A group of grange members started the Multnomah County Fair in 1906 in Gresham, Oregon. The Grange continued to operate the Annual Multnomah County Fair until 1960. At that time, the Grange turned the fair operation over to the Mulnomah County Commissioners to manage.
In 1966, Multnomah County received from the State of Oregon a piece of property now known as the Exposition Center at no cost. Also, in 1966, Multnomah County Commissioners decided to sell the fairgrounds in Gresham and move the county fair to the newly acquired property on Marine Drive.
The Multnomah County Commissioners continued the Annual Multnomah County Fair until 1993, when the Multnomah County Commissioners decided to cease the management of the Mulrnomah County Fair. When asked why the Multnomah County Fair was being discontinued, their reply was due to Measure 5, there were no more funds to operate the fair. Upon investigation, however, some grangers discovered a surprising fact. In 1985, the Multnomah County Commissioners petitioned the State Legislature to have the state law concerning the County Fairs. The revision of the state law allowed Multnomah County Commissioners to abolish the County Fair Board and place all the fair money into the general funds for the Annual Multnmoah County Fair.
This is why in 1993, they were hoping to close the fair down for good. But due to a persistence of grangers and others concerned citizens, the Friends of the Multnomah County Fair was formed. This group, along with the County Commisssioners produced the 1993 and the 1994 Multnomah County Fair.
In October 1994, the Multnomah County Commissioners, at a regular County Board meeting, adopted an Ordinance that allowed the Multnomah County Commissioners to dissolve themselves from all functions of operating the county fair. They turned the County Fair over to the Friends of the Multnomah County Fair. This group continues the operation and management of the Multnomah County Fair.
The Friends of the Multnomah County Fair are still producing the Annual Multnomah County Fair without any help from our County Commissioners. The Friends of the Multnomah County Fair purchased the rights of the name, “Multnomah County Fair” from the Multnomah County Commissioners in October 1994.