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Portland, Oregon

 

 

 

 

 

Portland, Oregon


 
 
History
Portland started as a spot known as "the clearing," which was on the banks of the Willamette about halfway between Oregon CityOregon City, Oregon

Oregon City is the first city in the United States incorporated west of the Rockies....
 and Fort VancouverFort Vancouver

Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson...
. In 1843, William OvertonWilliam Overton (Portland founder)

William Overton was a pioneer of the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest region of North America....
 saw great commercial potential for this land but lacked the funds required to file a land claim. He struck a bargain with his partner Asa LovejoyAsa Lovejoy

Asa Lawrence Lovejoy was an Oregon pioneer and one of the founders of the city of Portland, Oregon....
 of Boston, MassachusettsFacts About Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States....
: for 25¢, Overton would share his claim to the 640 acre (2.6 km²) site. Overton later sold his half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, MainePortland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in the U.S....
. Pettygrove and Lovejoy each wished to name the new city after his respective home town; this was decided with a coin toss, which Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses.The coin used for this decision, now known as the Portland PennyPortland Penny

The Portland Penny is the name subsequently given to a specific coin, a U.S....
, is on display in the headquarters of the Oregon Historical SocietyOregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society is an organization which encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of...
.

At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851 Portland had over 800 inhabitants, a steam sawmill, a log cabinFacts About Log cabin

A log cabin is a small house built from logs....
 hotel, and a newspaper, the Weekly OregonianThe Oregonian

The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications....
.






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Timeline

1851   The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning.

1889   The first long distance electric power transmission line in the United States is completed, running 14 miles between a generator at Willamette Falls and downtown Portland, Oregon.

1972   Steve Jobs graduates from Homestead High School and enrolls in Reed College in Portland, Oregon but drops out after one semester.

1994   In Portland, Oregon, Tonya Harding's ex-husband Jeff Gillooly pleads guilty for his role in attacking figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. He accepts a plea bargain, admitting to racketeering charges in exchange for testimony against Harding.

1994   In Portland, Oregon, Tonya Harding pleads guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for trying to cover-up an attack on figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. She is fined $100,000 and banned from the sport.






Encyclopedia


History


Portland started as a spot known as "the clearing," which was on the banks of the Willamette about halfway between Oregon CityOregon City, Oregon

Oregon City is the first city in the United States incorporated west of the Rockies....
 and Fort VancouverFort Vancouver

Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson...
. In 1843, William OvertonWilliam Overton (Portland founder)

William Overton was a pioneer of the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest region of North America....
 saw great commercial potential for this land but lacked the funds required to file a land claim. He struck a bargain with his partner Asa LovejoyAsa Lovejoy

Asa Lawrence Lovejoy was an Oregon pioneer and one of the founders of the city of Portland, Oregon....
 of Boston, MassachusettsFacts About Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States....
: for 25¢, Overton would share his claim to the 640 acre (2.6 km²) site. Overton later sold his half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, MainePortland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in the U.S....
. Pettygrove and Lovejoy each wished to name the new city after his respective home town; this was decided with a coin toss, which Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses.The coin used for this decision, now known as the Portland PennyPortland Penny

The Portland Penny is the name subsequently given to a specific coin, a U.S....
, is on display in the headquarters of the Oregon Historical SocietyOregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society is an organization which encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of...
.

At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851 Portland had over 800 inhabitants, a steam sawmill, a log cabinFacts About Log cabin

A log cabin is a small house built from logs....
 hotel, and a newspaper, the Weekly OregonianThe Oregonian

The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications....
. By 1879, the population had grown to 17,500.

Portland's location, with access both to the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water. ...
 via the Willamette and the Columbia rivers and to the agricultural Tualatin ValleyTualatin Valley

The Tualatin Valley is a farming and suburban region southwest of Portland, Oregon in the United States....
 via the "Great Plank Road" through a canyon in the West Hills (the route of current-day U.S. Route 26), gave it an advantage over nearby ports, and it grew quickly. It remained the major port in the Pacific Northwest for much of the 19th century, until the 1890s, when SeattleSeattle, Washington

Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States....
's deepwater harbor was connected to the rest of the mainland by rail, affording an inland route without the treacherous navigation of the Columbia River.

The first known reference to Portland as "The City of Roses" was made by visitors to an 1888 Episcopal ChurchEpiscopal Church in the United States of America

The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or as it is also known, The Episcopal Church, is the ...
 convention, the nickname growing in popularity after the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial ExpositionLewis and Clark Centennial Exposition

The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known...
 where Mayor Harry Lane suggested that the city needed a "festival of roses." The first Portland Rose FestivalPortland Rose Festival

The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon....
 was held two years later and remains the city's major annual festival a century later.

Law and government


The city of Portland is governed by the Portland City Council, which includes the Mayor and four other Commissioners; and an auditor. Each is elected citywide to serve a four year term. The auditor provides checks and balances in the commission form of government and accountability for the use of public resources. In addition, the auditor provides access to information for all Council members and the public and issues reports on various matters of city government.

The city's Office of Neighborhood Involvement serves as a conduit between city government and 95 neighborhood associationsPortland, Oregon neighborhoods

There are 95 officially recognized Portland, Oregon neighborhoods....
, which are grouped into seven coalitions.

