Portland

About Portland

Portland ( PORT-lənd) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located in the Pacific Northwest at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, it is the 28th-most populous city in the United States, sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and fourth-most populous in the Pacific Northwest (after Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, Canada; and Surrey, Canada), with a population of 652,503 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolitan area, with over 2.54 million residents, is the 26th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Almost half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metro area. It is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous in the state.

The Portland area was shaped by massive ice-age floods. It was inhabited by the Chinookan peoples. European American settlers arrived in the 1840s. Following a coin toss, Portland was named after Portland, Maine, which was itself named after England's Isle of Portland. In the 19th century, Portland became a major port and lumber center and gained a reputation for saloons and crime. The 20th century saw population growth, World War II shipbuilding, Japanese-American internment, organized crime, and a hippie/counterculture movement. Since the 1990s, it has experienced growth in the technology sector and rising housing costs due to gentrification.

Portland is located near volcanic features such as Mount Tabor and is also close to active faults. The city is divided into six addressing sectors and comprises diverse neighborhoods. The city's economy is driven by technology, athletic and outdoor brands, shipping, and craft industries. Social issues include homelessness and property crime, although recent trends indicate a relative low violent crime rate. The city prioritizes urban planning, sustainability, and diverse transportation options, while managing growth with an urban growth boundary. Portland also has numerous schools and universities, media outlets, healthcare facilities, and global sister-city connections.

The city operates with a mayor–council government system, guided by a mayor and 12 city councilors, as well as Metro, the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States. Its climate is marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. This climate is ideal for growing roses, and Portland has been called the "City of Roses" for more than a century. Portland is known for its vibrant music and performing arts scene, extensive parks including Forest Park, and professional sports teams such as the Trail Blazers, Timbers, and Thorns.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Portland weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Portland

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Portland

Median household income

$90,919

Median home value

$581,500

Median rent

$1,655/mo

Median age

38.8

Map of Portland

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Portland Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Portland, OR population

Portland had 652,503 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Portland at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Portland

• Maywood Park4.4 mi E
• West Haven-Sylvan5.8 mi W
• Raleigh Hills6.3 mi SW
• Milwaukie6.5 mi S
• West Slope6.6 mi SW
• Dunthorpe6.6 mi S
• Cedar Mill7.3 mi W
• Garden Home-Whitford7.4 mi SW
• Vancouver, WA7.4 mi N
• Cedar Hills7.9 mi W
• Metzger8.1 mi SW
• Marlene Village8.3 mi W

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Portland