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Portland Facts
Portland, Oregon, has often been called the big city with the small town feel. Its mild weather, breathtaking scenery, exciting location and friendly people have all contributed to its appearance on numerous “Best Of” lists, including Online Insider’s “Top 10 Least Expensive Cities”, Money Magazine’s “Top 10 Places to Vacation” and “Top 10 Best Places to Live”, and American Style Magazine’s “Top 25 Arts Destinations”. For more Portland praises check out our Portland in the News section. Downtown Nestled between
the beautiful Coast Range on the west and the spectacular Cascade Range on the
east, Portland sits at the junction of the Columbia and Willamette rivers. From
downtown Portland, it’s just a 90 minute drive to the scenic Oregon coast, an
hour-and-a-half to Mt. Hood and some of the best skiing in the country, a
half-an-hour to the peaceful vineyards and farms of the fertile Willamette
Valley, and less than three hours to a Mariner’s game in Seattle. With an ethnically
diverse population of almost 2 million, Portland is the 28th largest
metropolitan area in the country, the fourth largest city on the West Coast,
and the largest city in the state. It includes six counties spread over 5000
square miles. In 1806, Lewis
and Clark discovered the land that would later become the city of Portland. Asa
Lovejoy, a native of Massachusetts, and Francis Pettygrove, a native of Maine,
founded the city in 1851. Lovejoy wanted to name this city after his beloved
Boston, but Pettygrove wanted to name it after his hometown of Portland. A coin
toss settled the dispute, and the rest, as they say, is history. Sheltered by two mountain ranges, Portland enjoys mild weather all year long, rarely experiencing the severe weather extremes common to much of the rest of the country. However, that
doesn’t mean that Portland doesn’t have seasons. July and August are warm and
dry, with average high temperatures in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s. The
occasional winter snowstorm blankets the city in a few inches of snow that stay
around long enough to be enjoyed but rarely long enough to annoy. In the fall,
the many deciduous trees around the city put on a colorful show to delight the
eye. And spring blossoms prove that Portland truly is the “City of Roses.” Downtown Portland offers visitors a
wide variety of shops, professional services, restaurants, housing,
entertainment venues, museums and parks. Portland’s downtown is dotted with award-winning historic districts. Chinatown, Old Town, Skidmore, Yamhill, and the Pearl all feature carefully preserved historic buildings that have been renovated to provide space for offices, shops, restaurants and housing. On the east side
of the river, the Lloyd District and the Central
Eastside Industrial District add to the economic development of the city.
The Lloyd District features the Lloyd
Center Mall, the Rose Quarter,
including the Rose Garden Arena and the Oregon
Convention Center. The Portland
metropolitan area is made up of portions of six counties. Within each of these counties are cities and
towns with their own unique flavor, and within the city of Portland there are
dozens of distinctive neighborhoods. At 465 square miles, Multnomah County is, geographically, the smallest county in the state. However, it boasts the largest population. The city of Portland is divided into 94
neighborhoods, each with their own neighborhood
association. A strong political and social force within the city, the
neighborhood associations solve problems, create communities, promote business,
and work together to preserve the character and charm of each unique
neighborhood. Portland’s downtown core is located in the city’s southwest quadrant. Easy parking, free public transportation, and tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets make downtown Portland an enjoyable place to work, shop, eat or just people watch. With luxurious apartments, condominiums and lofts, downtown Portland is a great place to live as well. Many downtown residences feature spectacular views, off street parking, and other amenities. Just west of
downtown, the West Hills neighborhood is home to some of Portland’s grandest
mansions. Known as Portland Heights, this neighborhood offers panoramic views
of the city, stately homes and beautiful gardens. The Corbett neighborhood,
just south of downtown, features turn-of-the-century Victorian homes. The Johns
Landing area that runs along the waterfront of the Willamette River is known
for its unique shops, office complexes and condominiums. The Terwilliger
neighborhood, located above John’s Landing, is home to Lewis & Clark College and OHSU. Northwest
Portland combines old and new, single- and multi-family dwellings to provide an
attractive neighborhood for artists, young professionals and senior citizens.
