showing off) and trade.

From The Oregon Encyclopedia about Scappoose:

The name Scappoose is derived from Skáppus (also sqə́pus), a Chinookan village on the west side of the Multnomah Channel. The village was a Native trading site that early resettlers described as the Scappoose Plains, a thousand acres of land in the Wapato Valley surrounded by 6,000 acres of wetlands.

It can be hard to separate tales from truth, but one thing is clear: Scappoose has been the name which refers to this area since our earliest written record of this place in 1846.

Scappoose – A Community Connected by Rivers, Forests, and Mountainviews

Scappoose is one of the Portland’s best kept secrets.  A mere 25- minute drive to the heart of downtown Portland and, as of the time of this writing, Scappoose offers tons of affordable housing options.

Scappoose is a fairly small town with a population of about 7,000 people and is located in Columbia County, about 25 miles north-northwest of Portland.  While there are industries located here that are key to the area’s commerce (the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center – a research facility, the Scappoose Airpark, and the CalPortland Santosh aggregate mine to name a few), the vast majority of Scappoose residents work in Portland, but live, eat, sleep and play in Scappoose.

Rivers, Forests, and Mountainviews

Nestled between the forested Tualatin Mountains and the Multonomah Channel, Scappoose residents prefer the brisk Highway 30 commute filled with forests, eagles, and views of floating home marinas over the lengthy and tiresome, stop-and-go commutes to other Portland suburbs off of Highway 26.

Mt. Hood and Mt Saint Helens are a constant presence just about everywhere you go in Scappoose.  The Multnomah Channel connects the Columbia and the Willamette Rivers, and, for hundreds of years, served as a major area of commerce and trade for the native tribes and the early European settlers of Oregon until the railroad was built and moved the center of town from the river toward the hills.  The hills above Scappoose are heavily forested and offer breathtaking views of the mountains, rivers, and downtown Portland. Land is available for sale atop these ridges and large million dollar properties are being built to take advantage of the views, nature and proximity to the city.

Business

There are business here to support the community such as grocery stores, pharmacies, a liquor store, a handful of restaurants, a movie theatre, banks, and even three weed shops. Scappoose locals prefer to support their local businesses, bakeries, and coffeeshops. There is even a floating restaurant and bar that has live music on the weekends and the best selection of draft brews in all of Columbia County.

For anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit, opportunities abound for a new local business to fill a community need. The City of Scappoose is encouraging new business enterprises by offering several incentive programs and waiving the business licensing fees.

Schools

The population supports 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.  Some students in Scappoose attend the Sauvie Island Academy – a charter elementary and charter school founded on the principles of place-based education.  There, children learn about their world by exploring the island through sailing, archery, hiking, beach walks, gardening, etc.).

In addition to offering stunning views of Mt. Hood from just about everywhere on campus, Scappoose High School class sizes are very small compared to other suburban schools around Portland.  It is much easier to get one-on-one attention from instructors and coaches.  One of the most surprising things about Scappoose High School, given it’s smaller size, is that its theater and arts programs are top-notch, led by some of the brightest and most creative teachers.  But, sports reign supreme in Scappoose.  The culture of sports in ingrained in the community and the whole town gets together to supports its kids on the fields all year long.  With a population of just under 800 students, you may be surprised to learn that 2 Super Bowl 50 players graduated from Scappoose High School!

Transportation

The Columbia County Rider (commonly called the “CC Rider” by locals) is bus service between the communities of Clatskanie, Rainier, St. Helens, Scappoose, Vernonia, and many others, including trips to Portland and Kelso/Longview, Washington.  The routes from Scappoose to Downtown Portland currently run 10 times every weekday from roughly 4:50am to 7:30pm, and the trip takes approximately 35 minutes, factoring in about 3 stops.

Recreation

We will need an entire post devoted to this to cover everything adequately.  So, we’ll just share with you now a few of our favorite things to do during our leisure time in Scappoose.

Scappoose Housing Prices Are on the Rise

Now is the perfect time to check out Scappoose.  For the last 2 years in a row, Scappoose house prices have been increasing more than any other area. But they are still relatively low, as compared to Portland and its other suburbs such as Tigard and Beaverton.  Therefore, in Scappoose, you can buy a bigger house, more land and better views than you can afford to elsewhere.

Whether you are a first-time home buyer looking for anything you can afford, or you’d like a little more space in your home or between you and your neighbors, or you are already living in Hillsboro and can’t stand the commute, now, when the prices are still low, is the best time to buy in Scappoose.

The Portland Team can help you find any property and can help you sell your home.  We serve all of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia County.