In 1941, Kaiser Shipyards received federal contracts to build Liberty ships and aircraft carrier escorts; he chose Portland as one of the sites, and built two shipyards along the Willamette River, and a third in nearby Vancouver; the 150,000 workers he recruited to staff these shipyards play a major role in the growth of Portland, which added 160,000 residents during World War II.
In 1941, Kaiser Shipyards received federal contracts to construct Liberty ships and aircraft carrier escorts; he selected Portland as one of the sites, building two shipyards along the Willamette River, and a third in nearby Vancouver; the 150,000 workers he recruited for these shipyards played a significant role in the growth of Portland, which added 160,000 residents during World War II.