...

Portland

Portland-Travel-Guide-Travel-S-Helper

Portland, tucked away in the bucolic Pacific Northwest, is the most populous city in Oregon, a U.S. state. Located deliberately in the state’s northwest, this energetic city serves as the meeting ground for the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous county in Oregon, thus it holds an indispensable place within the administrative and cultural framework of the state. With a population of 652,503 as of the 2020 census, Portland, the 26th most populous city in the United States, with Seattle the most populous city in the Pacific Northwest, it is the second-most populous city on the West Coast there. Comprising almost 2.5 million residents, the Portland metropolitan area ranks 25th most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The Portland metro area is remarkably home to almost half of Oregon’s population, which emphasizes its central hub of influence and activity importance.

Portland, Maine, which was subsequently named for the English Isle of Portland, is the source of Portland’s city name. As the settlement in Oregon started to take shape in the 1840s, the Oregon Trail—a historic path bringing pioneers to the western United States—was almost finished. This was a major determinant of Portland’s early economic growth since its favorable water availability helped goods to be transported. Attracting immigrants and promoting development, the timber business grew to be a major player in the local economy. At the turn of the 20th century, Portland, however, became known as one of the most dangerous port cities in the world because of its involvement in racketeering and organized crime. Early years of the city are shadowed by this time of anarchy and vice.

An industrial boom brought about a major change in Portland’s economy during World War II, so turning the city’s fortunes. The flood of wartime businesses and workers—which brought wealth and expansion—gradually undermined the city’s hard-edged reputation. In the 1960s Portland had started to define a new identity based on its liberal and progressive political values. This metamorphosis made the city a counterculture center attracting people and groups looking for progressive ideas and alternative lifestyles. Portland’s artistic expression, social justice, and environmental sustainability defined its cultural scene.

Portland runs under a unique commission-based government under the direction of a mayor and four commissioners. This type of government guarantees a cooperative attitude to decision-making and administration. Moreover, the city participates in Metro, the only directly elected metropolitan planning agency in the United States. Metro is key for the coordination of regional planning and development, so ensuring Portland’s sustainable and effective management of its expansion.

Still another unique quality of the city is its temperature. Portland’s mild, dry summers and cool, rainy winters make it the ideal place to grow roses. Portland has earned the moniker “City of Roses,” a title it has boldly kept for almost a century, from this climatic advantage. Apart from Portland’s beauty and attraction, the several parks, gardens, and annual Rose Festival honor this floral legacy of the city.

Portland, Oregon is a city marked in general by its contrasts and changes. From its beginnings as a timber hub with a dubious reputation to its present position as a progressive, environmentally conscious city, Portland has seen ongoing change. Its dynamic character is shaped in part by its own climate, unusual government, rich history, and strategic location. Portland, the most populous city in Oregon and a major actor in the Pacific Northwest, is still a dynamic center of community, politics, and culture.

United States Dollar (USD)

Currency

1845

Founded

503 and 971

Area code

652,503

Population

145.00 sq mi (375.55 km²)

Area

English

Official language

161 ft (49 m)

Elevation

UTC-08:00 (PST), UTC-07:00 (PDT)

Time zone

Read Next...

The United States of America (USA or U.S.A.), commonly known as the United States (US or U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a…

Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, situated in the Pacific Ocean. As an unincorporated city, it functions as the county seat…

Houston is the most populous city in the Southern United States as well as in the state of Texas. The seat of Harris County and the main city in the…

Indianapolis, commonly referred to as Indy, serves as the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana, as well as the seat of Marion County. Located…

Jackson Hole, once referred to as Jackson’s Hole by early explorers, is a stunning valley embraced by the majestic Gros Ventre and Teton mountain ranges in Wyoming, close to the…

Kansas City, Missouri (frequently abbreviated as KC or KCMO), is the most populous and expansive city in the state of Missouri. Though its borders run into Clay, Platte, and Cass…

Los Angeles, frequently abbreviated as L.A., is the most populous city in the state of California, United States. With almost 3.9 million people living within the city limits as of…

Las Vegas, frequently referred to as Sin City or simply Vegas, stands as the most vibrant city in the U.S. state of Nevada and serves as the seat of Clark…

