Stumptown is a name or nickname that has been applied to several places in the United States. The name derives from the practice of clearing land for settlement and leaving tree stumps behind, which were often too labor-intensive to remove immediately.
As a nickname for Portland, Oregon
The most widely recognized use of "Stumptown" is as a historical nickname for Portland, Oregon. The term was coined in the mid-19th century during a period of rapid growth after 1847. As the city expanded, trees were cleared for roads and buildings at such a pace that the stumps were left behind until manpower could be spared to remove them. In some areas, stumps were so numerous that residents reportedly used them as stepping stones to avoid the muddy, unpaved streets. The nickname persists today in the names of several local businesses, including Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the comic book series Stumptown, and the Stumptown Comics Fest.
As a nickname for other places
- Guerneville, California — This town was originally called Stumptown due to the giant redwood stumps left behind by loggers who cleared the forest, much of which was used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. The town holds an annual "Stumptown Daze Parade," and local businesses such as Stumptown Brewery and Stumptown Nursery carry the name.
- Whitefish, Montana — Was called Stumptown as the area was cleared for the train station.
- Matthews, North Carolina — Originally named Stumptown in the early 19th century after cotton farmers cleared the land, leaving tree stumps everywhere.
As an official place name
"Stumptown" is also the official name of several unincorporated communities in the United States:
- Stumptown, Indiana — an unincorporated community in Parke County.
- Stumptown, Loudoun County, Virginia — an unincorporated community.
- Stumptown, Northampton County, Virginia — an unincorporated community.
- Stumptown, West Virginia — an unincorporated community in Gilmer County.
Other uses
- Stumptown (comics) — a detective fiction comic book series written by Greg Rucka with art by Matthew Southworth, first published by Oni Press in 2009.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters — a specialty coffee roaster founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1999.
