The history of Irvington begins in 1851, when riverboat captain William Irving and his wife, Elizabeth, settled a 644 acre Donation Land Claim on Portland's east side. Portland was still a young city at the time. But as the region grew during the second half of the 19th century, the Irving family's property became increasingly valuable for residential development. In October 1887, the original Irvington subdivision was officially platted with 129 rectangular blocks.