Portland and its surrounding metropolitan area are also served by MetroMetro (Oregon regional government)

Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of ...
, the United States' only directly elected regional government. Metro's charter includes land use and transportation planning, solid waste management, and map development. It also owns and operates the Oregon Convention CenterOregon Convention Center

The Oregon Convention Center is a convention center in Portland, Oregon....
, Oregon ZooOregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo 2 miles WSW of downtown Portland, Oregon in Portland's Wash...
, Portland Center for the Performing ArtsPortland Center for the Performing Arts

The Portland Center for the Performing Arts is a collection of small- and medium-sized venues for live stage, concerts, cine...
, and Portland Metropolitan Exposition CenterPortland Metropolitan Exposition Center

The Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center is a convention center located in Portland, Oregon....
. The Multnomah CountyMultnomah County, Oregon

Multnomah County is a county located in the U.S....
 government also provides many services to the Portland area, along with that of WashingtonWashington County, Oregon

Washington County is a county located in the U.S....
 and ClackamasClackamas County, Oregon

Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S....
 Counties to the west and south.

Since the 1950s, if not earlier, Portland has strongly favored the Democratic Party at all levels of government. Although local elections are nonpartisan, most of the city's elected officials are Democrats. Democrats also dominate the city's delegation to the Oregon Legislature.

Federally, Portland is split between three congressional districts. Most of the city is in the 3rd DistrictOregon's 3rd congressional district

Oregon's 3rd congressional district is a United States Congressional District that covers most of Multnomah County, includin...
, represented by Earl BlumenauerEarl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer is a Democratic U.S....
, who served on the city council from 1986 until his election to Congress in 1996. Most of the city west of the Willamette River is part of the 1st DistrictOregon's 1st congressional district

Oregon's 1st congressional district is a United States Congressional District that represents the northwest corner of Oregon...
, represented by David WuDavid Wu

David Wu is a Democratic member of the U.S....
. A small portion of the city is in the 5th DistrictOregon's 5th congressional district

Oregon's 5th congressional district is a United States Congressional District that represents Oregon's central coast through...
, represented by Darlene HooleyDarlene Hooley

Darlene Hooley is a Democratic member of the U.S....
. All three are Democrats; a Republican has not represented a significant portion of Portland since 1975. Oregon's senior SenatorUnited States Senate

he United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Repres...
, Ron WydenRon Wyden

Ronald Lee Wyden is Oregon's senior United States Senator. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, is from Portland.

Planning and development


The city consulted with urban planners as far back as 1903. Development of Washington ParkWashington Park, Portland

Washington Park is a public urban park in Portland, Oregon....
 and one of the country's finest greenways, the 40 Mile Loop40 Mile Loop

The 40 Mile Loop is a partially completed greenway trail around and through Portland in the U.S....
, which interconnects many of the city's parks, began.

Portland is often cited as an example of a city with strong land use planningLand use planning

Land Use Planning is the term used for a branch of public policy which encompasses various disciplines which seek to order a...
 controls; This is largely the result of statewide land conservation policies adopted in 1973 under Governor Tom McCallTom McCall

Thomas Lawson McCall was an American politician, a Republican, and the thirtieth governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975....
, in particular the requirement for an urban growth boundaryUrban growth boundary

An urban growth boundary, or UGB, is a regional boundary, set in an attempt to control urbanization by designating the area...
 (UGB) for every city and metropolitan area. The opposite extreme, a city with few or no controls, is typically illustrated by Houston, TexasHouston, Texas

Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States....
.

Portland's urban growth boundary, adopted in 1979, separates urban areas (where high-density development is encouraged and focused) from traditional farm land (where restrictions on non-agricultural development are very strict). This was atypical in an era when automobile use led many areas to neglect their core cities in favor of development along interstate highways, in suburbSuburb

Suburbs are inhabited districts located either inside a town or city's outer rim or just outside its official limits , or th...
s, and satellite citiesSatellite city

Satellite cities are smaller municipalities that are adjacent to a major city which is the core of a metropolitan area....
.

As a result, one can see pastoral farmlands and old red barns within of downtown Portland, literally across the street from large suburban developments (where that street is the urban growth boundary.) Opponents argue that this growth boundary has limited growth and increased the costs of housing; proponents argue that it has preserved valuable farmland, made possible the popular farmer's markets in Portland, and brought more efficient public transportation and less traffic than similarly sized cities.

As the population has grown, and undeveloped land inside the urban growth boundary has dwindled, there has been pressure to change or relax the rules. The rapid growth of two major employers in Washington County, namely NikeNike, Inc.

| company_name = NIKE, Inc.| company_logo = | company_type = Public corporation...
 and Intel, contributed to this pressure.

The original state rules included a provision for expanding urban growth boundaries, but critics felt this wasn't being accomplished. In 1995, the State passed a law requiring cities to expand UGBs to provide enough undeveloped land for a 20 year supply of future housing at projected growth levels.



The Portland Development CommissionPortland Development Commission

The Portland Development Commission is the Urban Renewal agency created by the city of Portland, Oregon....
 is a semi-public agency that plays a major role in downtown development; it was created by city voters in 1958 to serve as the city’s urban renewalUrban renewal Overview

Urban renewal is a function of urban planning that in the United States reached its peak from the late 1940s through to the ...
 agency. It provides housing and economic development programs within the city, and works behind the scenes with major local developers to create large projects. It has been criticized for clubbiness and lack of transparency.

In the early 1960s, the PDC led the razing of a large Italian-Jewish neighborhood downtown, bounded roughly by the I-405 freeway, the Willamette River, 4th Avenue and Market street. It was replaced by concrete office developments that proponents find clean and modern, and opponents find antiseptic and lifeless at night.

