Land Use: Historical Research
Historical Research for Land Use
Historical research on any topic will have you exploring both primary and secondary sources. Secondary sources are research articles and other materials analyzing historical events after the event has passed. Primary sources are documents and other materials created at the time of the event/topic you're studying.
Resources on this page highlight primary sources that will help you investigate land use history in Oregon. To find secondary sources, use suggested databases from the Articles & More page of this guide, or those recommended under related guides on this page.
Historical Resources
- City of Portland Archives & Records CenterHoldings include records generated by the City of Portland, including elected officials’ papers, department reports, planning maps, Ordinances and Resolutions, budget information, correspondence, and photos. Located on the 5h floor of the ASRC Building at PSU.
- Planning in Portland & the RegionSpecial Collections in the Portland State Library related to planning.
- Oregon Sustainable Community Digital LibraryArchives a central online repository of key urban planning documents on the Portland Metropolitan area. Includes planning reports, digital images, and other grey literature.
- Oregon Historical Society Research LibraryHoldings chronicle the history of Oregon from early European exploration to the present day. To use this library for free, Multnomah County residents should bring proof of address.
- Digital Sanborn Maps at Multnomah County LibraryUse your Multnomah County Library card to view Digital Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.
Related Guides
The Oregon Trail
Image courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management on Flickr.