Northwest is home to trendy neighborhoods like the Pearl District, Nob Hill and Old Town/Chinatown. The Northwest
Portland area features Forest Park,
the largest forested urban wilderness park in the country, and the Pittock Mansion, a stately French
Renaissance manor built by publishing magnate Henry Pittock in the early 20th
Century. This example of gracious Victorian living is open to the public
throughout the year. North Portland
is home to many neighborhoods, including St. John’s, Overlook, and Jantzen
Beach. The St. John’s neighborhood is named for the St. John’s Bridge. This gothic style bridge was built by Dr.
D.B. Steinman in the early 1930’s, and was, according to Dr. Steinman, “the
most beautiful bridge in the world.” The Overlook neighborhood is so named for
the bluff overlooking the Willamette River. This area of gracious residences is
home to the University of Portland. On the
banks of the Columbia River, the Jantzen Beach neighborhood includes Delta Park, Portland International Raceway, and Jantzen Beach SuperCenter. Elliot,
Irvington, Alameda, Rose City, Laurelhurst, Grant Park, and Beaumont are just a
sampling of the well-established neighborhoods that make up the northeast
quadrant of the city. Marked by Victorian, English Tudor, and Craftsman style
architecture, Northeast Portland has shown an increase in popularity over the
last two decades. The fashionable Laurelhurst neighborhood actually straddles
Northeast and Southeast Portland, and includes beautiful Laurelhurst
Park, one of the city’s premier places for walking, playing or just
relaxing. Southeast
Portland boasts Mt.
Tabor Park, an extinct volcano with a natural amphitheater; Crystal
Springs Rhododendron Test Gardens; Reed
College; and Oaks Park, the area’s
oldest permanent amusement park. Its proximity to the downtown core area and
its diverse neighborhoods, ranging from the gracious to the quirky, make
Southeast Portland one of the most popular residential areas in the city. The second
largest city in Multnomah County, Gresham
is the gateway to the scenic Columbia Gorge. Home to Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham is the
eastern end of the MAX light rail line. To the north of Gresham, you’ll find
the towns of Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village. If you’re looking
for real estate bargains, you’ve come to the right place. This area has some of
the best “home for the dollar” values in the county. Just south of
Multnomah County, Clackamas County
is home to Mt. Hood and the country’s only year round skiing at Timberline Lodge. Located on the
eastern shore of the Willamette River, Milwaukie
is a comfortable mix of well-established neighborhoods and new housing
developments. Situated between the Willamette and Clackamas River, Milwaukie
offers plenty of opportunities for fishing, boating and swimming. South of
Milwaukie lies the town of Gladstone.
Featuring “Auto Row”, a stretch of McLoughlin Boulevard offering auto
dealerships for almost every make of foreign and American car, Gladstone is the
“go to” place for car shoppers. Located on the east bank of the Willamette
River, Gladstone provides 112 acres of park land providing year round opportunities
for recreation in the great outdoors. The county seat
of Clackamas County, Oregon City was once
the capital of the Oregon Territory. Oregon
City is the oldest incorporated city west of the Mississippi River and the
official end of the Oregon Trail. Many of the city’s homes and buildings are on
the National Register of Historic Places, and the city takes pride in
preserving its historical and architectural heritage. With 26 parks, a
municipal pool, and a recreation center, Clackamas Community College, Oregon
City is a great place to raise a family. Eight miles
southwest of Portland, Lake Oswego
sits on the west bank of the Willamette River. The centerpiece of this town is
its namesake, Oswego Lake. The city of
Lake Oswego takes its responsibility to maintain the livability of the area
very seriously. For this reason, the Parks and Recreation Department manages
almost 400 acres of developed and undeveloped parks, natural areas and green
spaces. Beautiful custom
homes cover the hillsides of West Linn,
a community with elevations ranging from 40 to 580 feet above sea level. Many
of those homes feature breathtaking views of the Willamette Valley, the
Willamette and Tualatin Rivers, and a spectacular stretch of the Cascade Range
that includes Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. Located on the west side
of the Willamette River, West Linn is one of the fastest growing communities in
the metro area. The community of
Wilsonville sits halfway between
Portland and Salem. Its unique location between two of Oregon’s major urban
centers has made it a popular destination for the corporate headquarters and
distribution centers of various companies from around the Pacific Northwest.
