The Port of St. Helens is the port authority

Port authority

In Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...

 for St. Helens, Oregon

St. Helens, Oregon

St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain H. M. Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845 as "Plymouth". The name was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens some away in Washington. The population was 10,019 at...

, United States. The port is a municipal corporation

Municipal corporation

A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...

 formed under state law

Oregon Revised Statutes

The Oregon Revised Statutes is the codified body of statutory law governing the U.S. state of Oregon, as enacted by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and occasionally by citizen initiative...

 to engage in public development activities. Under Oregon law, port districts have a broad range of economic development powers. The Port of St. Helens owns and operates properties throughout its district from the Clatsop County

Clatsop County, Oregon

Clatsop County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement. As of 2010, the population was 37,039. The county seat is Astoria.-Economy:The principal...

 line in the northwest of Columbia County

Columbia County, Oregon

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was named for the Columbia River, which forms its eastern and northern borders. As of 2010, its population was 49,351. The county seat is St. Helens.-Economy:...

, to the Multnomah County

Multnomah County, Oregon

Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...

 line in the southeast, a six-mile-wide band that follows 51 miles of the Columbia River

Columbia River

The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...

 within Columbia County. The boundaries include the cities of Scappoose

Scappoose, Oregon

Scappoose is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It was named for a nearby stream, which drains the southern part of the county...

, Warren

Warren, Oregon

Warren is an unincorporated community in Columbia County, Oregon, United States located on U.S. Route 30 north of Scappoose and south of St. Helens on Scappoose Bay of the Columbia River....

, St. Helens, Columbia City

Columbia City, Oregon

Columbia City is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It was named for its location on the Columbia River. The population was 1,571 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,955 residents.-History:...

, Rainier

Rainier, Oregon

Rainier is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,687 at the 2000 census. Rainier is located on the south bank of the Columbia River across from Kelso and Longview, Washington-History:...

 and Clatskanie

Clatskanie, Oregon

Clatskanie is a city in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the Clatskanie River, which empties into the Columbia River within the city limits. The population was 1,528 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,710 residents.-History:...

. The Port of St. Helens also owns and operates Scappoose Industrial Airpark

Scappoose Industrial Airpark

Scappoose Industrial Airpark is a public use airport located one nautical mile northeast of the central business district of Scappoose, in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. It is owned and operated by the Port of St. Helens, an Oregon port district and municipal corporation, on behalf of...

in Scappoose and Scappoose Bay Marina in Warren.

The Board of Port Commissioners is elected by district residents. The board sets policy, approves a budget, hires an executive director, and does other things in the best interest of district residents. The executive director acts as the administrative arm of the port.

The mission of the Port of St. Helens is to create and sustain jobs; diversify regional economy; Provide and improve financial return for the Port district using marine, aviation, industrial, recreational, staff and financial resources with quality customers.