Portland (/ˈpɔːrtlənd/, PORT-lənd) is the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It is a major port in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest, at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. As of 2019, Portland had an estimated population of 654,741,[7] making it the 26th most populated city in the United States and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle.[9] Approximately 2.4 million people live in the Portland metropolitan statistical area (MSA), making it the 25th most populous in the United States. Its combined statistical area (CSA) ranks 19th-largest with a population of around 3.2 million. Approximately 60% of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.[a]

Named after Portland, Maine,[10] the Oregon settlement began to be populated in the 1830s near the end of the Oregon 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 dangerous port cities in the world, a hub for organized crime and racketeering. After the city's economy experienced an industrial boom during World War II, its hard-edged reputation began to dissipate. Beginning in the 1960s,[11] Portland became noted for its growing progressive political values, earning it a reputation as a bastion of counterculture.[12]

The city operates with a commission-based government guided by a mayor and four commissioners as well as Metro, the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the United States.[13] The city government is notable for its land-use planning and investment in public transportation.[14] Portland is frequently recognized as one of the world's greenest cities to live and Portland was the first city to enact a comprehensive plan to reduce CO2 emissions.[15] 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 over a century.[16]

Contents

1 History

1.1 Pre-history

1.2 Establishment

1.3 20th-century development

1.4 1990s to present

2 Geography

2.1 Geology

2.2 Topography

2.3 Climate

3 Cityscape

3.1 Neighborhoods

4 Demographics

4.1 Households

4.2 Social

5 Economy

5.1 Housing

6 Culture

6.1 Music, film, and performing arts

6.2 Museums and recreation

6.3 Cuisine and breweries

6.4 Sustainability

7 Sports

8 Parks and gardens

9 Law and government

9.1 Politics

9.2 Planning and development

9.3 Free speech

9.4 Crime

10 Education

10.1 Primary and secondary education

10.2 Higher education

11 Media

12 Infrastructure

12.1 Healthcare

12.2 Transportation

13 Notable people

14 International relations

15 See also

16 Notes

17 References

18 Bibliography

19 Further reading

20 External links

History

Main articles: History of Portland, Oregon and Timeline of Portland, Oregon

Pre-history

During the prehistoric period, the land that would become Portland was flooded after the collapse of glacial dams from Lake 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.[17]

Before American colonizers began arriving in the 1800s, the land was inhabited for many centuries by two bands of indigenous Chinook people—the Multnomah and the Clackamas.[18] The Chinook people occupying the land were first documented in 1805 by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.[19] 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.[19]

Establishment

Pioneer Courthouse, 1886

1890 map of Portland

Large numbers of pioneer settlers began arriving in the Willamette Valley in the 1830s via the Oregon Trail, though life was originally centered in nearby Oregon City. In the early 1840s a new settlement emerged ten miles from the mouth of the Willamette River,[20] roughly halfway between Oregon City and Fort Vancouver. This community was initially referred to as "Stumptown" and "The Clearing" because of the many trees cut down to allow for its growth.[21] In 1843 William Overton saw 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 with Asa Lovejoy of Boston.[22]

In 1845 Overton sold his remaining half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, 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.[1] The coin used for this decision, now known as the Portland Penny, is on display in the headquarters of the Oregon Historical Society. At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851, Portland had over 800 inhabitants,[23] a steam sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and a newspaper, the Weekly 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,[24] roughly equivalent to $27.7 million today.[25] By 1879, the population had grown to 17,500 and by 1890 it had grown to 46,385.[26] In 1888, the city built the first steel bridge built on the West Coast.[27]

Portland's access to the Pacific Ocean via the Willamette and Columbia rivers, as well as its easy access to the agricultural Tualatin Valley via the "Great Plank Road" (the route of current-day U.S. Route 26), provided the pioneer city with an advantage over other nearby ports, and it grew very quickly.[28] 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,[29] for one, and the lumber industry also became a prominent economic presence, due to the area's large population of Douglas fir, western hemlock, red cedar, and big leaf maple trees.[19]

Portland waterfront in 1898

The White Eagle Saloon (c. 1910), one of many in Portland that had reputed ties to illegal activities such as gambling rackets and prostitution[30]

