St. Helens is located in southeastern
Columbia County, on the
Columbia River, approximately 30 miles northwest of
Portland, between
Columbia City and
Scappoose along
Highway 30. St Helens is also situated southwest of its supposed namesake,
Mount St Helens.
From its inception, the town's position on the river made it a port. Near the riverfront, the old town portion of St. Helens features a Nationally Registered Historic District encompassing 10 blocks, which includes residences and civic buildings dating back nearly a century. One of the more popular building in the historic district is a museum housed in the 1906 courthouse.
Originally settled by New England loggers, St. Helens' basalt rock quarry was also a major industry in the early 1900s. Major employers today include mining, forest products and manufacturing operations.
This section of the Columbia river along Saint Helens offers folks a large selection of Outdoor Activities, including some of the best Fishing anywhere in the state.