Mayor Neil GoldschmidtFacts About Neil Goldschmidt

Neil Edward Goldschmidt is a former politician and businessman living in the State of Oregon and a member of the United Stat...
 took office in the 1970s as a proponent of bringing housing and the associated vitality back to the downtown area, which was seen as emptying out after 5pm. The effort has had dramatic effects in the 30 years since, with many thousands of new housing units clustered in 3 areas; west of Portland State University (between the I-405 freeway, SW Broadway, and SW Taylor St.); the RiverPlace development along the waterfront under the Marquam (I-5) bridge; and most notably in the Pearl District (between I-405, Burnside St., NW Northrup St., and NW 9th Ave.).

The , housed in Portland State University Geography Department's Center for Mapping Research, promotes better integration of the built and natural environments. The institute works on urban park, trail, and natural areas planning issues, both at the local and regional levels.

According to Grist MagazineGrist Magazine

Grist Magazine is an award-winning online magazine that publishes environmental news and views from an irreverent perspe...
, Portland is the second most eco-friendly or "green" city in the world trailing only ReykjavíkReykjavík

Reykjavk is the capital of Iceland, its largest city and the world's most northern national capital, its latitude being 640...
, IcelandIceland Overview

Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is a volcanic island nation in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenl...
.

Free speech

Because of strong free speech protections of the Oregon ConstitutionOregon Constitution

The Oregon Constitution is a U.S. state constitution, the governing document of the U.S....
, Portland reportedly has more strip clubs per capita than either Las Vegas or San Francisco.

Geography and climate



Portland lies at the northern end of Oregon's most populated region, the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley

The Willamette Valley , with the accent on the second syllable) is the region in northwest Oregon in the United States that ...
. However, as the metropolitan area is culturally and politically distinct from the rest of the valley, local usage often excludes Portland from the valley proper. Although almost all of Portland lies within Multnomah County, small portions of the city lie within ClackamasClackamas County, Oregon Overview

Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S....
 and WashingtonFacts About Washington County, Oregon

Washington County is a county located in the U.S....
 counties with mid-2005 populations estimated at 785 and 1,455, respectively. The Willamette RiverWillamette River

The Willamette River is a tributary of the Columbia River, long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States....
 runs north through the city center, separating the east and west sections of the city before veering slightly northwest to join with the Columbia RiverColumbia River

The Columbia River is a river situated in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
 (which separates the state of WashingtonWashington

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
 from the state of OregonOregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States....
) a short distance north of the city.

According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is a part of the United States Department of Commerce....
, the city has a total area of 145.4 sq miSquare mile

A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile in length....
 (376.5 km²Square kilometre

Square kilometre, symbol km, is an SI unit of surface area....
). 134.3 sq mi (347.9 km²) of it is land and 11.1 sq mi (28.6 km²), or 7.6%, is water.

Portland lies on top of an extinct Plio-Pleistocene volcanic field known as the Boring Lava FieldBoring Lava Field

The Boring Lava Field is an extinct Plio-Pleistocene volcanic zone with at least 32 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes ...
. The Boring Lava Field includes at least 32 cinder cones such as Mount TaborMount Tabor, Portland, Oregon

Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic cinder cone, surrounded by a city park, surrounded by a neighborhood, in the Southeast se...
,, and its center lies in Southeast Portland. The dormant but potentially active volcano Mount HoodMount Hood

Mount Hood is a dormant stratovolcano in northern Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States....
 to the east of Portland is easily visible from much of the city. The active volcano Mount Saint Helens to the north in WashingtonWashington

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
 is visible in the distance from high-elevation locations in the city and is close enough to have dusted the city with volcanic ash after an eruption on June 12, 1980.

Climate

Portland lies within the Marine west coast climate zone, with some distinct characteristics of the Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate

A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles those of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea....
 as well. Summers in Portland are warm and relatively dry, with July averaging a high of 27 °C (81 °F) and a low of 14 °C (58 °F). Winters can be mild to chilly, and very moist, with January averaging a high of 8 °C (46 °F) and a low of 3 °C (37 °F). The rainfall averages per year. Portland averages 155 days with measurable precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)

In meteorology, precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather to the ground....
 a year. Snowfall occurs no more than a few times per year, although the city has been known to see major snow and ice storms thanks to cold air outflow from the Columbia River GorgeColumbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
. The city's winter snowfall totals have ranged from just a trace on many occasions, to 154.7 cm (60.9 inches) in 1892-93. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Portland was −19 °C (−3 °F), set on February 2 1950. The highest temperature ever recorded was 42 °C (107 °F), set on July 30 1965 as well as August 8 1981 and August 10 1981. Temperatures of 38 °C (100 °F) have been recorded in each of the months from May through September.

Sections and neighborhoods


Portland straddles the Willamette River near its confluence with the Columbia River. The denser and earlier-developed west side is mostly hemmed in by the nearby West Hills (Tualatin Mountains)Tualatin Mountains

The Tualatin Mountains are a range of hills on the western border of Multnomah County, Oregon, USA....
, though it extends over them to the border with Washington County. The flatter east side fans out for about 180 blocks, until it meets the suburb of GreshamGresham, Oregon

Gresham is a city located in Multnomah County, Oregon about 18km east of Portland....
. Rural Multnomah County lies farther east.