Portland developed a reputation early in its history as a hard-edged and gritty port town.[31] Some historians have described the city's early establishment as being a "scion of New England; an ends-of-the-earth home for the exiled spawn of the eastern established elite."[32] In 1889, The Oregonian called Portland "the most filthy city in the Northern States", due to the unsanitary sewers and gutters,[33] and, at the turn of the 20th century, it was considered one of the most dangerous port cities in the world.[34] The city housed a large number of saloons, bordellos, gambling dens, and boardinghouses which were populated with miners after the California Gold Rush, as well as the multitude of sailors passing through the port.[31] 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.[31][35]

20th-century development

Burnside Street, 1937

Between 1900 and 1930, the city's population tripled from nearly 100,000 to 301,815.[36] During World War II, it housed an "assembly center" from which up to 3,676 people of Japanese descent were dispatched to internment camps in the heartland. It was the first American city to have residents report thus,[37] and the Pacific International Livestock Exposition operated from May through September 10, 1942 processing people from the city, northern Oregon, and central Washington.[38] General John DeWitt called the city the first "Jap free city on the West Coast."[37]

At the same time, Portland became a notorious hub for underground criminal activity and organized crime between the 1940s and 1950s.[39] In 1957, Life magazine published an article detailing the city's history of government corruption and crime, specifically its gambling rackets and illegal nightclubs.[39] The article, which focused on crime boss Jim Elkins, became the basis of a fictionalized film titled Portland 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 builder Henry J. Kaiser had been awarded contracts to build Liberty ships and aircraft carrier escorts, and chose sites in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, for work yards.[40] During this time, Portland's population rose by over 150,000, largely attributed to recruited laborers.[40]

During the 1960s, an influx of hippie subculture began to take root in the city in the wake of San Francisco's burgeoning countercultural scene.[11] The city's Crystal Ballroom became a hub for the city's psychedelic culture, while food cooperatives and listener-funded media and radio stations were established.[41] A large social activist presence evolved during this time as well, specifically concerning Native American rights, environmentalist causes, and gay rights.[41] 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.[42]

1990s to present

Aerial view of Portland and its bridges across the Willamette River

In the 1990s, the technology industry began to emerge in Portland, specifically with the establishment of companies like Intel, which brought more than $10 billion in investments in 1995 alone.[43] After the year 2000, Portland experienced significant growth, with a population rise of over 90,000 between the years 2000 and 2014.[44] The city's increased presence within the cultural lexicon has established it as a popular city for young people, and it was second only to Louisville, Kentucky as one of the cities to attract and retain the highest number of college-educated people in the United States.[45] Between 2001 and 2012, Portland's gross domestic product per person grew fifty percent, more than any other city in the country.[45]

The city has acquired a diverse range of nicknames throughout its history, though it is most often called "Rose City" or "The City of Roses",[46] the latter of which has been its unofficial nickname since 1888 and its official nickname since 2003.[47] Another widely used nickname by local residents in everyday speech is "PDX", which is also the airport code for Portland International Airport. Other nicknames include Bridgetown,[48] Stumptown,[49] Rip City,[50] Soccer City,[51][52][53] P-Town,[47][54] Portlandia, and the more antiquated Little Beirut.[55]

Geography

Geology

See also: Geology of the Pacific Northwest

Portland lies on top of an extinct volcanic field known as the Boring Lava Field, named after the nearby bedroom community of Boring.[56] The Boring Lava Field has at least 32 cinder cones such as Mount Tabor,[57] 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 its eruption on May 18, 1980.[58] The rocks of the Portland area range in age from late Eocene to more recent eras.[59]

Multiple shallow, active fault lines traverse the Portland metropolitan area.[60] Among them are the Portland Hills Fault on the city's west side,[61] and the East Bank Fault on the east side.[62] According to a 2017 survey, several of these faults were characterized as "probably more of a hazard" than the Cascadia subduction zone due to their proximities to population centers, with the potential of producing magnitude 7 earthquakes.[60] Notable earthquakes that have impacted the Portland area in recent history include the 6.8-magnitude Nisqually earthquake in 2001, and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 25, 1993.[63][64]

Per a 2014 report, over 7,000 locations within the Portland area are at high-risk for landslides and soil liquefaction in the event of a major earthquake, including much of the city's west side (such as Washington Park) and sections of Clackamas County.[65]

