This community is located in Multnomah County, east of Portland along US Highway 26, between Troutdale and Milwaukie, situated along the banks of Kelley Cr. and Johnson Cr.

Gresham was founded in 1852 by pioneers who cut a trail through the wilderness (Oregon Trail) as they came over Mt. Hood on their way to the Willamette Valley. Gresham is now the gateway between the Columbia River Gorge Nat'l Scenic Area and Mt. Hood Recreation areas.

In the late fall of 1903, Gresham was one of three "deposit stations," the first collections of books within Multnomah County that were housed outside the main library building in downtown Portland (which would later become known as the Gresham Regional Library).

Music lovers flock to Gresham in July for the Windjam Northwest, and in August for the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz.

Gresham is part of the Portland-Vancouver, Oregon-WA metro area.