The 98-acre Memorial Park located on the Willamette River provides facilities
for a variety of recreational pursuits. To the west of
Multnomah County, Washington
County covers 727 square miles and is currently the fastest growing area in
the state. The county owes much of its growth to its thriving high tech
industry. Washington County is also home to some of the most productive
agricultural land in the state. Just west of
downtown Portland, Beaverton is a
thriving community. Over one third of the houses, apartments, and condominiums
in Beaverton have been built within the last ten years. The Tualatin Parks and Recreation Department
maintains 150 parks and recreation facilities, as well as eight community swim
centers, a skate park and lovely community gardens. A brand new state of the
art library beckons adults and
children alike. At the west end
of the MAX light rail line
sits Hillsboro, the areas center
for high technology and the county seat. Moderately priced homes, convenient
transportation, and large employers, such as Intel
and Nike, make Hillsboro the first
choice for many people moving to the Portland Metro Area. Southwest of
Portland, nestled in the Tualatin Valley, is the community of Tigard. Just off I-5, Tigard boasts more
than 300 acres of nature areas, green spaces, and parks, including Fanno
Creek Park and Cook Park
on the banks of the Tualatin River. Tigard is also home to Washington Square,
the west side’s premier shopping mall. Every summer, Tigard plays host to the
area’s largest Hot Air Balloon festival, which draws participants from across
the country. Recently opened, the new Tigard library houses
books, videos, a coffee shop and an historical museum. Ten miles south
of Portland, Tualatin straddles both
Washington and Clackamas counties. Tualatin’s commitment to livability has been
nationally recognized. For the last 12 years, the city has received the
designation of Tree City, USA. Tualatin boasts a strong commercial core and
carefully planned residential communities. Southwest of Portland, Yamhill County is famous for its rich agricultural land. In recent years, Yamhill County’s prolific fruit and nut orchards have been joined by more than 100 vineyards and 40 wineries, producing a wide variety of award winning wines including the world’s premier pinot noir. Yamhill County
is home to George Fox University, Linfield College, and the Evergreen Aviation Museum, which houses
Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose. Located
northwest of Portland, scenic Columbia
County covers 687 square miles along the shores of the Columbia River. With
so much river frontage and wilderness, agriculture, lumber, and increasingly,
outdoor recreation form the back bone of Columbia County’s economy. Less than
an hour from downtown Portland on Highway 30, the town of St. Helens is the
county seat. Just across the
Columbia River is Clark County,
Washington. The largest city in Clark County, Vancouver has been twice awarded the
All American City award by the National Civic League. Vancouver’s 45 square
miles include stately older homes, carefully planned new housing developments,
high tech manufacturing firms, large and small retail businesses and shopping
malls. For more information regarding Vancouver, Washington, and to obtain a
copy of the Welcome Home to Vancouver relocation guide, contact the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
at 360.694.2588 With one of the
best community college systems in the country, a variety of colleges and
universities, and a public school system that produces high school graduates
whose SAT scores consistently place in the top 5 cities nationwide, Portland
offers excellent educational opportunities to young and old alike. Portland Schools With 75 neighborhood elementary and middle schools feeding 10 local high schools, Portland boasts the state’s largest public school system. In addition, Portland Public Schools offer a wide array of charter and magnet schools, specializing in an assortment of programs, including language immersion, fine arts, International Baccalaureate programs, and technical and health specialties. Portland also
offers a large number of private schools that emphasize everything from foreign
languages to fine arts to religion. And for parents who choose to teach their
own children, Oregon offers one of the most supportive environments in the
country for home schooling families. The Oregon State
System of Higher Education operates several institutions of higher learning
within the Portland Metro Area, including one of the finest community college
systems in the country. Students may attend Clackamas Community College in Oregon
City, Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham,
or Portland Community College with campuses
in Southwest Portland, North Portland, and Washington County. In addition to
