Svensen, OR

On the south side of the Columbia River, Svensen is a Clatsop County census-designated place where Svensen Slough separates the community from Svensen Island around River Mile 24. Peter Svensen gave the place its name; a post office operated here from 1895 to 1944, and rural carriers now deliver mail from Astoria. The 2020 census counted 853 residents. The surrounding land is a mix of forest, diked Columbia River tidelands, farms, and rural homes, with Knappa and U.S. 30 providing the practical nearby centers.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in this area on November 26, 1805, on its way to Fort Clatsop, giving the riverbank a deep historical marker. Today Svensen shares Knappa School District 4 and Knappa High School, while the wider northeast Clatsop landscape connects forest land, river farming, and rural housing. The school and mail routes keep the scattered community tied to nearby Knappa. The map comes down to the slough, the river, Highway 30, and a school route toward Knappa.