Portland, Oregon

Portland
City
Downtown Portlandwith Mount Hoodin the background and Vista Bridgein the foreground St. Johns Bridge Oregon Convention Center Union Stationand U.S. Bancorp Tower Pioneer Courthouse Square Tilikum Crossing
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): "Rose City"; "Stumptown"; "PDX"; see Nicknames of Portland, Oregonfor a complete list.
Motto: "The City that Works" [1]
Interactive map outlining Portland
Portland Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Portland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates:45°31′12″N122°40′55″W / 45.52000°N 122.68194°W /45.52000; -122.68194
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Counties	Multnomah Washington Clackamas
Founded	1845; 179 years ago(1845)
Incorporated	February 8, 1851; 173 years ago(1851-02-08)
Named for	Portland, Maine[2]
Government
• Type	Commission
•Mayor	Ted Wheeler[3](D)
•Commissioners	Mingus Mapps Carmen Rubio Dan Ryan Rene Gonzalez
•Auditor	Simone Rede[4]
Area [5]
•City	145.00 sq mi (375.55 km2)
• Land	133.49 sq mi (345.73 km2)
• Water	11.51 sq mi (29.82 km2)
• Urban	519.30 sq mi (1,345.0 km2)
Elevation [6]	161 ft (49 m)
Highest elevation [7]	1,188 ft (362 m)
Lowest elevation [8]( Columbia River)	0.62 ft (0.19 m)
Population ( 2020) [9]
•City	652,503
• Rank	74thin North America 26thin the United States 1stin Oregon
• Density	4,888.10/sq mi (1,887.30/km2)
•Urban	2,104,238 (US: 23rd)
• Urban density	4,052.1/sq mi (1,564.5/km2)
•Metro [10]	2,511,612 (US: 25th)
Demonym	Portlander
GDP [11]
• Portland (MSA)	$204.3 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC– 08:00(PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC– 07:00(PDT)
ZIP Codes	97086, 97201-97225, 97227-97233, 97236, 97238-97240, 97242, 97250-97254, 97256, 97266-97269, 97280-97283, 97286, 97290-97294, 97296, 97298, 97214
Area codes	503 and 971
FIPS code	41-59000
GNIS ID	2411471[6]
Website	www.portland.gov

Portland(/ˈpɔːrtlənd/PORT-lənd) is themost populous cityin theU.S. stateofOregon, located in thePacific Northwestregion. Situated in the northwestern area of the state at theconfluenceof theWillametteandColumbiarivers, it is thecounty seatofMultnomah County, Oregon's most populous county. As of 2020,^[update]Portland's population was 652,503,^[12]making it the26th-most populouscity in the United States, the sixth-most populous on theWest Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, afterSeattle.^[13]Approximately 2.5 million people live in thePortland metropolitan area, making it the25th-most populousin the United States. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metro area.^[a]

Named afterPortland, Maine,^[14]which is itself named after the EnglishIsle of Portland, the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1840s, near the end of theOregon Trail. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the timber industry was a major force in the city's early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerousport citiesin the world, a hub for organized crime andracketeering. After the city's economy experienced an industrial boom duringWorld War II, its hard-edged reputation began to dissipate. Beginning in the 1960s,^[15]it became noted for its growingliberalandprogressivepolitical values, earning it a reputation as a bastion ofcounterculture.^[16]

The city operates with acommission-based government, guided by a mayor and four commissioners, as well asMetro, the only directly electedmetropolitan planning organizationin the United States.^[17][18]Its climate is marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. This climate isideal for growing roses, and Portland has been called the "City of Roses" for over a century.^[19]

During the prehistoric period, the land that would become Portlandwas flooded after the collapse of glacial damsfromLake Missoula, in what would later become Montana. These massive floods occurred during the last ice age and filled the Willamette Valley with 300 to 400 feet (91 to 122 m) of water.^[20]

Before American settlers began arriving in the 1800s, the land was inhabited for many centuries by two bands of indigenousChinook people– theMultnomahand theClackamas.^[21]The Chinook people occupying the land were first documentedin 1805byMeriwether LewisandWilliam Clark.^[22]Before its European settlement, the Portland Basin of the lower Columbia River and Willamette River valleys had been one of the most densely populated regions on the Pacific Coast.^[22]

Large numbers of pioneer settlers began arriving in the Willamette Valley in the 1840s via theOregon Trailwith many arriving in nearbyOregon City.^[23]A new settlement then emerged ten miles from the mouth of the Willamette River,^[24]roughly halfway between Oregon City andHudson's Bay Company'sFort Vancouver. This community was initially referred to as "Stumptown" and "The Clearing" because of the many trees cut down to allow for its growth.^[25]In 1843William Overtonsaw potential in the new settlement but lacked the funds to file an official land claim. For 25 cents, Overton agreed to share half of the 640-acre (2.6 km²) site withAsa LovejoyofBoston.^[26]

In 1844, Overton sold his remaining half of the claim toFrancis W. PettygroveofPortland, Maine. Both Pettygrove and Lovejoy wished to rename "The Clearing" after their respective hometowns (Lovejoy's being Boston, and Pettygrove's, Portland). This controversy was settled with a coin toss that Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses, thereby providing Portland with its namesake.^[2]The coin used for this decision, now known as thePortland Penny, is on display in the headquarters of theOregon Historical Society. At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851, Portland had over 800 inhabitants,^[27]a steam sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and a newspaper, theWeekly Oregonian.A major fire swept through downtown in August 1873, destroying twenty blocks on the west side of the Willamette along Yamhill and Morrison Streets, and causing $1.3 million in damage,^[28]roughly equivalent to $33.1 million today.^[29]By 1879, the population had grown to 17,500 and by 1890 it had grown to 46,385.^[30]In 1888, the first steel bridge on theWest Coastwas opened in Portland,^[31]the predecessor of the 1912 namesakeSteel Bridgethat survives today. In 1889, Henry Pittock's wife, Georgiana, established the Portland Rose Society. The movement to make Portland a "Rose City" started as the city was preparing for the 1905Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition.^[19]

Portland's access to thePacific Oceanvia the Willamette and Columbia rivers, as well as its easy access to the agriculturalTualatin Valleyvia the "Great Plank Road" (the route of current-dayU.S. Route 26), provided the pioneer city with an advantage over other nearby ports, and it grew very quickly.^[32]Portland remained the major port in the Pacific Northwest for much of the 19th century, until the 1890s, when Seattle'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 city had its own Japantown,^[33]for one, and thelumber industryalso became a prominent economic presence, due to the area's large population ofDouglas fir,western hemlock,red cedar, andbig leaf mapletrees.^[22]

Portland developed a reputation early in its history as a hard-edged and grittyport town.^[34]Some historians have described the city's early establishment as being a "scionofNew England; an ends-of-the-earth home for the exiled spawn of the eastern established elite."^[35]In 1889,The Oregoniancalled Portland "the most filthy city in the Northern States", due to the unsanitary sewers and gutters,^[36]and, at the turn of the 20th century, it was considered one of the most dangerous port cities in the world.^[37]The city housed a large number of saloons,bordellos, gambling dens, and boarding houses which were populated with miners after theCalifornia Gold Rush, as well as the multitude of sailors passing through the port.^[34]By the early 20th century, the city had lost its reputation as a "sober frontier city" and garnered a reputation for being violent and dangerous.^[34][38]

Between 1900 and 1930, the city's population tripled from nearly 100,000 to 301,815.^[40]DuringWorld War II, it housed an "assembly center" from which up to 3,676 people of Japanese descent were dispatched tointernment campsin the heartland. It was the first American city to have residents report thus,^[41]and thePacific International Livestock Expositionoperated from May through September 10, 1942, processing people from the city, northern Oregon, andcentral Washington.^[42]GeneralJohn DeWittcalled the city the first "Jap-free city on the West Coast."^[41]