Memphis, a vibrant city in the American state of Tennessee, is the county seat for Shelby County. Strategically located in the southwestmost part of the state, Memphis is along the…

Miami Beach, part of the Miami metropolitan area in South Florida, is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida and is a vivid and energetic place. Situated on a…

Nashville is recognized as Music City and serves as the capital and the most populous city in the state of Tennessee, as well as the county seat of Davidson County.…

Myrtle Beach, a resort city on the East Coast of the United States, is located in Horry County, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is a lively and busy location tucked away…

Officially known as the City of Oklahoma City and usually referred to as OKC, this energetic city is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.…

Orlando is a vibrant city situated right in the middle of Central Florida. With a vibrant present and a rich legacy, Orlando, Orange County's county seat, is central for the…

New Orleans, often referred to as NOLA or the Big Easy, is a consolidated city-parish situated along the Mississippi River in the southeastern part of Louisiana. With a population of…

Popularly known as New York, New York City (NYC) boasts the highest population among American cities. On one of the biggest natural harbors worldwide, the city lies at the southernmost…

With a population of 1,603,796, Philadelphia—also known as "Philly"—is the sixth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous city in Pennsylvania according to the 2020 census. This…

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, boasting a population of 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is thus the fifth most populous…

Palm Springs is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, nestled within the Colorado Desert’s Coachella Valley. Comprising an area of almost 94 square miles (240 km²),…

St. Louis is a distinguished city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is ideally situated at the meeting point of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, a location that has…

Sitting on the United States' West Coast, Seattle is a vibrant seaport city. With a population of 755,078 in 2023, Seattle is the most populous city in the Pacific Northwest…

San Antonio, formally known as the City of San Antonio, is a dynamic and historically significant city situated in the state of Texas. With a population of 2.6 million according…

Santa Barbara is a lovely coastal city, the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California. Apart from Alaska, this is the longest such length on the West Coast of the…

Santa Monica, situated along the picturesque Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast, is a lively city in Los Angeles County. With a population of 93,076 according to the 2020…

Situated in the scenic Olympic Valley, northwest of Tahoe City in the Sierra Nevada range, Palisades Tahoe is a globally recognized ski resort in the western United States. Originally called…

Vail is located in the Rocky Mountains and serves as a home rule municipality within Eagle County, Colorado, United States. Vail has a population of 4,835 as of the 2020…

Washington, D.C., officially designated as the District of Columbia and often called Washington or D.C., functions as the capital city and federal district of the United States. Situated next to…

Often referred to as Salt Lake or SLC, Salt Lake City is Utah's capital and most populous city. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous…

Fort Lauderdale is an energetic coastal city in the American state of Florida approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. As reported in the 2020…

Denver is a consolidated city and county, and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver's population at the 2020 census was 715,522, a notable 19.22% increase…

Deer Valley, an alpine ski resort situated in the Wasatch Range, is located 36 miles (58 km) east of Salt Lake City, in the picturesque town of Park City, Utah.…

Daytona Beach, a coastal resort city in Volusia County, Florida, is a lively destination recognized for its distinctive combination of natural beauty, historical significance, and exhilarating motorsports. Found on the…

Columbus, the capital and largest city of Ohio, is located at the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. As of the 2020 census, the population is 905,748, making it…

The county seat of El Paso County, Colorado, Colorado Springs is a dynamic city, with a population of 478,961 as of the 2020 census. The most populous city in El…

Cincinnati is a dynamic city situated in the southwestern region of Ohio, functioning as the county seat of Hamilton County. Originally founded in 1788, Cincinnati is ideally located at the…

Home Chicago, the most populous city in Illinois and the Midwestern United States, has a population of 2,746,388 according to the 2020 census. After New York City and Los Angeles,…

Within the United States' Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston is the capital and most populous city. Boston, which is the financial and cultural hub of the Northeastern United States' New England,…

Baltimore, the biggest city in Maryland, boasts a rich history and active culture. With 565,708 people as of the 2020 census, it ranks 30th among US cities. Baltimore became the…

Aspen, a home rule municipality, functions as the county seat and the most populous municipality of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The 2020 US Census states that the city has…

Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It functions as the administrative center of Fulton County, with a segment of the city…