In 1891 the cities of Portland, AlbinaAlbina, Oregon

Albina is a historical city which was consolidated into Portland, Oregon in 1891....
, and East PortlandFacts About East Portland, Oregon

East Portland is a historical city which was consolidated into Portland, Oregon in 1891....
 were consolidated, and duplicate street names were given new names. The "great renumbering" on September 2, 1931 standardized street naming patterns, and changed house numbers from 20 per block to 100 per block. It divided Portland into five sections: Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, North, and Northeast. Burnside St. divides north and south, and the Willamette River divides east and west. The river curves west five blocks north of Burnside and in place of it, Williams Ave. is used as a divider. The North section lies between Williams Ave. and the Willamette River to the west.

The streets of Portland are for the most part laid out on a grid, with named "streets" running perpendicular to the Willamette River and numbered "avenues" running parallel to (and with numbers increasing with distance from) the river. The grid breaks down in hilly regions, particularly in the West Hills, where roads follow the contours of elevation. The "logic" of the grid also breaks down slightly in the North section: it's the only section on the east side where address numbers go higher towards the river. In the rest of the east side, the numbers go lower towards the river.

On the west side, the RiverPlace, John's Landing and South Waterfront Districts lie in a "sixth quadrant" where addresses go higher from west to east toward the river. This "sixth quadrant" is roughly bounded by Naito Parkway and Barbur Boulevard to the west, Montgomery Street to the north and Nevada Street to the south.
Southwest



Downtown PortlandDowntown Portland

Portland, Oregon's downtown, where most of its highrise buildings are found, is in the northeastern corner of the southwest sectio...
 lies in the Southwest section between the I-405 freeway loop and the Willamette River, centered around Pioneer Courthouse SquarePioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square, affectionately known as Portland's Living Room, is a public space occupying a full 40,000 ft ...
 ("Portland's living room"). Downtown and many other parts of inner Portland have compact square blocks (200 ft [60 m] on a side) and narrow streets (64 ft [20 m] wide), a pedestrian-friendly combination.

Many of Portland's recreational, cultural, educational, governmental, business, and retail resources are concentrated downtown, including:
  • , and Parks, and Tom McCall Waterfront ParkTom McCall Waterfront Park

    Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a park located on the west bank of the Willamette River in downtown Portland, Oregon....
  • Arlene Schnitzer Concert HallArlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

    The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is a historic theater building and performing arts center in Portland, Oregon....
    , Portland Art MuseumPortland Art Museum

    The Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon, United States, was founded in 1892, making it the oldest art museum in the Paci...
    , and Oregon Historical Society MuseumOregon Historical Society

    The Oregon Historical Society is an organization which encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of...
  • Portland City HallPortland City Hall (Oregon)

    Portland City Hall is the headquarters of city government of Portland, Oregon, United States....
    , Multnomah County CourthouseMultnomah County Courthouse Summary

    Multnomah County Courthouse serves as the second courthouse for Multnomah County, Oregon....
    , the Portland BuildingPortland Public Service Building

    The Portland Building is a 15-story municipal office building located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland, Oregon....
    , Pioneer CourthousePioneer Courthouse

    The Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon is the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest....
    , and Mark O. Hatfield United States CourthouseMark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse

    The Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon....
  • Portland State UniversityPortland State University

    Portland State University is a university located in downtown Portland, Oregon....
    , with the largest student body of any in Oregon
  • The Meier & Frank BuildingMeier & Frank Building

    The Meier & Frank Building is a fifteen story, glazed terra cotta building located in downtown Portland, Oregon, across from...
     and Pioneer PlacePioneer Place

    Pioneer Place is a shopping mall in downtown Portland, Oregon....
     mall
  • Wells Fargo CenterFacts About Wells Fargo Center (Portland, Oregon)

    The Wells Fargo Center is the tallest building in Portland, Oregon....
    , the tallest building in Oregon (546 feet [166 m])


Beyond downtown, the Southwest section also includes:

  • The campuses of Oregon Health & Science UniversityOregon Health & Science University

    Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus in Portland, Oregon, and a smaller ca...
     (OHSU), Lewis & Clark CollegeLewis & Clark College

    Lewis & Clark College is a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon....
    , and Portland Community CollegePortland Community College Summary

    Portland Community College is Oregon's largest community college, located in Portland....
    /Sylvania
  • Neighborhoods like South Portland, South BurlingameSouth Burlingame, Portland, Oregon

    South Burlingame is a neighborhood in the Southwest section of Portland, Oregon....
    , Hillsdale, and Multnomah, with unique residential houses and well defined commercial and retail districts
  • Alpenrose DairyAlpenrose Dairy

    Alpenrose Dairy is a dairy company located in the Hayhurst neighborhood of southwest Portland, Oregon since 1916....
     in the HayhurstHayhurst, Portland, Oregon

    Hayhurst is a neighborhood in the Southwest section of Portland, Oregon, on the border with Washington County....
     neighborhood, the grounds of which host track cyclingTrack cycling

    Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
     and Little LeagueLittle League

    Little League Baseball is the name of a non-profit organization in the United States which organizes local children's league...
     sports
  • Washington ParkWashington Park, Portland

    Washington Park is a public urban park in Portland, Oregon....
    , site of North AmericaNorth America

    North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere....
    's deepest transit stationWashington Park (MAX station)

    Washington Park is a light rail station on the MAX Blue and Red lines in Portland, Oregon....
    , the Oregon ZooOregon Zoo

    The Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo 2 miles WSW of downtown Portland, Oregon in Portland's Wash...
    , Hoyt ArboretumHoyt Arboretum

    The Hoyt Arboretum is located atop a ridge in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA at ....
    , the International Rose Test GardenInternational Rose Test Garden

    The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon....
    , the Portland Japanese GardenPortland Japanese Garden

    The Portland Japanese Garden is a traditional Japanese garden occupying 5.5 acres, located within Washington Park in the wes...
    , the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and many hiking trails.
  • The south Willamette riverfrontSouth Waterfront

    The South Waterfront is a new high-rise district under construction on former brownfield industrial land in the Corbett-Terw...
     along SW Macadam Ave., over 100 acres (0.4 km²) of former industrial land. This area is undergoing redevelopment as a mixed-use, high-density neighborhood, with an anticipated 2,700 residential units and 5,000 high-tech jobs after build-out.