At the same time, Portland became a notorious hub for underground criminal activity andorganized crimein the 1940s and 1950s.^[43]In 1957,Lifemagazine published an article detailing the city's history ofgovernment corruptionand crime, specifically its gambling rackets and illegal nightclubs.^[43]The article, which focused oncrime bossJim Elkins, became the basis of a fictionalized film titledPortland Exposé(1957). In spite of the city's seedier undercurrent of criminal activity, Portland enjoyed an economic and industrial surge during World War II. Ship builderHenry J. Kaiserhad been awarded contracts to buildLiberty shipsand aircraft carrier escorts, and chose sites in Portland andVancouver, Washington, for work yards.^[44]During this time, Portland's population rose by over 150,000, largely attributed to recruited laborers.^[44]

During the 1960s, an influx ofhippiesubculture began to take root in the city in the wake ofSan Francisco's burgeoningcounterculturalscene.^[15]The city'sCrystal Ballroombecame a hub for the city'spsychedelic culture, whilefood cooperativesand listener-funded media and radio stations were established.^[45]A largesocial activistpresence evolved during this time as well, specifically concerningNative American rights,environmentalistcauses, andgay rights.^[45]By the 1970s, Portland had well established itself as a progressive city, and experienced an economic boom for the majority of the decade; however, the slowing of the housing market in 1979 caused demand for the city and state timber industries to drop significantly.^[46]

In the 1990s, the technology industry began to emerge in Portland, specifically with the establishment of companies such asIntel, which brought more thanUS$10 billion in investments in 1995 alone.^[47]In the late 1990s, the Portland area was rated the fourth-least affordable place in the United States to purchase a new home.^[48]After 2000, Portland experienced significant growth, with a population rise of over 90,000 between the years 2000 and 2014.^[49]The city's increasing reputation for culture established it as a popular city for young people, and it was second only toLouisville, Kentucky, as one of the cities to attract and retain the highest number of college-educated people in the United States.^[50]Between 2001 and 2012, Portland's gross domestic product per person grew by fifty percent, more than any other city in the country.^[50]

The city acquired adiverse range of nicknamesthroughout its history, though it is most often called "Rose City" or "The City of Roses"^[51](unofficial nickname since 1888, official since 2003).^[52]Another widely used nickname by local residents in everyday speech is "PDX", the airport code forPortland International Airport. Other nicknames include Bridgetown,^[53]Stumptown,^[54]Rip City,^[55]Soccer City,^[56][57]P-Town,^[52][58]Portlandia, and the more antiquated Little Beirut.^[59]

From May 28, 2020, until spring 2021,^[60]there were dailyprotestsabout themurder of George Floydby police, and racial injustice. There were instances of looting, vandalism, and police actions causing injuries. One protestor was killed by an opposing one.^{[61][62][63][64]}Local businesses reported losses totaling millions of dollars as the result of vandalism and looting, according toOregon Public Broadcasting.^[65]Some protests caused injury to protesters and police. In July, federal officers were deployed to safeguard federal property; their presence and tactics were criticized by Oregon officials, who demanded they leave, while lawsuits were filed against local and federal law enforcement alleging wrongful actions by them.^{[66][67][68][69]}

On May 25, 2021, a protest to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Floyd's murder caused property damage, and was followed by a number of arrests.^[70][71]

Portland lies on top of a dormant volcanic field known as theBoring Lava Field, named after the nearbybedroom communityofBoring.^[72]The Boring Lava Field has at least 32 cinder cones such asMount Tabor,^[73]and its center lies in southeast Portland.Mount St. Helens, a highly active volcano 50 miles (80 km) northeast of the city in Washington state, is easily visible on clear days and is close enough to have dusted the city with volcanic ash after itseruption on May 18, 1980.^[74]The rocks of the Portland area range in age from lateEoceneto more recent eras.^[75]

Multiple shallow, activefault linestraverse the Portland metropolitan area.^[76]Among them are thePortland Hills Faulton the city's west side,^[77]and theEast Bank Faulton the east side.^[78]According to a 2017 survey, several of these faults were characterized as "probably more of a hazard" than theCascadia subduction zonedue to their proximities to population centers, with the potential of producingmagnitude7earthquakes.^[76]Notable earthquakes that have impacted the Portland area in recent history include the 6.8-magnitudeNisqually earthquakein 2001, and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 25, 1993.^[79][80]

Per a 2014 report, over 7,000 locations within the Portland area are at high risk for landslides andsoil liquefactionin the event of a major earthquake, including much of the city's west side (such asWashington Park) and sections ofClackamas County.^[81]

Portland is 60 miles (97 km) east of the Pacific Ocean at the northern end ofOregon's most populated region, the Willamette Valley. Downtown Portland straddles the banks of the Willamette River, which flows north through the city center and separates the city's east and west neighborhoods. Less than 10 miles (16 km) from downtown, the Willamette River flows into the Columbia River, the fourth-largest river in the United States, which divides Oregon from Washington state. Portland is approximately 100 miles (160 km) upriver from the Pacific Ocean on the Columbia.

Though much of downtown Portland is relatively flat, the foothills of theTualatin Mountains, more commonly referred to locally as the "West Hills", pierce through the northwest and southwest reaches of the city.Council Crest Parkat 1,073 feet (327 m) is often quoted as the highest point in Portland; however, the highest point in Portland is on a section of NW Skyline Blvd just north ofWillamette Stone Heritage site.^[82]The highest point east of the river isMt. Tabor, an extinct volcanic cinder cone, which rises to 636 feet (194 m). NearbyPowell ButteandRocky Butterise to 614 feet (187 m) and 612 feet (187 m), respectively. To the west of the Tualatin Mountains lies theOregon Coast Range, and to the east lies the actively volcanicCascade Range. On clear days,Mt. HoodandMt. St. Helensdominate the horizon, whileMt. AdamsandMt. Rainiercan also be seen in the distance.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 145.09 square miles (375.78 km²), of which 133.43 square miles (345.58 km²) is land and 11.66 square miles (30.20 km²) is water.^[83]Although almost all of Portland is withinMultnomah County, small portions of the city are within Clackamas andWashingtoncounties.^[84]

Portland has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate(KöppenCsb),falling just short of ahot-summer Mediterranean climate(KöppenCsa)with cool and rainy winters, and warm and dry summers.^[85]This climate is characterized by having overcast, wet, and changing weather conditions in fall, winter, and spring, as Portland lies in the direct path of the stormy westerly flow, and warm, dry summers when theNorth Pacific Highreaches its northernmost point in mid-summer.^[86]Portland'sUSDA Plant Hardiness Zoneis 8b, with parts of the Downtown area falling into zone 9a.^[87]

Winters are cool, cloudy, and rainy. The coldest month is December with an average daily high temperature of 46.9 °F (8.3 °C), although overnight lows usually remain above freezing by a few degrees. Evening temperatures fall to or below freezing 32 nights per year on average, but very rarely below 18 °F (−8 °C). There are only 2.1 days per year where the daytime high temperature fails to rise above freezing; the mean for the lowest high is at the exact freezing point of 32 °F (0 °C).^[88]The lowest overnight temperature ever recorded was −3 °F (−19 °C),^[87]on February 2, 1950,^[88]while the lowest daytime high temperature ever recorded was 14 °F (−10 °C) on December 30, 1968.^[88]The average window in which freezing temperatures may occur is between November 15 and March 19, allowing a growing season of 240 days.^[88]

Annual snowfall in Portland is 4.3 inches (10.9 cm), which usually falls between December and March.^[89]The city of Portland avoids snow more frequently than its suburbs, due in part to its low elevation and theurban heat islandeffect. Neighborhoods outside of the downtown core, especially in slightly higher elevations near theWest HillsandMount Tabor, can experience a dusting of snow while downtown receives no accumulation at all. The city has experienced a few major snow and ice storms in its past, with extreme totals having reached 44.5 in (113 cm) at the airport in 1949–50 and 60.9 in (155 cm) at downtown in 1892–93.^[90][91]

Summers in Portland are warm, dry, and sunny, though the sunny warm weather is short-lived, from mid-June to early September.^[92]June, July, August and September account for a combined 4.19 inches (106 mm) of total rainfall – only 11% of the 36.91 in (938 mm) of annual precipitation. The warmest month is August, with an average high temperature of 82.3 °F (27.9 °C). Because of its inland location 62 miles (100 km) from the coast, as well as the protective nature of theOregon Coast Rangeto its west, Portland summers are less susceptible to the moderating influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Consequently, Portland occasionally experiencesheat waves, with temperatures rising above 90 °F (32 °C) for a few days. However, on average, temperatures reach or exceed 80 °F (27 °C) on only 61 days per year, of which 15 days will reach 90 °F (32 °C) and only 1.3 days will reach 100 °F (38 °C). In 2018 more 90-degree days were recorded than ever before.^[93]