Topography

Portland is 60 miles (97 km) east of the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of Oregon'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 the Tualatin Mountains, more commonly referred to locally as the "West Hills", pierce through the northwest and southwest reaches of the city. Council Crest Park, commonly thought of as the highest point within city limits, is in the West Hills and rises to an elevation of 1,073 feet (327 m) The city's actual high point is a little-known and infrequently accessed point of 1,180 feet (360 m) near Forest Park.[66] The highest point east of the river is Mt. Tabor, an extinct volcanic cinder cone, which rises to 636 feet (194 m). Nearby Powell Butte and Rocky Butte rise to 614 feet (187 m) and 612 feet (187 m), respectively. To the west of the Tualatin Mountains lies the Oregon Coast Range, and to the east lies the actively volcanic Cascade Range. On clear days, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens dominate the horizon, while Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier can also be seen in the distance.

According to the United 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.[67] Although almost all of Portland is within Multnomah County, small portions of the city are within Clackamas and Washington Counties, with populations estimated at 785 and 1,455, respectively.[citation needed]

Climate

Portland

Climate chart (explanation)

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

  4.9  4736

  3.7  5136

  3.7  5740

  2.7  6143

  2.5  6849

  1.7  7454

  0.7  8158

  0.7  8158

  1.5  7653

  3  6446

  5.6  5341

  5.5  4635

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F

Precipitation totals in inches

Metric conversion

Portland has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with cool and cloudy winters, and warm and dry summers. [68] 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 mild and dry summers when the Pacific High reaches in northernmost point in mid summer.[69] Of the three most populated cities within the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Vancouver, British Columbia and Portland) Portland has the warmest average temperature, the highest number of sunshine hours, and the fewest inches of rainfall and snowfall, although the city still is frequently overcast compared to other US cities at the same latitude.[70] According to the Köppen climate classification, Portland falls within the dry-summer temperate zone (Csb).[69][71] with a USDA Plant Hardiness Zones between 8b and 9a.[72] Other climate systems, such as the Trewartha climate classification, places it within the oceanic zone (Do), like much of the Pacific Northwest and Western Europe.[73]

Winters are cool, cloudy, and rainy. The coldest month is December with an average daily high of 45.6 °F (7.6 °C), although overnight lows usually remain above freezing by a few degrees. Evening temperatures fall to or below freezing 33 nights per year on average, but very rarely to or below 18 °F (−8 °C). There are only 2.1 days per year where the daytime high temperature fails to rise above freezing. The lowest overnight temperature ever recorded was −3 °F (−19 °C),[74] on February 2, 1950,[75] while the coldest daytime high temperature ever recorded was 14 °F (−10 °C) on December 30, 1968.[75] The average window for freezing temperatures to potentially occur is between November 15 and March 19, allowing a growing season of 240 days.[75]

Annual snowfall in Portland is 4.3 inches (10.9 cm), which usually falls during the December-to-March time frame.[76] The city of Portland avoids snow more frequently than its suburbs, due in part to its low elevation and urban heat island effect. Neighborhoods outside of the downtown core, especially in slightly higher elevations near the West Hills and Mount 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.[77][78]

Portland's climate is conducive to the growth of roses. (Pictured: International Rose Test Garden)

Summers in Portland are warm, dry, and sunny, though the sunny warm weather is short lived from mid June through early September.[79] The months of June, July, August and September account for a combined 4.49 inches (114 mm) of total rainfall – only 12% of the 36.03 in (915 mm) of the precipitation that falls throughout the year. The warmest month is August, with an average high temperature of 81.1 °F (27.3 °C). Because of its inland location 70 miles (110 km) from the coast, as well as the protective nature of the Oregon Coast Range to its west, Portland summers are less susceptible to the moderating influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Consequently, Portland experiences heat waves on rare occasion, with temperatures rising into the 90 °F (32 °C) for a few days. However, on average, temperatures reach or exceed 80 °F (27 °C) on only 56 days per year, of which 12 days will reach 90 °F (32 °C) and only 1.4 days will reach 100 °F (38 °C). The most 90-degree days ever recorded in one year is 31, which happened recently in 2018.[80] The highest temperature ever recorded was 107 °F (42 °C),[74] on July 30, 1965, as well as August 8 and 10, 1981.[75] The warmest recorded overnight low was 74 °F (23 °C) on July 28, 2009.[75] A temperature of 100 °F (38 °C) has been recorded in all five months from May through September.