Northwest


Northwest Portland includes the Pearl DistrictPearl District, Portland, Oregon

The Pearl District is a former warehouse and light industrial area just north of downtown Portland, Oregon....
, most of Old Town ChinatownOld Town Chinatown, Portland, Oregon

Old Town Chinatown is a neighborhood in the Northwest and Southwest sections of Portland, Oregon....
, the Northwest DistrictNorthwest District, Portland, Oregon

The Northwest District is a densely populated retail and residential neighborhood in the Northwest section of Portland, Oreg...
, and various residential and industrial neighborhoods. A range of streets in Northwest Portland is named alphabetically from Ankeny (actually one block South Of Burnside, which even though it is technically the divider between north and south, is the "B" street in the alphabetical sequence) north to Wilson (Though some claim Yeon is the northernmost "alphabet" street, there is no "X" street, and Yeon is not contiguous with the rest. Chronologically Yeon is a later addition as well.) Several characters in Portland native Matt GroeningMatt Groening

Matthew Abram Groening is an Emmy-winning American cartoonist and the creator of the American animated television series ...
's TV show The SimpsonsFacts About The Simpsons

The Simpsons is an Emmy and Peabody-winning American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Network, becom...
have names based on these: Ned FlandersNed Flanders

Ned Flanders is a fictional character on The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer....
, the bully KearneyKearney (Simpsons)

Kearney is a character from The Simpsons....
, Reverend Lovejoy, Mayor Quimby, Milhouse Van HoutenMilhouse Van Houten

Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced b...
 (actually in North Portland), and possibly C. Montgomery (also named for the large Montgomery Park (Formerly Montgomery Ward) sign) Burns[ide]. Contrary to popular belief, the character Sideshow Bob TerwilligerSideshow Bob

Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known by his stage name Sideshow Bob, is a fictional character on The Simpsons'...
 is not named after SW Terwilliger Boulevard in Southwest Portland.

The Pearl District is a recent name for a former warehouseWarehouse

A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods....
 and industrial area just north of downtown. Many of the warehouses have been converted into loftLoft

The term loft mainly refers to two different types of rooms:...
s, and new multistory condominiums have also been developed on previously vacant land. The increasing density has attracted a mix of restaurants, brewpubBrewpub

A brewpub is a pub or restaurant that brews beer on the premises....
s, shops, and art galleries. The galleries sponsor simultaneous artists' receptions on the first Thursday of every month.

Between the Pearl District and the Willamette is the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. It includes Portland's ChinatownChinatown

A Chinatown is a section an urban area associated with a large number of Chinese residents or commercial activities within a...
, marked by a pair of lionsFoo Dog

Foo Dog or Fu Dog may refer to:...
 at its entrance at NW 4th Ave. and W Burnside St. and home to the Portland Classical Chinese GardenPortland Classical Chinese Garden

Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Garden of Awakening Orchids, is a walled garden enclosing a full city block, roughly 40 0...
. Before World War IIWorld War II Summary

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers ,...
, this area was known as Japan Town or Little Tokyo; Chinatown was previously located just south of W. Burnside St. along the riverfront.

Further west is the compact but thriving NW 21st and 23rd Avenue restaurant and retail area, the core of the Northwest District. Parts of this area are also called Uptown and . The residential areas adjacent to the shopping district include the Alphabet Historic District (with large Victorian and Craftsman homes built in the years before and shortly after 1900) and a large district centered around . The neighborhood has a mix of Victorian-era houses, apartment buildings from throughout the 20th century, and various businesses centered around Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. The Portland StreetcarPortland Streetcar Summary

The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon which serves the downtown and surrounding areas....
 connects Nob Hill to downtown, via the Pearl.

West of the developed areas is the northern portion of Portland's West Hills, including the majority of extensive Forest ParkForest Park (Portland)

Forest Park is a municipal and public park, located west of downtown Portland, Oregon....
 and the Willamette Heights, Hillside, Sylvan, Skyline and Forest Heights neighborhoods.
North

North Portland is a diverse mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. It includes the Portland International RacewayPortland International Raceway

Portland International Raceway is located in Portland, Oregon's Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south...
, the University of PortlandUniversity of Portland

name = University of Portland|image = |motto = Veritas vos Liberabit...
, and massive cargo facilities of the Port of Portland. Slang-names for it include "NoPo" (shortened from North Portland) and "the Fifth Quadrant" (for being the odd-man out from the four-cornered logic of SE, NE, SW, and NW).

North Portland is connected to the industrial area of Northwest Portland by the St. Johns BridgeSt. Johns Bridge

The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge along U.S....
, a long suspension bridge completed in 1931 and extensively rehabilitated in 2003-05.