On June 28, 2021, Portland recorded its all-time record high temperature of 116 °F (47 °C) and its warmest daily low temperature of 75 °F (24 °C) during amajor regional heat wave.^[94]The record had been broken for three consecutive days with daytime highs of 108 °F (42 °C) on June 26 and 112 °F (44 °C) on June 27; the previous record of 107 °F (42 °C) was set in July 1965 and matched twice in August 1981.^[95][96]A temperature of 100 °F (38 °C) has been recorded in all five months from May through September. The warmest night of the year averages 68 °F (20 °C).^[88]

Spring and fall can bring variable weather including high-pressure ridging that sends temperatures surging above 80 °F (27 °C) and cold fronts that plunge daytime temperatures into the 40s °F (4–9 °C). However, lengthy stretches of overcast days beginning in mid-fall and continuing into mid-spring are most common. Rain often falls as a light drizzle for several consecutive days at a time, contributing to 157 days on average with measurable (≥0.01 in or 0.25 mm) precipitation annually. Temperatures have reached 90 °F (32 °C) as early as April 30 and as late as October 5, while 80 °F (27 °C) has been reached as early as April 1 and as late as October 21.Thunderstormsare uncommon andtornadoesare very rare, although they do occur.^[97][98]

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Portland's cityscape derives much of its character from the many bridges that span the Willamette River downtown, several of which are historic landmarks, and Portland has been nicknamed "Bridgetown" for many decades as a result.^[53]Three of downtown's most heavily used bridges are more than 100 years old and are designated historic landmarks:Hawthorne Bridge(1910),Steel Bridge(1912), andBroadway Bridge(1913). Portland's newest bridge in the downtown area,Tilikum Crossing, opened in 2015 and is the first new bridge to span the Willamette in Portland since the 1973 opening of the double-deckerFremont Bridge.^[103]

Other bridges that span the Willamette River in the downtown area include theBurnside Bridge, theRoss Island Bridge(both built 1926), and the double-deckerMarquam Bridge(built 1966). Other bridges outside the downtown area include theSellwood Bridge(built 2016) to the south; and theSt. Johns Bridge, aGothic revivalsuspension bridge built in 1931, to the north. TheGlenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridgeand theInterstate Bridgeprovide access from Portland across the Columbia River into Washington state.

The Willamette River, which flows north through downtown, serves as the natural boundary between East and West Portland. The denser and earlier-developed west side extends into the lap of theWest Hills, while the flatter east side extends for roughly 180 blocks until it meets the suburb ofGresham. In 1891 the cities of Portland,Albina, andEast Portlandwere consolidated, creating inconsistent patterns of street names and addresses. It was not unusual for a street name to be duplicated in disparate areas. The "Great Renumbering" on September 2, 1931, standardized street naming patterns and divided Portland into five "general districts." It also changed house numbers from 20 per block to 100 per block and adopted a single street name on a grid. For example, the 200 block north of Burnside is either NW Davis Street or NE Davis Street throughout the entire city.^[104]

The six previous addressing sections of Portland, which were colloquially known as quadrants despite there being six,^[105][106]have developed distinctive identities, with mild cultural differences and friendly rivalries between their residents, especially between those who live east of the Willamette River versus west of the river.^[107]Portland's addressing sections are North, Northwest, Northeast, South, Southeast, and Southwest (which includesdowntown Portland). The Willamette River divides the city into east and west whileBurnside Street, which traverses the entire city lengthwise, divides the north and south. North Portland consists of the peninsula formed by the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, with N Williams Ave serving as its eastern boundary. All addresses and streets within the city are prefixed by N, NW, NE, S, SW or SE with the exception of Burnside Street, which is prefixed with W or E. Starting on May 1, 2020, former Southwest prefix addresses with house numbers on east–west streets leading with zero dropped the zero and the street prefix on all streets (including north–south streets) converted from Southwest to South. For example, the current address of 246 S California St. was changed from 0246 SW California St. and the current address of 4310 S Macadam Ave. was converted from 4310 SW Macadam Ave.

The new South Portland addressing section was approved by the Portland City Council on June 6, 2018^[108]and is bounded bySW Naito Parkway, SW View Point Terrace and theTryon Creek State Natural Areato the west, SW Clay Street to the north, the Willamette River to the east, and city limits to the south. It includes the Lair Hill, Johns Landing and South Waterfront districts and Lewis & Clark College as well as the Riverdale area of unincorporated Multnomah County south of the Portland city limits.^[109]In 2018, the city's Bureau of Transportation finalized a plan to transition this part of Portland into South Portland, beginning on May 1, 2020, to reduce confusion by 9-1-1 dispatchers and delivery services.^[110]With the addition of South Portland, all six addressing sectors (N, NE, NW, S, SE and SW) are now officially known as sextants.^[111]

The Pearl DistrictinNorthwest Portland, which was largely occupied by warehouses, light industry and railroad classification yards in the early to mid-20th century, now houses upscaleart galleries, restaurants, and retail stores, and is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city.^[112]Areas further west of the Pearl District include neighborhoods known as Uptown and Nob Hill, as well as the Alphabet District and NW 23rd Ave., a major shopping street lined with clothing boutiques and other upscale retail, mixed with cafes and restaurants.^[113]

Northeast Portland is home to theLloyd District,Alberta Arts District, and theHollywood District. North Portland is largely residential and industrial. It containsKelley Point Park, the northernmost point of the city. It also contains theSt. Johnsneighborhood, which is historically one of the most ethnically diverse and poorest neighborhoods in the city.^[114]

Old Town Chinatownis next to the Pearl District in Northwest Portland. In 1890 it was the second largest Chinese community in the United States.^[115]In 2017, the crime rate was several times above the city average. This neighborhood has been called Portland's skid row.^[116]Southwest Portland is largely residential.Downtown district, made up of commercial businesses, museums,skyscrapers, and public landmarks represents a small area within the southwest address section. Portland's South Waterfront area has been developing into a dense neighborhood of shops, condominiums, and apartments starting in the mid-2000s. Development in this area is ongoing.^[117]The area is served by thePortland Streetcar, theMAX Orange Lineand fourTriMetbus lines. This former industrial area sat as abrownfieldprior to development in the mid-2000s.^[118]

Southeast Portland is largely residential, and consists of several neighborhoods, includingHawthorne District,Belmont,Brooklyn, andMount Tabor.Reed College, a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1908, is located within the confines of Southeast Portland as isMount Tabor, a volcanic landform.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	2,874		—
1870	8,293		188.6%
1880	17,577		111.9%
1890	46,385		163.9%
1900	90,426		94.9%
1910	207,214		129.2%
1920	258,288		24.6%
1930	301,815		16.9%
1940	305,394		1.2%
1950	373,628		22.3%
1960	372,676		−0.3%
1970	382,619		2.7%
1980	366,383		−4.2%
1990	437,319		19.4%
2000	529,121		21.0%
2010	583,776		10.3%
2020	652,503		11.8%
2023 (est.)	630,498	[119]	−3.4%

Ethnicities

Demographic profile	2022[119]	2020[120]	2010[121]	1990[122]	1970[122]	1940[122]
White (Non-Hispanic White)	68.8%	68.8%	76.1%	84.6%	92.2%	98.1%
Hispanic or Latino(of any race)	10.3%	10.3%	9.4%	3.2%	1.7%[d]	—
Asian	8.5%	8.2%	7.1%	5.3%	1.3%	1.2%
Two or More Races	8.0%	8.0%	4.7%	—	—	—
Black or African American	5.6%	5.8%	6.3%	7.7%	5.6%	0.6%
American IndianandAlaska Native	0.9%	0.9%	1.0%	—	—	—
Native HawaiianandOther Pacific Islander	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%	—	—	—

