About the Portland, Oregon Area

Amidst evergreen forests, sparkling waterfalls and hiking trails, between mountaintops, nearby to the deep blue Pacific Ocean lies a cultural revelation awaiting your discovery. Situated within the natural beauty and charm of northwest Oregon, Portland spans 134 miles of land and 11 miles of water. It is the state’s largest city, with a population of 1.7 million. This vibrant metropolitan haven offers a wide array of activities and events unique to any and every individual: rich in the arts including a great variety of music, dance, theater, performing arts, museums; restaurants and pubs a-plenty; sports for the any-fan whether it be baseball, basketball, football, or even lacrosse; an expansive and well-diversified university system for students from all walks of life; a rich and diversified night life to entertain any mood. You name it, and Portland has got it--with a smile. Portland is well recognized on many “Best Of” lists including Money Magazine’s “Top 10 Best Places to Live.” This “home-town”-feeling metropolis is rich with friendly people, a beautiful and natural environment, and diverse economy offering great opportunities.

Portland is inundated with parks and gardens galore. If you’re looking for something less tame, take a 90-minute scenic drive to the Cascade Mountain Range to explore the rolling terrain, or to enjoy the Pacific Ocean for a refreshing swim or simply to lie in the sun on the pristine beaches. Have family fun swimming, boating, fishing, and enjoying other water activities in nearby Willamette River. The choices are endless.

Location

The heart of the Portland metropolitan area, Portland city proper is located in Multnomah County located in the northwest corner of the State of Oregon. The metropolitan area also includes Washington County, western portions of Clackamas County, and southern Clark County of the State of Washington. Major cities in the area include Beaverton, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

Geography/Terrain

With the Lower Coast Mountain Range to the west and the Cascade Mountain Range to the east, beautiful, scenic Portland is located in the heart of the Willamette River Valley, one of the most fertile river valleys in the world.

Surrounded by evergreen forestlands with rushing waterfalls, the land is typically flat with gently rolling terraced surfaces, which attract many hikers. Altitudes range from sea level to the high terraces of nearly 400 feet. The city includes 134 miles of land, and 11 miles of water, totaling 145 miles. The Willamette River runs through the city of Portland, just south of its convergence with the Columbia River, adding to the city’s beauty and diversity. One of the most significant features about the Portland metropolitan area is that it is situated on top of an extinct volcanic zone, the Boring Lava Field. This volcanic field has been extinct for over 300,000 years, leaving behind a legacy of up to 50 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes making for great photographic journeys. Portland lies 110 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, lending to its marine air.

Distance To Three Closest Major Cities

Beaverton is seven miles to the west of Portland, while Vancouver, Washington is ten miles to the north. Salem, the capital of Oregon, is 47 miles to the south of Portland. In addition, Olympia, the capital of Washington, is 113 miles to the north. Seattle is further north, 173 miles from Portland. In addition, Lincoln City is 105 miles west.

Jobs

Historically and still to this day, Portland’s economy has largely come from its export business. With the nearby Willamette and Columbia rivers easily accessing the Pacific Ocean, Portland has long been the supply hub for local and outreaching farming communities as well as acting as a shipping center for the larger West Coast. Today, Portland is one of the largest export ports on the West Coast, with revenues of over $11 billion in 2003. With its easy access to the United States proper via the international airport services, the well-developed freeway systems, and the intercontinental railroads, Portland is a very important West Coast and international distribution center.

More recently, Portland has become well known for its association with high-tech industries. With the establishment of such companies as Intel Corporation, Tektronix, Microsoft, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard, Portland’s reputation for high-tech job employment is on the rise. There are now more than 1,500 companies based in Portland providing support services for the high-tech industry.

Other leading employment industries in Portland are educational, health, social services; manufacturing; and retail trade. A vast majority of the Portland residents live within the metropolitan area, with only 23% of the workforce commuting.

The median household income is $40,146.

Housing

Portland offers a wide variety of homes, ranging from charming houseboats to multi-million dollar estates. There is a great range in between including quaint cottages, a wide range of condos and apartments, modern single to multi-family homes and old Victorian-style houses—something for every taste and budget. There are also real estate investment opportunities including commercial space, residential properties, and vacant land. The median prices for homes in the Portland area are $154,700.

Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf

Portland’s most prominent feature is its parks and gardens. There are 37,000 acres of open park space in the Portland area, an unchallenged number in any metropolitan area in the United States. Portland is green, from the lush green grass areas, to the evergreen forests. Even in the heart of downtown amidst the busy concrete world, there are lush green havens to enjoy an afternoon walk, or have an impromptu picnic lunch. Discover four of the most diverse and beautiful gardens in the United States: the Classical Chinese Garden, the Oregon Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden.

There are 220 miles of trails interwoven in the Portland area connecting people to the natural beauty of the terrain. Never fear--the city of Portland is extremely well organized, classifying this great expanse of trails into different types: regional trails, community connectors, and local access trails--making navigation a snap. These trails are often used for the daily commute by bicycle and environmental enthusiasts.

Portland Parks and Recreation amenities include several community centers and schools, 13 swimming pools (four indoor year-round pools and seven outdoor pools), indoor and outdoor tennis courts. They offer 5,000+ recreational classes and activities for the entire family including sports, music, hiking, fitness, drama – just to name a few. The Parks and Recreation’s Sports Office coordinates a wide variety of activities (including league activities) from contact sports such as football and soccer, to hand-eye-coordination sports such as softball, volleyball, badminton and tennis.

Portland offers several area golf courses with breathtaking views ranging from the Cascade Mountain Range to the Willamette River. There are 18 courses within the Portland city limits itself, with many more in neighboring towns and cities. Three of the top rated golf courses in the state of Oregon lie within the Portland metropolitan area: the Portland Golf Club offers a challenging 18-hole course featuring 6,683 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72; the Columbia Edgewater Country Club offers an 18-hole course featuring 6,702 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71; Waverley Country Club offers an 18-hole features 6,553 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

Special Attractions/Events

Portland claims bragging rights to more than just its parks. It is the proud home of the Portland Trail Blazers. The diverse community comes together to support their professional basketball team, as well as its international basketball team, the Portland Chinooks. The city participates in many larger competitive sports arenas including minor league baseball, ice hockey, soccer, paintball, and even lacrosse.

Portland has countless year-round events and activities to experience. There are many popular festivals and events to attend. In the summer months, be sure to mark your calendar with your favorite events including the Portland Rose Festival and Parade; the Mount Hood Jazz Festival, one of the nation’s premiere jazz festivals; the Bite, featuring excellent food and wine from Portland’s best restaurants and music; and the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, featuring spectacular 4th of July fireworks.

Portland has a great number of local attractions, some of the most popular being: the world-class Oregon Zoo; inexpensive to downright cheap shopping with its 0% sales tax law; the internationally known Portland Symphony; the International Test Rose Gardens and the Portland Art Museum.

Portland begs you to turn off your television and hit the road! Enjoy the fresh air in the beautiful scenic parks, forests, and trails either on foot, or by bike. Have fun in the water, and take your pick of venues: river, lake, ocean, or swimming pool. Take pleasure in the gardens unique to Portland. There are countless outdoor venues and activities for you to partake in.

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places

Well-known as the “City of Roses,” this city was officially named “Portland” after Francis Pettygrove’s hometown, Portland, Maine. In 1845, he and Asa Lovejoy shared ownership of the land, and tossed a coin to choose the name. Another common reference to Portland is “Puddletown” due to its wet weather. Portland is also affectionately known simply as “P-
Town.”

As a result of “the great renumbering” in 1931, Portland is divided into five sections: southwest, southeast, northwest, north, and northeast. There is also an unnamed sixth section—the addresses are denoted with a precursory “0” before the number. For instance, “01215 Oak St.”

Portland’s many parks include the world’s smallest park, Mill Ends Park, spanning a mere two-foot-diameter circle.

Portland is home to only one state part, Tryon Creek State Park, a most beautiful park named after the well-established Oregon family, the Tryons.

Portland is also home to the second-largest hammered copper statue in the United States. Named “Portlandia,” the statue is situated on the west side of the Portland Building.

Portland is one of two cities in the continental United States with an extinct volcano within its city itself.

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