During World War IIWorld War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers ,...
, a planned development named VanportVanport, Oregon Summary

Vanport was a hastily constructed city of public housing located in Multnomah County, Oregon between the contemporary Portla...
 was constructed to the north of this section between the city limits and the Columbia RiverColumbia River

The Columbia River is a river situated in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
. It grew to be the second largest city in Oregon, but was wiped out by a disastrous flood in 1948. Columbia Villa, another wartime housing project in the Portsmouth Neighborhood, is being rebuilt; the new $150 million community is known as New Columbia and offers public housing, rental housing, and single family home ownership units. Since 2004, a light rail line runs along Interstate AvenueMAX Yellow Line

The MAX Yellow Line is a 5.8 mile light rail route in the Metropolitan Area Express light rail system in Portland, Oregon....
, which parallels I-5, stopping short of crossing the Columbia RiverColumbia River

The Columbia River is a river situated in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest of the United States....
.
Northeast



Northeast Portland contains a diverse collection of neighborhoods. For example, while IrvingtonIrvington, Portland, Oregon

to the east; [[Sullivan's Gulch, Portland, Orego...
 and the Alameda RidgeAlameda Ridge

The Alameda Ridge is a large gravel bar located in Portland, Oregon, United States....
 feature some of the oldest and most expensive homes in Portland, nearby KingFacts About King, Portland, Oregon

King is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon....
 is a more working-class neighborhood. Because it is so large, Northeast Portland can essentially be divided ethnically, culturally, and geographically into inner and outer sections. The inner Northeast neighborhoods that surround Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. were once predominantly African American, resembling typical urban inner-city environments found in most major U.S. cities. However, the demographics are now changing due to the process of gentrificationGentrification

Gentrification is a process in which low-cost, physically deteriorated neighborhoods experience physical renovation and an ...
. Inner Northeast includes several shopping areas, such as the Lloyd DistrictLloyd District, Portland, Oregon

The Lloyd District is a primarily commercial neighborhood in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon....
, AlbertaAlberta Street, Portland, Oregon

Alberta Street is a thoroughfare in Portland, Oregon, stretching through the North and Northeast sections of the city....
 Arts District and Hollywood, and part of the affluent IrvingtonIrvington, Portland, Oregon

to the east; [[Sullivan's Gulch, Portland, Orego...
, AlamedaAlameda, Portland, Oregon

Alameda is a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon that sits on a hill with views of Downtown, the Willamette River, and the Casc...
, Grant ParkGrant Park, Portland, Oregon

Grant Park is a neighborhood and park in the Northeast section of Portland, Oregon....
 and LaurelhurstLaurelhurst, Portland, Oregon

Laurelhurst is a neighborhood of vintage homes and undulating streets surrounding a park of the same name, straddling the NE and S...
 neighborhoods and nearby developments. The city plan targets Lloyd District as another mixed-use area, with high-density residential development.

Straddling the base of the borders of North and Northeast is the Rose Quarter. It is named after the Rose Garden, home of the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon....
, and also includes the Blazers' former home, the Memorial ColiseumMemorial Coliseum

The Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena, the oldest part of what is now known as the Rose Quarter area within Portland, Ore...
. The Coliseum is the home to Portland's hockey team, the Portland Winter HawksPortland Winter Hawks

The Portland Winter Hawks are members of the Western Hockey League, the highest level of non-professional hockey in the worl...
, of the Western Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey League

The Western Hockey League is one of the three hockey Major Junior Tier I leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
, though they often play at the Rose Garden. The newest Rose Quarter tenants are the LumberJaxPortland Lumberjax

The Portland Lumberjax are a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League which started playing in the 2006 se...
 of the National Lacrosse LeagueNational Lacrosse League

The National Lacrosse League is the professional league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America....
. The city still holds the lease to the land and owns the Coliseum, but the Rose Garden and other buildings were owned by private business interests until they went into receivership. The area is quite active during the teams' home games, and the city hopes to extend the activity by promoting a major increase in residential units in the quarter using zoning and tax incentives.
Southeast



Southeast Portland stretches from the warehouses along the Willamette, through the historic Ladd's Addition to the HawthorneHawthorne, Portland, Oregon

The Hawthorne District in Portland, Oregon is an area of Southeast Portland that runs along SE Hawthorne Blvd., particularly...
 and BelmontBelmont, Portland, Oregon

The Belmont Area is a retail and residential district running along SE Belmont St....
 districts out to GreshamGresham

Gresham may refer to:*Gresham's Law...
. Southeast Portland initially tended toward the blue-collar but, with its lower real-estate prices, has since evolved to encompass a wide mix of backgrounds; inner southeast is something of a haven for hippieHippie

Hippie, occasionally spelled hippy, refers to a subgroup of the 1960s countercultural movement that began in the Unit...
s, hipstersHipster (contemporary subculture)

In the 1990s and 2000s, the 1940s slang term hipster began being used in North America to describe young, well-educated urba...
, and environmentalists, while the outer edges remain populated by an increasingly diverse, largely working-class population constituted of significantly large immigrant communities from Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Eastern Europe is the eastern region of Europe variably defined....
 and Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia

Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically east o...
. The Hawthorne district in particular is known for its hippie/radical crowd and small subculturally-oriented shops; not far away is Reed CollegeReed College

Reed College is a liberal arts college with 1350 students as of the autumn of 2005 , located in Portland, Oregon in the East...
 with its counter-cultural flavor and strong intellectual, anti-establishment tradition.