Spring and fall can bring variable weather including warm fronts that send temperatures surging above 80 °F (27 °C) and cold snaps 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 155 days on average with measurable (≥0.01 in or 0.25 mm) precipitation annually. Temperatures have reached 90 °F (32 °C) as early as May 3 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. Severe weather, such as thunder and lightning, is uncommon and tornadoes are exceptionally rare.[81][82]

vte

Climate data for Portland, Oregon (PDX), 1981–2010 normals,[b] extremes 1940–present[c]

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Record high °F (°C) 66

(19) 71

(22) 80

(27) 90

(32) 100

(38) 102

(39) 107

(42) 107

(42) 105

(41) 92

(33) 73

(23) 65

(18) 107

(42)

Mean maximum °F (°C) 58.4

(14.7) 61.4

(16.3) 69.5

(20.8) 78.7

(25.9) 87.1

(30.6) 91.3

(32.9) 96.7

(35.9) 96.5

(35.8) 90.6

(32.6) 78.2

(25.7) 63.6

(17.6) 57.5

(14.2) 100.2

(37.9)

Average high °F (°C) 47.0

(8.3) 51.3

(10.7) 56.7

(13.7) 61.4

(16.3) 68.0

(20.0) 73.5

(23.1) 80.6

(27.0) 81.1

(27.3) 75.8

(24.3) 63.8

(17.7) 52.8

(11.6) 45.6

(7.6) 63.1

(17.3)

Average low °F (°C) 35.8

(2.1) 36.3

(2.4) 39.6

(4.2) 43.1

(6.2) 48.6

(9.2) 53.6

(12.0) 57.8

(14.3) 58.0

(14.4) 53.1

(11.7) 46.0

(7.8) 40.5

(4.7) 35.2

(1.8) 45.6

(7.6)

Mean minimum °F (°C) 24.6

(−4.1) 24.5

(−4.2) 30.3

(−0.9) 34.2

(1.2) 40.1

(4.5) 46.7

(8.2) 51.2

(10.7) 50.7

(10.4) 44.4

(6.9) 35.3

(1.8) 28.4

(−2.0) 23.7

(−4.6) 19.6

(−6.9)

Record low °F (°C) −2

(−19) −3

(−19) 19

(−7) 29

(−2) 29

(−2) 39

(4) 43

(6) 44

(7) 34

(1) 26

(−3) 13

(−11) 6

(−14) −3

(−19)

Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.88

(124) 3.66

(93) 3.68

(93) 2.73

(69) 2.47

(63) 1.70

(43) 0.65

(17) 0.67

(17) 1.47

(37) 3.00

(76) 5.63

(143) 5.49

(139) 36.03

(915)

Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.5

(1.3) 2.1

(5.3) 0.2

(0.51) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0

(0) 0.2

(0.51) 1.3

(3.3) 4.3

(11)

Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 18.0 14.9 17.6 16.4 13.6 9.2 4.1 3.9 6.7 12.5 19.0 18.6 154.5

Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.7 1.5 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 1.5 4.4

Average relative humidity (%) 80.9 78.0 74.6 71.6 68.7 65.8 62.8 64.8 69.4 77.9 81.5 82.7 73.2

Mean monthly sunshine hours 85.6 116.4 191.1 221.1 276.1 290.2 331.9 298.1 235.7 151.7 79.3 63.7 2,340.9

Percent possible sunshine 30 40 52 54 60 62 70 68 63 45 28 23 52

Average ultraviolet index 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 7 5 3 2 1 4

Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[75][84][85]

Source 2: Weather Atlas [86] (UV index)

Cityscape

See also: Architecture of Portland, Oregon; List of tallest buildings in Portland, Oregon; and Downtown Portland

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.[48] 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), and Broadway 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-decker Fremont Bridge.

Other bridges that span the Willamette river in the downtown area include the Burnside Bridge, the Ross Island Bridge (both built 1926), and the double-decker Marquam Bridge (built 1966). Other bridges outside the downtown area include the Sellwood Bridge (built 2016) to the south; and the St. Johns Bridge, a Gothic revival suspension bridge built in 1931, to the north. The Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge and the Interstate Bridge provide access from Portland across the Columbia River into Washington state.

