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Oliver P. Lent of Ohio arrived with his wife in 1852 and they settled at a small community east of Portland called Sycamore. In 1866, they moved a little to the west to a tract of 190 acres which is the current site of the community of Lents, Oregon.

Birds Eye View of Lents

A post office was established at Lents in 1886 and it operated until 1917

Early view of a street scene in Lents

Lents was originally platted as the Town of Lent by Oliver P. Lent (1830–1899) in 1892. The original town was bounded by SE Foster Rd., SE Duke St., SE 92nd Ave, and SE 97th Ave. Oliver Lent built and operated a sawmill for many years. He served as school director, road supervisor and justice of the peace.

Beginning in 1892, streetcars on the Mt. Scott Car Line came from downtown Portland and across the Hawthorne Bridge out to the town of Lent. They would connect with the interurbans that went to Gresham and Estacada at Lents Junction.

Main Street Looking North in Lents

The IOOF Hall in Lents housed a hardware store, a furniture store and an undertaker

Newly completed Public School at Lents, Oregon

Lent's town was originally built as a self-sufficient town and suburb of Portland. As Portland grew and absorbed other smaller towns, Lents was annexed into the city in 1912.

Last Update 09-16-07

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