Between the 1920s and the 1960s, Southeast was home to Lambert GardensLambert Gardens

Lambert Gardens was a private botanical garden of over 30 acres in the Reed neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, north of Reed ...
. Southeast Portland also features Mt. Tabor, a cinder cone volcanoCinder cone

A cinder cone typically refers to a type of volcanic cone, see that article for more information....
 that has become one of Portland’s more scenic and popular parks.


People and culture


Demographics



As of 2000, there are 529,121 people residing in the city, organized into 223,737 households and 118,356 families. The population densityPopulation density Summary

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume....
 is 3,939.2 people per square mile (1,521/km²). There are 237,307 housing units at an average density of 1,766.7/sq mi (682.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 77.91% WhiteWhite American

The term White American is rarely used, both because racial categories such as white are rarely used to identify a "hyph...
, 6.64% African AmericanAfrican American

An African American is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were...
, 6.33% AsianAsian American

An Asian American is generally defined as a person of Asian ancestry who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States...
, 1.06% Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States

American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S....
, 0.38% Pacific IslanderPacific Islander American

Pacific Islander Americans represent the smallest racial group counted in the U.S....
, 3.55% from other races, and 4.15% from two or more races. 6.81% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.3% were of GermanGermans

Germans are defined as an ethnic group, or Volk, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, speaking the German langua...
, 8.9% IrishIrish people

The Irish are a northwest European ethnic group who originated in Ireland....
 and 8.8% EnglishFacts About English people

group=English|image=|poptime= 110 - 120 million...
 ancestry according to Census 2000. 83.3% spoke EnglishFacts About English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England but is now the primary language in numerous countries....
, 5.6% SpanishSpanish language

Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language....
, 2.0% VietnameseVietnamese language

Vietnamese , formerly known under the French colonization as Annamese , is the national and official language of Vietn...
 and 1.3% RussianRussian language

Russian is the most widely spoken language of Eurasia and the most widespread of the Slavic languages....
 as their first language.

Out of 223,737 households, 24.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% are married couplesMarriage Summary

A marriage is a relationship between or among individuals, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religio...
 living together, 10.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% are non-families. 34.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.3 and the average family size is 3.

The age distribution was 21.1% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,146, and the median income for a family is $50,271. Males have a reported median income of $35,279 versus $29,344 reported for females. The per capita incomePer capita income

The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population....
 for the city is $22,643. 13.1% of the population and 8.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Oregon has a 9% income tax which tends to suppress accurate reporting. Figures delineating the income levels based on race are not available at this time.

However, though the population of the city is increasing, the total population of children is diminishing, which has put pressure on the public school system to close schools. A 2005 study found that Portland is now educating fewer children than it did in 1925, despite the city's population having almost doubled since then, and the city will have to close the equivalent of three to four elementary schools each year for the next decade.

Portland's public school system has remained racially imbalanced. As of the 2000 census, three of its high schools (Cleveland, Lincoln and Wilson) were over 70% white, while Jefferson High School was 86% non-white. The remaining six schools are more ethnically balanced.

The imbalance can be explained through Portland's demographic history. Before the Second World War, Portland had very few residents of non-European ethnicity, primarily because Portland (and Oregon as a state) was a Sundown townSundown town

Sundown towns were towns and cities in the United States where non-whites were systematically excluded from living....
 for much of its history. In 1940, Portland's African-American population was approximately 2,000 and largely consisted of railroad employees and their families. During the war-time liberty shipLiberty ship

The Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II....
 construction boom, the need for workers drew many blacks to the city. Because of institutionalized racism in the real-estate community at the time, this new influx of blacks was guided to specific neighborhoods, such as the AlbinaAlbina, Oregon

Albina is a historical city which was consolidated into Portland, Oregon in 1891....
 district and VanportVanport, Oregon

Vanport was a hastily constructed city of public housing located in Multnomah County, Oregon between the contemporary Portla...
. The post-war destruction of VanportVanport, Oregon

Vanport was a hastily constructed city of public housing located in Multnomah County, Oregon between the contemporary Portla...
 eliminated the only integrated neighborhood, and an influx of blacks into the NE quadrant of the city continued.

Media


The OregonianThe Oregonian

The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications....
is the only daily general-interest newspaper serving Portland. It also circulates throughout the state and in Clark County, WashingtonClark County, Washington

Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S....
.

Smaller local newspapers, distributed free of charge in newspaper boxes and at venues around the city, include the Portland TribunePortland Tribune

The Portland Tribune is a free newspaper published twice weekly in Portland, Oregon....
(general-interest paper published on Thursdays), Willamette WeekWillamette Week

The Willamette Week is an alternative weekly published in Portland, Oregon....
(general-interest alternative weeklyAlternative weekly

An alternative weekly is a type of weekly newspaper that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of opiniona...
), the The Portland MercuryThe Portland Mercury

The Portland Mercury is an "alternative weekly" newspaper published in Portland, Oregon....
(another weekly, targeted at younger urban readers), The Asian ReporterThe Asian Reporter (newspaper)

The Asian Reporter is a Pacific Northwest-based weekly newspaper, founded in 1991, featuring international and local nor...
(a weekly covering Asian news, both international and local), and The Portland Chinese Times (a Chinese-language weekly).

