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 Insiders Top 10 Least Expensive Cities, Money Magazines Top 10 Places to Vacation and Top 10 Best Places to Live, and American Style Magazines Top 25 Arts Destinations. For more Portland praises check out our Portland in the News section.


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.

Population

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.

History

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.

Weather

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.

Clackamas County

Just south of Multnomah County, Clackamas County is home to Mt. Hood and the country?s only year round skiing at Timberline Lodge.

Milwaukie

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.

Gladstone

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.

Oregon City

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.

Lake Oswego

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.

West Linn

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.

Wilsonville

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.

Washington County

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.

Beaverton

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.

Hillsboro

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.

Tigard

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.

Tualatin

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.