Aloha (/əˈloʊ.ə/, not /əˈloʊhɑː/) is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. By road it is 10.9 miles (17.5 km) west of downtown Portland.[3] As of the 2010 Census, the population was 49,425.[4] Fire protection and EMS services are provided through Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.[5] and Metro West Ambulance.
On January 9, 1912, the community received its name with the opening of a post office named Aloha; the area had previously been known as Wheeler Crossing.[6] According to Oregon Geographic Names, the origin of the name Aloha is disputed. Some sources say it was named by Robert Caples, a railroad worker, but it is unknown why the name was chosen. In 1983 Joseph H. Buck claimed that his uncle, the first postmaster, Julius Buck, named the office "Aloah" after a small resort on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. Supposedly the last two letters were transposed by the Post Office during the application process. The local pronunciation, however, has remained Uh-LO-uh rather than Ah-LO-ha.
The community attempted to incorporate in 1984, but the regional boundary commission halted the effort after determining the community could not provide the needed municipal services of a city.[7]
In 2012, a public library was opened in a space within a strip mall shopping center on Farmington Road at Kinnaman Road (anchored by Bales Thriftway). Named the Aloha Community Library, it was established by the non-profit Aloha Community Library Association and is staffed by volunteers. At the time of its opening, it had about 4,500 books.[8]