The 2020 census reported the city as 73.8%White(449,025 people), 8.2%Asian(52,854), 5.8% Black or African American (38,217), 0.9% Native American (7,335), 0.5% Pacific Islander (3,919), and 5.0% from two or more races (69,898).^[120]10.3% were Hispanic or Latino, of any race (72,336). Whites not of Hispanic origin made up 68.8% of the total population.^[120]

The 2010 census reported the city as 76.1%White(444,254 people), 7.1%Asian(41,448), 6.3% Black or African American (36,778), 1.0% Native American (5,838), 0.5% Pacific Islander (2,919), 4.7% belonging to two or more racial groups (24,437) and 5.0% from other races (28,987).^[121]9.4% wereHispanicor Latino, of any race (54,840). Whites not of Hispanic origin made up 72.2% of the total population.^[121]

In 1940, Portland's African-American population was approximately 2,000 and largely consisted of railroad employees and their families.^[124]During the war-timeLiberty Shipconstruction boom, the need for workers drew many Black people to the city. The new influx of Black people settled in specific neighborhoods, such as theAlbinadistrict andVanport. The May 1948 flood which destroyed Vanport eliminated the only integrated neighborhood, and an influx of blacks into the northeast quadrant of the city continued.^[124]Portland'slongshoremenracial mix was described as being "lily-white" in the 1960s when the localInternational Longshore and Warehouse Uniondeclined to represent grain handlers since some were black.^[125]

Over two-thirds of Oregon's African-American residents live in Portland.^[124]As of the 2000 census, three of its high schools (Cleveland, Lincoln and Wilson) were over 70% White, reflecting the overall population, whileJefferson High Schoolwas 87% non-White. The remaining six schools have a higher number of non-Whites, including Blacks and Asians. Hispanic students average from 3.3% at Wells to 31% atRoosevelt.^[126]

Portland residents identifying solely as Asian Americans account for 7.1% of the population; an additional 1.8% is partially of Asian heritage.Vietnamese Americansmake up 2.2% of Portland's population, and make up the largest Asian ethnic group in the city, followed byChinese(1.7%),Filipinos(0.6%),Japanese(0.5%),Koreans(0.4%),Laotians(0.4%),Hmong(0.2%), andCambodians(0.1%).^[127]A small population ofIu Mienlive in Portland. Portland has two Chinatowns, with New Chinatown in the 'Jade District' along SE 82nd Avenue with Chinese supermarkets, Hong Kong style noodle houses,dim sum, and Vietnamesephởrestaurants.^[128]

With about 12,000 Vietnamese residing in the city proper, Portland has one of the largest Vietnamese populations in America per capita.^[129]According to statistics, there are over 4,500Pacific Islandersin Portland, making up 0.7% of the city's population.^[130]There is aTongancommunity in Portland, who arrived in the area in the 1970s, and Tongans and Pacific Islanders as a whole are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the Portland area.^[131]

Portland's population has been and remains predominantlyWhite. In 1940, Whites were over 98% of the city's population.^[132]In 2009, Portland had the fifth-highest percentage of White residents among the 40 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. A 2007 survey of the 40 largest cities in the U.S. concluded Portland's urban core has the highest percentage of White residents.^[133]Some scholars have noted the Pacific Northwest as a whole is "one of the last Caucasian bastions of the United States".^[134]While Portland's diversity was historically comparable to metro Seattle and Salt Lake City, those areas grew more diverse in the late 1990s and 2000s. Portland not only remains White, but migration to Portland is disproportionately White.^[133][135]

The Oregon Territory banned African American settlement in 1849. In the 19th century, certain laws allowed the immigration of Chinese laborers but prohibited them from owning property or bringing their families.^{[133][136][137]}The early 1920s saw the rapid growth of theKu Klux Klan, which became very influential in Oregon politics, culminating in the election ofWalter M. Pierceas governor.^{[136][137][138]}

The largest influxes of minority populations occurred during World War II, as the African American population grew by a factor of 10 for wartime work.^[133]After World War II, theVanport floodin 1948 displaced many African Americans. As they resettled,redliningdirected the displaced workers from the wartime settlement to neighboringAlbina.^{[134][137][139]}There and elsewhere in Portland, they experienced police hostility, lack of employment, andmortgage discrimination, leading to half the black population leaving after the war.^[133]

In the 1980s and 1990s, radical skinhead groups flourished in Portland.^[137]In 1988,Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian immigrant, was killed by three skinheads. The response to his murder involved a community-driven series of rallies, campaigns, nonprofits and events designed to address Portland's racial history, leading to a city considered significantly more tolerant than in 1988 at Seraw's death.^[140]

Portland has a substantialRomapopulation.^[141]

76% of Latinos in Portland are ofMexicanheritage.^[142]

Italians and Russian Jews had a very visible presence in Portland.^[143]

As of the2010 census, there were 583,776 people living in the city, organized into 235,508 households. The population density was 4,375.2 people per square mile. There were 265,439 housing units at an average density of 1,989.4 per square mile (768.1/km²). Population growth in Portland increased 10.3% between 2000 and 2010.^[144]Population growth in thePortland metropolitan areahas outpaced the national average during the last decade, and this is expected to continue over the next 50 years.^[145]

Out of 223,737 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,146, and the median income for a family was $50,271. Males had a reported median income of $35,279 versus $29,344 reported for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,643. 13.1% of the population and 8.5% of families were 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 were living below the poverty line. Figures delineating the income levels based on race are not available at this time. According to theModern Language Association, in 2010 80.9% (539,885) percent of Multnomah County residents ages 5 and over spoke English as theirprimary languageat home.^[146]8.1% of the population spoke Spanish (54,036), with Vietnamese speakers making up 1.9%, and Russian 1.5%.^[146]

The Portland metropolitan area has historically had a significantLGBTpopulation throughout the late 20th and early 21st century.^[147][148]In 2015, the city metro had the second highest percentage of LGBT residents in the United States with 5.4% of residents identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, second only to San Francisco.^[149]In 2006, it was reported to have the seventh highest LGBT population in the country, with 8.8% of residents identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and the metro ranking fourth in the nation at 6.1%.^[150]The city held its firstpride festivalin 1975 on thePortland State Universitycampus.^[151]

Portland has been cited as the leastreligiouscity in the United States with over 42% of residents identifying as religiously "unaffiliated",^[152]according to the nonpartisan and nonprofitPublic Religion Research Institute's American Values Atlas.^[153]

Religious affiliation (2020)[154] Unaffiliated 64% Catholic 15.3% Protestant 14.8% Latter-day Saint (Mormon) 2.3% Orthodox 0.5% Buddhist 1.2% Jewish 0.9% Muslim 0.3% Hindu 0.3% Other faiths 0.4%

A 2019 survey by the city's budget office showed that homelessness is perceived as the top challenge facing Portland, and was cited as a reason people move and do not participate in park programs.^[155]Calls to 911 concerning "unwanted persons" have significantly increased between 2013 and 2018, and the police are increasingly dealing with homeless and mentally ill.^[156]Homelessness has taken a toll on the sense of safety among visitors, and residents and business owners are adversely impacted.^[157]Even though homeless services and shelter beds have increased, as of 2020 homelessness is considered an intractable problem in Portland.^[158]

The proposed budget for 2022–23 includes $5.8MM to buy land for affordable housing, and $36MM to equip and operate "safe rest villages".^[159]A 2022 initiative approved by the Portland city council makes homeless camping illegal, eventually requiring homeless individuals to move into mass shelters.^[160]

According to theFederal Bureau of Investigation'sUniform Crime Reportin 2009, Portland ranked 53rd in violent crime out of the top 75 U.S. cities with a population greater than 250,000.^[161]The murder rate in Portland in 2013 averaged 2.3 murders per 100,000 people per year, which was lower than the national average. In 2011, 72% of arrested male subjects tested positive for illegal drugs and the city was dubbed the "deadliest drug market in the Pacific Northwest" due to drug related deaths.^[162]In 2010,ABC's Nightlinereported that Portland is one of the largest hubs for child sex trafficking.^[163]Car theft rates in Portland are the fifth highest of any US metropolitan area as of 2023.^[164][165]According to theLos Angeles Timesin 2023: "Shootings in the city have tripled" and "Lower-level crimes have spiked too: More than 11,000 vehicles were stolen in 2022, up from 6,500 in 2019."^[166]