two-year college transfer programs, Oregon’s community college system offers a
large number of Associate of Arts degrees, as well as continuing and adult
education classes. With an
enrollment of more than 24,000 students, Portland
State University is the largest institution in the Oregon State University
System. Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Portland State University
offers more than 100 undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees as well as
graduate certificates and continuing education programs. Oregon Health Sciences University Oregon Health Sciences University sits atop 500
foot Marquam Hill, overlooking Portland and the Willamette River. Oregon’s only
fully accredited medical school, OHSU has received the highest level of
accreditation from the nation’s major accrediting organizations. Offering
degrees in dentistry, nursing and various medical fields, OHSU is frequently on
the cutting edge of medical research. The 1500 doctors and scientists on staff
at the university have been responsible for breakthroughs in the treatment of
numerous diseases, including leukemia, heart disease and various neurological
disorders including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. OHSU operates the University
Hospital and Doernbecher, the
region’s premier children’s hospital, as well as several clinics, research
centers and public outreach units. Private Colleges and Universities Just 40 minutes
south of Portland, George Fox University
is located in the small town of Newberg. Recognized nationally for academic
excellence, this Christian liberal arts university offers undergraduate degrees
in more than 40 major areas of study. Combining George Fox College and Western
Evangelical Seminary, George Fox University offers 12 graduate degrees in
education, psychology and religion at its Newberg and Tigard campuses. The
Tigard campus also offers a degree completion program for working adults. Founded in 1867
by Presbyterian pioneers, Lewis & Clark
College sits on a beautiful 133-acre campus in southwest Portland, adjacent
to the 640-acre Tryon
Creek State Park. Lewis & Clark College offers undergraduate degrees in
25 majors and the nationally recognized Lewis
& Clark Law School. The first
liberal arts college for women in the Pacific Northwest, Marylhurst University, located 20 minutes
south of downtown Portland in the town of Marylhurst, was founded in 1859. Now
a coeducational university, Marylhurst was recognized by US News & World
Report as one of the “Best Values” in higher education in the west. Offering
both traditional and non-traditional degrees, Marylhurst University is one of
Oregon’s fastest growing and lowest priced comprehensive liberal arts
institutions. Located in
Portland’s Eastmoreland neighborhood, Reed College
is an independent, coeducational liberal arts college. Nationally recognized
for its intellectually rigorous educational program, Reed College offers
Bachelor of Arts degrees in 22 major areas of study and a master’s degree in
Liberal Arts. Since 1915, Reed College has produced 31 Rhodes scholars, tying
for the largest number of Rhodes scholars among small colleges in the United
States. Affiliated with
the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the University
of Portland offers one of the top five graduate programs in the west,
according to US News and World Report. In addition, the University of Portland
offers undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of fields, including fine arts,
nursing, business and education. Located in North Portland, the campus of U of
P is considered to be one of Portland’s most beautiful garden spots. In 2003,
the university was also the home of the NCAA Women’s Soccer champions. With more than a dozen hospitals and a vast array of clinics to choose from, residents of the Portland Metro area have access to the finest medical care in the state. Health systems such as Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health System, Oregon Health Sciences University, and Providence Health System operate hospitals and clinics to meet the healthcare needs of the community. During the past decade, Oregon Health Sciences University has become a national leader in biomedical research. Discoveries have led to significant advances in the treatment of heart disease, several forms of cancer and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Portland is Oregon’s referral center for the tough cases. Patients with advanced cancer, severe burns, cardiopulmonary disease and in need of organ transplants come from throughout the region to receive the best medical care available. With the National College of Naturopathic Medicine
and an assortment of alternative healthcare clinics, Portland offers consumers
a real choice in healthcare. |
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