Portland Indymedia is one of the oldest and largest Independent Media Centers. The Portland AlliancePortland Alliance

The Portland Alliance is a free monthly newspaper in Portland, Oregon....
, a largely anti-authoritarian socialist monthly, is the largest radical print paper in the city. Just Out, published in Portland twice monthly, is the region's foremost LGBTLGBT

LGBT is an abbreviation used as a collective term to refer to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgend...
 publication. A biweekly paper, Street RootsStreet Roots

Street Roots is a biweekly street newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States....
, is also sold within the city by members of the homeless community.

The Portland Business JournalAmerican City Business Journals

American City Business Journals is an American newspaper chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina....
, a weekly, covers business-related news, as does The Daily Journal of CommerceDaily Journal of Commerce

The Daily Journal of Commerce is a newspaper published in Portland, Oregon, United States....
. Open Spaces is a quarterly magazine of society, culture, the environment and the arts. Portland Monthly is a monthly news and culture magazine. BarFly Magazine is a popular weekly periodical covering the city's nightlife and bar scene. Exotic Magazine is the major monthly magazine covering the city's adult entertainment and nightlife since 1993. The Mid-county Memo is a neighborhood newspaper serving the Gateway and Parkrose neighborhoods on Portland's east side. PORTFacts About Port

A port is a facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo to and from them....
is an art macroblog dedicated to the vibrant art scene that provides daily updates on the arty goings on around town. Oregon Business magazine covers business from a statewide perspective. Oregon Home magazine is the region's remodeling and decor publication.

Portland is well served by television and radio. The metro area is the 23rd largest Designated Market Area (DMA) in the U.S., consisting of 1,086,900 homes and 0.992% of the U.S. market. The major network television affiliates include:
  • KATUKATU

    KATU is a television station in Portland, Oregon, USA....
     2
  • KOINKOIN

    KOIN is the CBS television affiliate serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area....
     6
  • KGWKGW

    KGW is an NBC affiliate serving the Portland, Oregon area....
     8
  • KOPB-TVKOPB-TV

    KOPB-TV is a public television station serving the Portland, Oregon television market....
     10 Oregon Public Broadcasting
  • KPTVKPTV

    KPTV is the Fox television affiliate serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area....
     12
  • KPXGKPXG

    KPXG is the i network television affiliate licensed to Salem, Oregon, and serves the Portland, Oregon-Vancouver, Washington ...
     22
  • KNMTFacts About KNMT

    KNMT is a religious television station in Portland, Oregon, broadcasting locally on analog channel 24 and digital channel 45...
     24
  • KRCWKRCW

    KRCW can refer to:* KRCW-TV, a television station licensed to Salem, Oregon...
     32
  • KUNP-LP 47
  • KPDXKPDX

    KPDX is the My Network TV affiliate serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area....
     49

Parks and attractions


Portland is proud of its parks and its legacy of preserving open spaces. Parks and Greenspace planning dates back to John Charles OlmstedJohn Charles Olmsted

John Charles Olmsted, the nephew and adopted son of Frederick Law Olmsted, was an American landscape architect and a member ...
's 1903 Report to the Portland Park Board, inspiring generations of urban greenspace advocates. In 1995, voters in the Portland metropolitan region passed a regional bond measure to acquire valuable natural areas for fish, wildlife, and people. Ten years later, more than of ecologically valuable natural areas had been purchased and permanently protected from development.

Portland along with Bend, OregonBend, Oregon

Bend is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States....
 are the only cities in the contiguous U.S.Continental United States

Depending on usage, the term continental United States can refer to either:...
 with extinct volcanoes within their boundaries. Mt. Tabor ParkMount Tabor, Portland, Oregon

Mount Tabor is an extinct volcanic cinder cone, surrounded by a city park, surrounded by a neighborhood, in the Southeast se...
 was inadvertently built on one of Portland's; it is known for its scenic views and historic reservoirs.

Forest ParkForest Park (Portland)

Forest Park is a municipal and public park, located west of downtown Portland, Oregon....
 is among the largest wilderness parks within city limits in the United States, covering over 5,000 acres (20 km²). Portland is also home to Mill Ends ParkMill Ends Park

Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon is a tiny park that was created on St....
, the world's smallest park (a two-foot-diameter circle, the park's area is only about 0.3 square m). Washington ParkWashington Park, Portland

Washington Park is a public urban park in Portland, Oregon....
 is just west of downtown, and is home to the Oregon ZooOregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo 2 miles WSW of downtown Portland, Oregon in Portland's Wash...
, the Portland Japanese GardenPortland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is a traditional Japanese garden occupying 5.5 acres, located within Washington Park in the wes...
, and the International Rose Test GardenInternational Rose Test Garden

The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon....
.


Tom McCall Waterfront ParkTom McCall Waterfront Park

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a park located on the west bank of the Willamette River in downtown Portland, Oregon....
 runs along the west bank of the Willamette for the length of downtown. The 37 acre (150,000 m²) park was built in 1974 after Harbor DriveHarbor Drive

Harbor Drive is the name of a street in Portland, Oregon, which was formerly a freeway that carried U.S....
 was removed and now plays host to large events throughout the year. Portland's downtown also features two groups of contiguous city blocks dedicated for park space; they are referred to as the North and South Park Blocks.

The only state park in Portland is Tryon Creek State Natural AreaTryon Creek State Natural Area Overview

The Tryon Creek State Natural Area is a state park located in Portland, Oregon, United States....
; its creek still has a run of steelheadRainbow trout

The rainbow trout, aka redband trout, is a species of Pacific salmon native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asi...
. Adjacent to the park is the Tryon Life Community Farm, an aspiring urban