In the PortlandMetropolitan statistical areawhich includes Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill Counties, OR and Clark and Skamania Counties, WA for 2017, the murder rate was 2.6, violent crime was 283.2 per 100,000 people per year. In 2017, the population within the city of Portland was 649,408 and there were 24 murders and 3,349 violent crimes.^[167]

Portland's 101 homicides in 2022 set a new record.^[168]For 2021 year, Portland recorded 90 homicides, compared with 20 in 2016, and 27 in 2017.^[169]

Portland's location is beneficial for several industries. Relatively low energy cost, accessible resources, north–south and east–west Interstates, international air terminals, large marine shipping facilities, and both west coast intercontinental railroads are all economic advantages.^[170]

The city's marine terminals alone handle over 13 million tons of cargo per year, and the port is home to one of the largest commercial dry docks in the country.^[171][172]ThePort of Portlandis the third-largest export tonnage port on the west coast of the U.S., and being about 80 miles (130 km) upriver, it is the largest fresh-water port.^[170]

The scrap steel industry's history in Portland predates World War II. The scrap steel industry thrives in the region, withSchnitzer Steel Industries, a prominent scrap steel company, shipping a record 1.15 billion tons of scrap metal to Asia during 2003. Other heavy industry companies includeESCO CorporationandOregon Steel Mills.^[173][174]

Technology is a major component of the city's economy, with more than 1,200 technology companies existing within the metro.^[170]This high density of technology companies has led to the nicknameSilicon Forestbeing used to describe the Portland area, a reference to the abundance of trees in the region and to theSilicon Valleyregion in Northern California.^[175]The area also hosts facilities for software companies and onlinestartup companies, some supported by localseed fundingorganizations andbusiness incubators.^[176]Computer components manufacturerIntelis the Portland area's largest employer, providing jobs for more than 15,000 people, with several campuses to the west of central Portland in the city ofHillsboro.^[170]

The Portland metro area has become abusiness clusterfor athletic/outdoor gear and footwear manufacturer's headquarters. Shoes are not manufactured in Portland.^[177]The area is home to the global, North American or U.S. headquarters ofNike(the onlyFortune 500company headquartered in Oregon),Adidas,Columbia Sportswear,LaCrosse Footwear,Dr. Martens,Li-Ning,^[178]Keen,^[179]andHi-Tec Sports.^[180]While headquartered elsewhere,Merrell,Amer SportsandUnder Armourhave design studios and local offices in the Portland area.

Other notable Portland-based companies include industrial goods and metal fabrication companyPrecision Castparts, film animation studioLaika; commercial vehicle manufacturerDaimler Trucks North America; advertising firmWieden+Kennedy; bankersUmpqua Holdings; child care and early childhood education providerKinderCare Learning Centers; and retailersFred Meyer,New Seasons Market,Storables, andPowell's Books.

Breweries are another major industry in Portland, which is home to 139 breweries/microbreweries, the 7th most in the nation, as of December 2018.^[181]Additionally, the city boasts a robustcoffee culturethat now rivals Seattle and hosts over 20 coffee roasters.^[182]

In 2016, home prices in Portland grew faster than in any other city in the United States.^[183]Apartment rental costs in Portland reported in November 2019 was $1,337 for two bedroom and $1,133 for one bedroom.^[184]

In 2017, developers projected an additional 6,500 apartments to be built in the Portland Metro Area over the next year.^[185]However, as of December 2019, the number of homes available for rent or purchase in Portland continues to shrink. Over the past year, housing prices in Portland have risen 2.5%. Housing prices in Portland continue to rise, the median price rising from $391,400 in November 2018 to $415,000 in November 2019.^[186]There has been a rise of people from out of state moving to Portland, which impacts housing availability. Because of the demand for affordable housing and influx of new residents, more Portlanders in their 20s and 30s are still living in their parents' homes.^[187]There is a considerable amount of "Airbnbtype" rentals in the city. An audit in 2018 located around 4,600 listings, of which 80% were illegally operated.^[188][189]

Portland is home to a range of classical performing arts institutions including thePortland Opera,Portland Baroque Orchestra,Oregon SymphonyandPortland Youth Philharmonic; the last of these, established in 1924, was the first youth orchestra established in the United States.^[190]The city is also home to several theaters and performing arts institutions including theOregon Ballet Theatre, Northwest Children's Theatre,Portland Center Stage,Artists Repertory Theatre, Curious Comedy Theatre andMiracle Theatre.

In 2013,The Guardiannamed the city's music scene as one of the "most vibrant" in the United States.^[191]Portland is home to famous bands such as theKingsmenandPaul Revere & the Raiders, both famous for their association with the song "Louie Louie" (1963).^[192]Other widely known musical groups include theDandy Warhols,Quarterflash,Everclear,Pink Martini,Sleater-Kinney,Blitzen Trapper, theDecemberists, and the lateElliott Smith. More recently,Portugal. The Man,Modest Mouse, andthe Shinshave made their home in Portland. In the 1980s, the city was home to a burgeoning punk scene, which included bands such as theWipersandDead Moon.^[193]The city's now-demolishedSatyricon nightclubwas a punk venue notorious for being the place whereNirvanafrontmanKurt Cobainfirst encountered his future wife andHolefrontwomanCourtney Lovein 1990.^[194]Love was then a resident of Portland and started several bands there withKat Bjelland, later ofBabes in Toyland.^[195][196]Multi-Grammyaward-winning jazz artistEsperanza Spaldingis from Portland and performed with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon at a young age.^[197]

Awide range of films have been shot in Portland, from various independent features to major big-budget productions. DirectorGus Van Santhas notably set and shot many of his films in the city.^[198]The city has also been featured in various television programs, notably theIFCsketch comedyseriesPortlandia. The series, which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2018,^[199]was shot on location in Portland, and satirized the city as a hub of liberal politics, organic food, alternative lifestyles, and anti-establishment attitudes.^[200]MTV's long-time running reality showThe Real Worldwas also shot in Portland for the show's 29th season:The Real World: Portlandpremiered on MTV in 2013.^[201]Other television series shot in the city includeLeverage,The Librarians,^[202]Under Suspicion,Grimm, andNowhere Man.^[203]

An unusual feature of Portland entertainment is the large number of movie theaters serving beer, often with second-run or revival films.^[204]Notable examples of these "brew and view" theaters include theBagdad Theater and Pub, a formervaudevilletheater built in 1927 byUniversal Studios;^[205]Cinema 21; and theLaurelhurst Theater, in operation since 1923. Portland hosts the world's longest-runningH. P. Lovecraft Film Festival^[206]at theHollywood Theatre.^[207]

Portland is home to numerous museums and educational institutions, ranging from art museums to institutions devoted to science and wildlife. Among the science-oriented institutions are theOregon Museum of Science and Industry(OMSI), which consists of five main halls and other ticketed attractions, such as theUSSBluebacksubmarine,^[208]the ultra-large-screen Empirical Theater (which replaced an OMNIMAX theater in 2013),^[209]and the KendallPlanetarium.^[210]TheWorld Forestry Center Discovery Museum, located in the city'sWashington Parkarea, offers educational exhibits on forests and forest-related subjects. Also located inWashington Parkare theHoyt Arboretum, theInternational Rose Test Garden, theJapanese Garden, and theOregon Zoo.^[211]

ThePortland Art Museumowns the city's largest art collection and presents a variety of touring exhibitions each year and, with the recent addition of the Modern and Contemporary Art wing, it became one of the United States' 25 largest museums. TheOregon Historical Society Museum, founded in 1898, which has a variety of books, film, pictures, artifacts, and maps dating back throughout Oregon's history. It houses permanent and temporary exhibits about Oregon history, and hosts traveling exhibits about the history of the United States.^[212]

Oaks Amusement Park, in the Sellwood district of Southeast Portland, is the city's onlyamusement parkand is also one of the country's longest-running amusement parks. It has operated since 1905 and was known as the "Coney Islandof the Northwest" upon its opening.^[213]

Food carts are extremely popular within the city, with over 600 licensed carts.^[214][215]The city is home toStumptown Coffee Roastersas well as dozens of other micro-roasteries and cafes.^[216]

Portland has 58 active breweries within city limits,^[217]and 70+ within the surrounding metro area.^[217]and data compiled by the Brewers Association ranks Portland seventh in the United States as of 2018.^[218]

Portland hosts a number of festivals throughout the year that celebrate beer and brewing, including theOregon Brewers Festival, held inTom McCall Waterfront Park. Held each summer during the last full weekend of July, it is the largest outdoor craft beer festival in North America, with over 70,000 attendees in 2008.^[219]Other major beer festivals throughout the calendar year include the Spring Beer and Wine Festival in April, the North American Organic Brewers Festival in June, thePortland International Beerfestin July,^[220]and the Holiday Ale Festival in December.

