Southwest Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

William W. Chapman

1808 – 1892

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

1. William W. Chapman Marker

Inscription. A former Iowa territorial legislator and native of Virginia, Chapman arrived in Portland in 1850 and became a partner in the townsite promotion company with Daniel Lownsdale and Stephen Coffin. An attorney with business interests, including shipping and the Valley Plank Road, Chapman also served as Surveyor General for Oregon from 1857 to 1861 when he resigned to practice law. Chapman sold the Chapman Square site to the city in 1870.

Erected 1991 by Lang Syne Society of Portland.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 45° 30.925′ N, 122° 40.669′ W. Marker is in Portland, Oregon, in Multnomah County. It is in Southwest Portland. It can be reached from the intersection of Southwest Main Street and Southwest 4th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. The marker is the middle of Chapman Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 SW Main Street, Portland OR 97204, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s

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Columbia River Gorge

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Honor of Vietnam Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); 太湖石 / Lake Tai Rock (within shouting distance of this marker); Spanish–American War Soldier's Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fountain for Company H (about 300 feet away); Daniel H. Lownsdale (about 300 feet away); The Portland Building Transformation (about 300 feet away); Ira Keller (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Washington Ellipse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Also see . . .
1. William W. Chapman (Wikipedia).

Chapman purchased land in Portland from Stephen Coffin and Daniel H. Lownsdale in 1850, which he then cleared and built a home. This is now the site
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

2. William W. Chapman Marker
The marker is found in the center of Chapman Square.
of the Multnomah County Courthouse. In Portland, he was a promoter of the city and helped to get Canyon Road built to ensure the city would become the commercial center of Oregon.

(Submitted on August 27, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

2. Chapman Square (City of Portland).

The Plaza Blocks were lively places where orators held forth and citizens assembled. They are characterized in part by several large old elms and gingko trees. Chapman Square, originally designed for the exclusive use of women and children, features all female gingko trees.

(Submitted on August 27, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 26, 2026

3. William W. Chapman Marker

A sign reads Chapman Square. William Chapman sold this site to the City of Portland.

William W. Chapman image. Click for full size.

Colmer, Montagu, and Charles Erskine Scott Wood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

4. William W. Chapman

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.