Swan Island (Oregon)

Swan Island is located on the Willamette River about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) downriver from downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Although presently connected to the Willamette's east bank by land fill, it existed as a river island under natural conditions.

Swan Island and a nearby bar posed an obstacle to river traffic during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with larger vessels being restricted to a narrow channel on the island's east side. Proposals on how to improve navigation around the island included widening one of its channels or removing the island completely.

Swan Island was acquired by the Port of Portland in 1921. The Port undertook dredging to expand the channel on the island's west side, using some of the dredged material to connect the island to the Willamette's east bank. The newly developed area was the site of the Swan Island Airport from 1927 until the early 1940s and was the site of a Kaiser shipyard during World War II. The shipyard facilities were acquired by the Port of Portland after the war, and the area is presently an industrial park.