The city became a pioneer of state-directed metropolitan planning, a program which was instituted statewide in 1969 to compact theurban growth boundariesof the city.^[221]Portland was the first city to enact a comprehensive plan to reducecarbon dioxide emissions.^[222]

Strong free speech protections of theOregon Constitutionupheld by theOregon Supreme CourtinState v. Henry,^[223]specifically found that full nudity andlap dancesinstrip clubsareprotected speech.^[224]Portland has the highest number of strip clubs per-capita in a city in the United States, and Oregon ranks as the highest state for per-capita strip clubs.^[225]

In November 2008, a Multnomah County judge dismissed charges against a nude bicyclist arrested on June 26, 2008. The judge stated that the city's annualWorld Naked Bike Ride– held each year in June since 2004 – has created a "well-established tradition" in Portland where cyclists may ride naked as a form of protest against cars and fossil fuel dependence.^[226]The defendant was not riding in the official World Naked Bike Ride at the time of his arrest as it had occurred 12 days earlier that year, on June 14.^[227]

From November 10 to 12, 2016, protests in Portland turned into ariot, when a group broke off from a larger group of peaceful protesters who were opposed to the election ofDonald Trumpas president of the United States.^[228][229]

Portland is home to three major league sports franchises: thePortland Trail Blazersof theNBA, thePortland TimbersofMajor League Soccer(MLS), and thePortland Thorns FCof theNational Women's Soccer League. In 2015, the Timbers won theMLS Cup, which was the first male professional sports championship for a team from Portland since the Trail Blazers won theNBA championship in 1977.^[230]Despite being the 19th most populatedmetro areain the United States, Portland contains only one franchise from the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB, making it the United States' second most populated metro area with that distinction, behindSan Antonio, which also has only one NBA team (theSpurs). The city has been often rumored to receive an additional franchise, although efforts to acquire a team have failed due to stadium funding issues.^[231]An organization known as thePortland Diamond Project(PDP)^[232]has worked with MLB and local government, and there are plans to have an MLB stadium constructed in the industrial district of Portland.^[233]The PDP has not yet received the funding for this project.

Portland sports fans are characterized by their passionate support. The Trail Blazers sold out every home game between 1977 and 1995, a span of 814 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in American sports history.^[234]The Timbers joined MLS in 2011 and have sold out every home match since joining the league, a streak that has now reached 70+ matches.^[235]The Timbers season ticket waiting list has reached 10,000+, the longest waiting list in MLS.^[236]In 2015, they became the first team in the Northwest to win the MLS Cup. Player Diego Valeri marked a new record for fastest goal in MLS Cup history at 27 seconds into the game.^[237]

The annualCambia Portland Classicwomen's golf tournament in September, now in its 50th year, is the longest-running non-major tournament on theLPGA Tour, plays in the southern suburb ofWest Linn.^[238]

Two rival universities exist within Portland city limits: theUniversity of Portland Pilotsand thePortland State University Vikings, both of whom field teams in popular spectator sports including soccer, baseball, and basketball. Portland State also has a football team. Additionally, theUniversity of Oregon Ducks(inEugene) and theOregon State University Beavers(inCorvallis) both receive substantial attention and support from many Portland residents, despite their campuses being 110 and 84 miles from the city, respectively.^[239]

Running is a popular activity in Portland, and every year the city hosts thePortland Marathonas well as parts of theHood to Coast Relay, the world's largest long-distance relay race (by number of participants). Portland served as the center to an elite running group, theNike Oregon Projectuntil its 2019 disbandment following coach Alberto Salazar's ban due to doping violations.^[240]

Historic Erv Lind Stadium is located inNormandale Park.^[241]It has been home to professional and college softball.

Portland also hosts numerous cycling events and has become an elite bicycle racing destination.^{[242][243][244]}TheOregon Bicycle Racing Associationsupports hundreds of official bicycling events every year. Weekly events atAlpenrose VelodromeandPortland International Racewayallow for racing nearly every night of the week from March through September.Cyclocrossraces, such as theCross Crusade, can attract over 1,000 riders and spectators.^[245]

Club	Sport	Current League	Championships	Venue	Founded
Portland Trail Blazers	Basketball	NBA	1 (1977)	Moda Center	1970
Portland Winterhawks	Hockey	WHL	3 (1981–82,1997–98,2012–13)	Veterans Memorial Coliseum	1976
Portland Timbers	Soccer	MLS	1 (2015)	Providence Park	2009
Portland Thorns FC	Soccer	NWSL	3 (2013,2017,2022)	Providence Park	2012
Hillsboro Hops	Baseball	Northwest League	3 (2014, 2015, 2019)	Ron Tonkin Field	2013
Portland Timbers 2	Soccer	MLS Next Pro	0	Hillsboro Stadium	2014

Parks and greenspace planning date back toJohn Charles Olmsted's 1903Report to the Portland Park Board. In 1995, voters in the Portland metropolitan region passed a regional bond measure to acquire valuable natural areas for fish, wildlife, and people.^[246]Ten years later, more than 8,100 acres (33 km²) of ecologically valuable natural areas had been purchased and permanently protected from development.^[247]

Portland is one of only four cities in the U.S. with extinct volcanoes within its boundaries (along withPilot ButteinBend, Oregon,Jackson VolcanoinJackson, Mississippi, andDiamond HeadinHonolulu, Hawaii).Mount Tabor Parkis known for its scenic views and historic reservoirs.^[248]

Forest Parkis the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 5,000 acres (2,023 ha).^[249]Portland is also home toMill Ends Park, the world's smallest park (a two-foot-diameter circle, the park's area is only about 0.3 m²).Washington Parkis just west of downtown and is home to theOregon Zoo,Hoyt Arboretum, thePortland Japanese Garden, and theInternational Rose Test Garden. Portland is also home toLan Su Chinese Garden(formerly the Portland Classical Chinese Garden), an authentic representation of aSuzhou-style walled garden. Portland's east side has several formal public gardens: the historicPeninsula ParkRose Garden, the rose gardens ofLadd's Addition, theCrystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, theLeach Botanical Garden, andThe Grotto.

Portland's downtown features two groups of contiguous city blocks dedicated for park space: theNorthandSouth Park Blocks.^[250][251]The 37-acre (15 ha)Tom McCall Waterfront Parkwas built in 1974 along the length of the downtown waterfront afterHarbor Drivewas removed; it now hosts large events throughout the year.^[252]The nearby historically significantBurnside Skateparkand five indoorskateparksgive Portland a reputation as possibly "the most skateboard-friendly town in America."^[253]

Tryon Creek State Natural Areais one of threeOregon State Parksin Portland and the most popular; its creek has a run ofsteelhead. The other two State Parks areWillamette Stone State Heritage Site, in the West Hills, and theGovernment Island State Recreation Areain the Columbia River nearPortland International Airport.

