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About the St. Helens Community
Situated on the beautiful Columbia River, St. Helens is the county seat and largest city in Columbia County. According to the Portland State University Population Research Center, the Certified Population Estimate as of December 31, 2021 is 14,560. The city has seen rapid growth in 
recent years due to favorable real estate prices compared to the metro area, a small-town feel that attracts families, and the city's close proximity to the Portland area.
County and City government offices are situated in the historic Riverfront District along the banks of the Columbia River. The District offers views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. The Portland metropolitan area is a half-hour drive to the south and the Oregon coast is an hour and a half drive to the northwest. St. Helens is well situated for many outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, golf, and much more.
The City's Riverfront District is a Nationally Registered Historic District encompassing 10 blocks, which includes residences, businesses, and civic buildings dating back nearly a century. Many of the city’s community events are held in the Riverfront District where visitors and residents enjoy scenic outdoor views. The town has also served as the backdrop to many popular films, most notably the Disney Channel television film “Halloweentown” and the film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's novel “Twilight.”
St. Helens is a community rich with history and culture. On their expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1805, Lewis and Clark made a stop in what is now St. Helens. In 1850, Captain H.M. Knighton of New England founded the town, which was first named Plymouth before being rechristened within a year to St. Helens for the town’s magnificent view of Mount St. Helens.
Originally settled by New England loggers, St. Helens’ basalt rock quarry was a major industry in the early 1900s. Because of the industrial operations occurring in St. Helens and its location on the Columbia River, it rivaled Portland as a competing port city. After an unfortunate fire burned the docks of Pacific Mail, a team of Portland businessmen persuaded Pacific Mail to locate in the new port town of Portland, establishing the port of Portland as the dominant port in the region.
