The light rail track we use today follows the same right-of-way as the Forest Grove branch of the Oregon Electric Railway, built in 1908. 

The OER had a stop every few miles, regardless of the number of potential customers. Sewell was a stop in the unpopulated farmlands between Orenco and Hillsboro.

Over the years, Hillsboro grew and swallowed Sewell. The OER track was abandoned. The farms have disappeared, replaced by the fairgrounds and airport to the north and extensive suburbs to the south. 

When the MAX was built in the 90s, the stop was renamed.  Nevertheless, "Sewell" lives on in Washington County's GIS database. Map companies that source their information from this database continue to include Sewell as an unincorporated community. 

Should the name be updated to "Fairgrounds"? Should it be removed? Isn't it arbitrary that Sewell shows up on maps but nearby Milkapsi (present-day Hawthorne Farm) does not?

Don't ask me, I'm not a cartographer. I'm a cyclist. 

I've come to Sewell for the premier event of the year: the Washington County Fair. The new Wingspan Center includes ample bike parking.

I have to appreciate the sidewalk art, featuring the many communities that call Washington County home and no small inspiration to my goal to visit them all.

The fair, itself, is something that all WashCo residents should see at least once. Entry is free (and bike parking is free). Like most summer festivals, there are rides and live music. 

I like to grab a soft serve sundae from the WashCo Dairy Women barn and an elephant ear then catch a show. Past highlights include the BMX stunt team, a bird trainer and a pig race.

Before I head out, I do stop by the train station to see Sewell.