Panorama of downtown Portland in the day. Hawthorne Bridge viewed from a dock on the Willamette River near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Panorama of downtown Portland in the evening against the backdrop of Mount Hood, viewed from Pittock Mansion.

The Willamette River runs through the center of the city, while Mount Tabor (center) rises on the city's east side. Mount St. Helens (left) and Mount Hood (right center) are visible from many places in the city.

Neighborhoods

See also: Neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon

The five previous addressing sectors of Portland, prior to the addition of South Portland

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 the West Hills, while the flatter east side extends for roughly 180 blocks until it meets the suburb of Gresham. In 1891 the cities of Portland, Albina, and East Portland were 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.[87]

Ladd Carriage House, downtown Portland

The United States National Bank Building, downtown Portland

The five previous addressing sections of Portland, which were colloquially known as quadrants despite there being five,[88][89] 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.[90] Portland's addressing sections are North, Northwest, Northeast, South, Southeast, and Southwest (which includes downtown Portland). The Willamette River divides the city into east and west while Burnside 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, 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. effective on May 1, 2020.

Pearl District (left) from the Steel Bridge

Lloyd District from downtown Portland

The new South Portland addressing section was approved by the Portland City Council on June 6, 2018[91] and is bounded by SW Naito Parkway SW View Point Terrace and Tryon Creek State Natural Area to the west, SW Clay Street to the north and the Clackamas County line 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. [2] 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.[92]With the addition of South Portland, all six addressing sectors (N, NE, NW, S, SE and SW) are now officially known as sextants.[93]

The Pearl District in Northwest Portland, which was largely occupied by warehouses, light industry and railroad classification yards in the early to mid-20th century, now houses upscale art galleries, restaurants, and retail stores, and is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city.[94] 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.[95]

Northeast Portland is home to the Lloyd District, Alberta Arts District, and the Hollywood District.

North Portland is largely residential and industrial. It contains Kelley Point Park, the northernmost point of the city. It also contains the St. Johns neighborhood, which is historically one of the most ethnically diverse and poorest neighborhoods in the city.[96]

Old Town Chinatown is next to the Pearl District in Northwest Portland. In 2017, the crime rate was several times above the city average. This neighborhood has been called Portland's skid row.[97] 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.[98] The area is served by the Portland Streetcar, the MAX Orange Line and four TriMet bus lines. This former industrial area sat as a brownfield prior to development in the mid-2000s.[99]

Southeast Portland is largely residential, and consists of the Hawthorne District, Belmont, Brooklyn, and Mount Tabor.

Demographics

See also: Gentrification of Portland, Oregon

Historical population

Census Pop. %±

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%

Est. 2020 664,103 [7] 13.8%

U.S. Decennial Census[100]

Demographic profile 2010[101] 1990[102] 1970[102] 1940[102]

White 76.1% 84.6% 92.2% 98.1%

 —Non-Hispanic whites 72.2% 82.9% 90.7%[103] —

Black or African American 6.3% 7.7% 5.6% 0.6%

Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 9.4% 3.2% 1.7%[103] —

Asian 7.1% 5.3% 1.3% 1.2%

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).[101] 9.4% were Hispanic or Latino, of any race (54,840). Whites not of Hispanic origin made up 72.2% of the total population.[101]

In 1940, Portland's African-American population was approximately 2,000 and largely consisted of railroad employees and their families.[104] During the war-time Liberty Ship construction boom, the need for workers drew many blacks to the city. The new influx of blacks settled in specific neighborhoods, such as the Albina district and Vanport. 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.[104] Portland's longshoremen racial mix was described as being "lily-white" in the 1960s, when the local International Longshore and Warehouse Union declined to represent grain handlers since some were black.[105]

At 6.3%, Portland's African American population is three times the state average. Over two thirds of Oregon's African-American residents live in Portland.[104] As of the 2000 census, three of its high schools (Cleveland, Lincoln and Wilson) were over 70% white, reflecting the overall population, while Jefferson High School was 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 Wilson to 31% at Roosevelt.[106]

Graph showing the city's population growth from 1850 to 2010[107]