In February 2015, the City Council approved a total ban on smoking in all city parks and natural areas effective July 1, 2015. The ban includes cigarettes, vaping, as well as marijuana.^[254]

The city of Portland is governed by the Portland City Council, which includes a mayor, four commissioners, and anauditor. Each is elected citywide to serve a four-year term. Each commissioner oversees one or more bureaus responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city. The mayor serves as chairman of the council and is principally responsible for allocating department assignments to his fellow commissioners. 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 and reports on various matters of city government. Portland is the only large city left in the United States with the commission form of government.^[255]

The city's Community & Civic Life (formerly Office of Neighborhood Involvement)^[257]serves as a conduit between city government and Portland's95 officially recognized neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is represented by a volunteer-basedneighborhood associationwhich serves as a liaison between residents of the neighborhood and the city government. The city provides funding to neighborhood associations through seven district coalitions, each of which is a geographical grouping of several neighborhood associations. Most (but not all) neighborhood associations belong to one of these district coalitions.

Portland and its surrounding metropolitan area are served byMetro, the United States' only directly electedmetropolitan planning organization. Metro's charter gives it responsibility forland useandtransportation planning,solid waste management, and map development.

TheMultnomah Countygovernment provides many services to the Portland area, as doWashingtonandClackamascounties to the west and south.

Fire and emergency services are provided byPortland Fire & Rescue.

On November 8, 2022, Portland residents approveda charter reformballot measure to replace the commission form of government with a 12-member council elected in four districts using thesingle transferable votesystem, with a professionalcity managerappointed by a directly elected mayor. The city expects to hold the first election for this new system in 2024.^[258]

Law enforcement is provided by thePortland Police Bureau.

Portland strongly favors theDemocratic Party; registered Democrats (51.2%) outnumberRepublicans(10.5%) nearly 5 to 1. All city offices arenon-partisan.^[259]However, almost all of the city's elected officials are known to be Democrats.Fred L. Petersonin 1952 is the city's last elected mayor who was known to be a Republican, and no Republican has served as mayor even on an interim basis sinceConnie McCreadyheld the post from 1979 to 1980.

Portland is split among three of Oregon's U.S.congressional districts. Most of the city is in the3rd District, represented byEarl Blumenauer(D-Portland), 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 the1st District, represented bySuzanne Bonamici(D-Beaverton). A small portion of southeastern Portland is in the5th District, formerly represented byKurt Schrader(D-Canby) prior to losing his Democratic primary election to a more progressive candidate, but currently represented by the former mayor ofHappy Valley, RepublicanLori Chavez-DeRemer, who is the firstRepublicanto represent a significant portion of the city in theU.S. House of Representativessince 1975. Both of Oregon's senators,Ron WydenandJeff Merkley, are progressive Democrats from Portland.

In the2008 presidential election, Democratic candidateBarack Obamaeasily carried Portland, winning 245,464 votes from city residents to 50,614 for hisRepublicanrival,John McCain. In the2012 presidential election, Democratic candidateBarack Obamaagain easily carried Portland, winning 256,925 votes from Multnomah county residents to 70,958 for hisRepublicanrival,Mitt Romney.^[260]

Sam Adams, the former mayor of Portland, became the city's first openly gay mayor in 2009.^[261]In 2004, 59.7 percent of Multnomah County voters cast ballots againstOregon Ballot Measure 36, which amended theOregon Constitutionto prohibit recognition ofsame-sex marriages. The measure passed with 56.6% of the statewide vote. Multnomah County is one of two counties where a majority voted against the initiative; the other isBenton County, which includesCorvallis, home ofOregon State University.^[262]On April 28, 2005, Portland became the only city in the nation to withdraw from aJoint Terrorism Task Force.^[263][264]As of February 19, 2015, the Portland city council approved permanently staffing the JTTF with two of its city's police officers.^[265]

Voter registration and party enrollment as of January 2022[update][266]
Party		Number of voters	Percentage
	Democratic	253,789	55.55%
	Republican	36,763	8.05%
	Unaffiliated	138,751	30.37%
	Libertarian	2,752	0.60%
	Pacific Green	2,298	0.50%
	Constitution	298	0.07%
	Other	22,245	4.87%
Total		456,896	100%

The city consulted with urban planners as far back as 1904, resulting in the development ofWashington Parkand the40-Mile Loopgreenway, which connects many of the city's parks.^[267]Portland is often cited as an example of a city with strongland use planningcontrols.^[268]This is largely the result of statewide land conservation policies adopted in 1973 under GovernorTom McCall, in particular the requirement for anurban growth boundary(UGB) for every city and metropolitan area. The opposite extreme, a city with few or no controls, is typically illustrated byHouston.^{[269][270][271][272]}

Oregon's 1973 "urban growth boundary" law limits the boundaries for large-scale development in each metropolitan area in Oregon.^[273]This limits access to utilities such as sewage, water and telecommunications, as well as coverage by fire, police and schools.^[273]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).^[274]This was atypical in an era when automobile use led many areas to neglect their core cities in favor of development alonginterstate highways, in suburbs, andsatellite cities.

The original state rules included a provision for expanding urban growth boundaries, but critics felt this was not 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.^[275]In 2007, the legislature changed the law to require the maintenance of an estimated 50 years of growth within the boundary, as well as the protection of accompanying farm and rural lands.^[145]The growth boundary, along with efforts of the Portland Development Commission to create economic development zones, has led to the development of a large portion of downtown, a large number of mid- and high-rise developments, and an overall increase in housing and business density.^[276]

Prosper Portland(formerly the Portland Development Commission) is a semi-public agency that plays a major role in downtown development; city voters created it in 1958 to serve as the city'surban renewalagency. It provides housing and economic development programs within the city and works behind the scenes with major local developers to create large projects. In the early 1960s, the Portland Development Commission led the razing of a large Italian-Jewish neighborhood downtown, bounded roughly by I-405, the Willamette River, 4th Avenue and Market street.^[277]MayorNeil Goldschmidttook office in 1972 as a proponent of bringing housing and the associated vitality back to the downtown area, which was seen as emptying out after 5 pm. The effort has had dramatic effects in the 30 years since, with many thousands of new housing units clustered in three areas: north of Portland State University (between I-405, 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.).

Historically,environmental consciousnesshas weighed significantly in the city's planning and development efforts.^[278]Portland was one of the first cities in the United States to promote and integrate alternative forms of transportation, such as theMAX Light Railand extensive bike paths.^[278]The Urban Greenspaces Institute, housed inPortland State UniversityGeography 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.^[279]In October 2009, the Portland City Council unanimously adopted aclimate actionplan that will cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.^[280]

As of 2012, Portland was the largest city in the United States that did not addfluorideto its public water supply,^[281]andfluoridationhas historically been a subject ofcontroversyin the city.^[282]Portland voters have four times voted against fluoridation, in 1956, 1962, 1980 (repealing a 1978 vote in favor), and 2013.^[283]In 2012 the city council, responding to advocacy from public health organizations and others, voted unanimously to begin fluoridation by 2014. Fluoridation opponents forced a public vote on the issue,^[284]and on May 21, 2013, city voters again rejected fluoridation.^[285]

Nine public school districts and many private schools include sections of Portland.Portland Public Schoolsis the largest school district, operating 86 public schools.^[286]In addition to PPS, other school districts in Multnomah County that serve parts of the city include theBeaverton School District,Centennial School District,David Douglas School District,Parkrose School District,Reynolds School District,Riverdale School District, andScappoose School District.^[287]Portions in Clackamas County are in theNorth Clackamas School Districtand Centennial School District.^[288]Portions in Washington County are in Portland Public Schools.^[289]

David Douglas High School, in thePowellhurstneighborhood, has the largest enrollment of any public high school in the city.^[290]Other high schools includeBenson,Cleveland,Franklin,Grant,Jefferson,Madison,Parkrose,Roosevelt, andIda B Wells-Barnett(formerly Woodrow Wilson), and several suburban high schools which serve the city's outer areas. Established in 1869,Lincoln High School(formerly Portland High School) is the city's oldest public education institution, and is one of two of the oldest high schools west of theMississippi River(after San Francisco'sLowell High School).^[291]

Former public schools in the city includedWashington High School, which operated from 1906 until 1981, as well asAdamsandJackson, which also closed the same year.

Portland State Universityhas the second-largest enrollment rate of any university in the state (afterOregon State University), with a student body of nearly 30,000.^[292]It has been named among the top fifteen percentile of American regional universities byThe Princeton Reviewfor undergraduate education,^[293]and has been internationally recognized for its degrees inMaster of Business Administrationandurban planning.^[294]The city is also home to theOregon Health & Science University, as well asPortland Community College.

Notable private universities include theUniversity of Portland, a Roman Catholic university affiliated with theCongregation of Holy Cross;Reed College, aliberal arts college, andLewis & Clark College.

The Oregonianis the only daily general-interest newspaper serving Portland. It also circulates throughout the state and inClark County, Washington.

Smaller local newspapers, distributed free of charge in newspaper boxes and at venues around the city, include thePortland Tribune(general-interest paper published on Wednesdays),Willamette Week(general-interestalternative weeklypublished on Wednesdays), andThe Portland Mercury(another alt-weekly, targeted at younger urban readers and published every other Thursday). The Portland area also has newspapers that are published for specific communities, includingThe Asian Reporter(a weekly covering Asian news, both international and local) andThe Skanner(a weeklyAfrican-American newspapercovering both local and national news). ThePortland Business Journalcovers business-related news on a weekly basis, as doesTheDaily Journal of Commerce, its main competitor.Portland Monthlyis a monthly news and culture magazine.The Bee, over 110 years old, is another neighborhood newspaper serving the inner southeast neighborhoods.^[295]

Legacy Health, a non-profit healthcare system in Portland, operates multiple facilities in the city and surrounding suburbs.^[296]These includeLegacy Emanuel, founded in 1912, in Northeast Portland; andLegacy Good Samaritan, founded in 1875, and in Northwest Portland.^[296]Randall's Children's Hospitaloperates at the Legacy Emanuel Campus. Good Samaritan has centers for breast health, cancer, and stroke, and is home to theLegacy Devers Eye Institute, the Legacy Obesity and Diabetes Institute, the Legacy Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, the Legacy Rehabilitation Clinic of Oregon, and theLinfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing.^[297]

The Catholic-affiliatedProvidence Health & ServicesoperatesProvidence Portland Medical Centerin theNorth Tabor neighborhoodof the city.Oregon Health & Science Universityis a university hospital formed in 1974. TheVeterans Affairs Medical Centeroperates next to the Oregon Health & Science University main campus.Adventist Medical Centeralso serves the city.Shriners Hospital for Childrenis a small children's hospital established in 1923.

The Portland metropolitan area has transportation services common to major U.S. cities, though Oregon's emphasis on proactiveland-use planningandtransit-oriented developmentwithin theurban growth boundarymeans commuters have multiple well-developed options.

In 2008, 12.6% of all commutes in Portland were on public transit.^[298]TriMetoperates most of the region's buses and theMAX(short for Metropolitan Area Express)light railsystem, which connects the city and suburbs. The 1986-opened MAX system has expanded to five lines, with the latest being theOrange LinetoMilwaukie, in service as of September 2015.^[299]WES Commuter Railopened in February 2009 in Portland's western suburbs, linkingBeavertonandWilsonville.

The city-ownedPortland Streetcarserves two routes in the Central City –downtownand adjacent districts. The first line, which opened in 2001 and was extended in 2005–07, operates from the South Waterfront District through Portland State University and north through the West End of downtown, to shopping areas and dense residential districts north and northwest of downtown. The second line that opened in 2012 added 3.3 miles (5.3 km) of tracks on the east side of the Willamette River and across theBroadway Bridgeto a connection with the original line.^[300]The east-side line completed a loop to the tracks on the west side of the river upon completion of the newTilikum Crossingin 2015,^[301]and, in anticipation of that, had been named the Central Loop line in 2012. However, it was renamed theLoop Service, with an A Loop (clockwise) and B Loop (counterclockwise), when it became a complete loop with the opening of the Tilikum Crossing bridge.

Fifth and Sixth avenues within downtown comprise thePortland Transit Mall, two streets devoted primarily to bus and light rail traffic with limited automobile access. Opened in 1977 for buses, the transit mall was renovated and rebuilt in 2007–09, with light rail added. Starting in 1975 and lasting nearly four decades, all transit service within downtown Portland was free, the area being known by TriMet asFareless Square, but a need for minor budget cuts and funding needed for expansion prompted the agency to limit free rides to rail service only in 2010,^[302]and subsequently to discontinue the fare-free zone entirely in 2012.^[303]

TriMet provides real-time tracking of buses and trains with its TransitTracker, and makes the data available to software developers so they can create customized tools of their own.^[304][305]

I-5connects Portland with the Willamette Valley,Southern Oregon, and California to the south and withWashingtonto the north.I-405forms a loop with I-5 around the central downtown area of the city andI-205is a loop freeway route on the east side which connects to thePortland International Airport.U.S. 26supports commuting within the metro area and continues to the Pacific Ocean westward andMount HoodandCentral Oregoneastward.U.S. 30has a main, bypass, and business route through the city extending toAstoriato the west; throughGresham, Oregon, and the easternexurbs, and connects toI-84, traveling towardsBoise, Idaho.

Portland's main airport isPortland International Airport(PDX), about 20 minutes by car (40 minutes by MAX) northeast of downtown. Portland is also home toOregon'sonly public use heliport, thePortland Downtown Heliport.

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Portland atUnion Stationon three routes. Long-haul train routes include theCoast Starlight(with service from Los Angeles to Seattle) and theEmpire Builder(with service to Chicago). TheAmtrak Cascadesstate-supported trains operate betweenVancouver, B.C., andEugene, Oregon, and serve Portland several times daily. The city is also served byGreyhound Linesintercity bus service, which also operatesBoltBus, an express bus service. The city's first airport was theSwan Island Municipal Airport, which was closed in the 1940s.

Portland is the only city in the United States that owns operating mainlinesteam locomotives, donated to the city in 1958 by the railroads that ran them.^[306]Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700and the world-famousSouthern Pacific 4449can be seen several times a year pulling a specialexcursion train, either locally or on an extended trip. The "Holiday Express", pulled over the tracks of theOregon Pacific Railroadon weekends in December, has become a Portland tradition over its several years running.^[307]These trains and others are operated by volunteers of theOregon Rail Heritage Foundation, an amalgamation of rail preservation groups which collaborated on the finance and construction of theOregon Rail Heritage Center, a permanent and publicly accessible home for the locomotives, which opened in 2012 adjacent to OMSI.^[308]

In Portland, cyclingis a significant mode of transportation. As the city has been particularly supportive ofurban bicyclingit now ranks highly among the mostbicycle-friendlycities in the world.^[309]Bicycles accounted for 2.8% of commuting in 2021. Bicycle commuting declined by 46% between 2016 and 2022 according toPortland Bureau of Transportationreport.^[310]For its achievements in promoting cycling as an everyday means of transportation, Portland has been recognized by theLeague of American Bicyclistsand othercycling organizationsfor its network of on-street bicycling facilities and other bicycle-friendly services, being one of only three U.S. cities to have earned a Platinum-level rating.^[311]A newbicycle-sharing system,Biketown, launched on July 19, 2016,^[312]with 100 stations in the city's central and eastside neighborhoods.^[313]

Portland abolished the requirement for parking minimum as well asMinneapolisandAustin.^[314]

As of 2015, Portland is owed $32.4 million in unpaid parking citations due to thecity government's refusal to collect more aggressively.^[315]

The main source of drinking water is theBull Run Watershedconsisting of 102 square miles (260 km²) of forested land on the western flank of Mount Hood The city also has 25wellsin an area which goes from near the airport at I-205 to Blue Lake Park which supplements the supply during the summer.^[316]

Portland'ssister citiesare:^[317]

Portland also has a friendship city agreement with:

• Utrecht, Province of Utrecht, Netherlands (2012)

• 1972 Portland–Vancouver tornado
• Keep Portland Weird
• List of hospitals in Portland, Oregon
• List of sports venues in Portland, Oregon
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
• Roses in Portland, Oregon
• USSPortland, 2 of 3 ships
• Washington Center

• Official website
  • Portland MapsArchivedJuly 22, 2010, at theWayback Machine(lot-level GIS)
• Portland Business Alliance – Portland Chamber of Commerce
• Portland's Visitor Association– officialvisitors' bureauwebsite