Portland residents identifying solely as Asian Americans account for 7.1% of the population; an additional 1.8% is partially of Asian heritage. Vietnamese Americans make up 2.2% of Portland's population, and make up the largest Asian ethnic group in the city, followed by Chinese (1.7%), Filipinos (0.6%), Japanese (0.5%), Koreans (0.4%), Laotians (0.4%), Hmong (0.2%), and Cambodians (0.1%).[108] A small population of Yao people live in Portland. Portland has two Chinatowns, with New Chinatown along SE 82nd Avenue with Chinese supermarkets, Hong Kong style noodle houses, dim sum, and Vietnamese phở restaurants.[109]

With about 12,000 Vietnamese residing in the city proper, Portland has one of the largest Vietnamese populations in America per capita.[110] According to statistics there are 21,000 Pacific Islanders in Portland, making up 4% of the population.[111]

Map of racial distribution in Portland, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot represents 25 people, according to the following color code: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic or Other (yellow).

Portland's population has been and remains predominantly white. In 1940, whites were over 98% of the city's population.[112] 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.[113] Some scholars have noted the Pacific Northwest as a whole is "one of the last Caucasian bastions of the United States".[114] 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.[113][115]

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.[113][116][117] The early 1920s saw the rapid growth of the Ku Klux Klan, which became very influential in Oregon politics, culminating in the election of Walter M. Pierce as governor.[116][117][118]

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.[113] After World War II, the Vanport flood in 1948 displaced many African Americans. As they resettled, redlining directed the displaced workers from the wartime settlement to neighboring Albina.[114][117][119] There and elsewhere in Portland, they experienced police hostility, lack of employment, and mortgage discrimination, leading to half the black population leaving after the war.[113]

In the 1980s and 1990s, radical skinhead groups flourished in Portland.[117] 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.[120]

Households

As of the 2010 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 1989.4 per square mile (1,236.3/km²). Population growth in Portland increased 10.3% between 2000 and 2010.[121] Population growth in the Portland metropolitan area has outpaced the national average during the last decade, and this is expected to continue over the next 50 years.[122]

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 the Modern Language Association, in 2010 80.92% (539,885) percent of Multnomah County residents ages 5 and over spoke English as their primary language at home.[123] 8.10% of the population spoke Spanish (54,036), with Vietnamese speakers making up 1.94%, and Russian 1.46%.[123]

Social

St. Michael the Archangel Church; of the 35% of religiously affiliated Portland residents, Roman Catholics make up the largest group.[124]

The Portland metropolitan area has historically had a significant LGBT population throughout the late 20th and 21st century.[125][126] 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.[127] 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%.[128] The city held its first pride festival in 1975 on the Portland State University campus.[129]

Portland has been cited as the least religious city in the United States,[130] with over 42% of residents identifying as religiously "unaffiliated",[131] according to the nonpartisan and nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute's American Values Atlas.[132] Of the 35.89% of the city's residents who do identify as religious, Roman Catholics make up the largest group, at 15.8%.[124] The second highest religious group in the city are Evangelical Christians at 6.04%, with Baptists following behind at 2.5%. Latter Day Saints make up 2.3% of the city's religiously affiliated population, with Lutheran and Pentecostal following behind.[124] 1.48% of religiously affiliated persons identified themselves as following Eastern religions, while 0.86% of the religiously affiliated population identified as Jewish, and 0.29% as Muslim.[124]

Economy

See also: Companies based in Portland, Oregon

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.[133] The U.S. consulting firm Mercer, in a 2009 assessment "conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments", ranked Portland 42nd worldwide in quality of living; the survey factored in political stability, personal freedom, sanitation, crime, housing, the natural environment, recreation, banking facilities, availability of consumer goods, education, and public services including transportation.[134] In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS MoneyWatch.[135][136]

Adidas has its North American headquarters in the Overlook neighborhood

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.[137][138] The Port of Portland is 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.[133] The city of Portland is the largest shipper of wheat in the United States,[139][140] and is the second-largest port for wheat in the world.[141]

The steel industry's history in Portland predates World War II. By the 1950s, the steel industry became the city's number one industry for employment. The steel industry thrives in the region, with Schnitzer Steel Industries, a prominent steel company, shipping a record 1.15 billion tons of scrap metal to Asia during 2003. Other heavy industry companies include ESCO Corporation and Oregon Steel Mills.[142][143]

Technology is a major component of the city's economy, with more than 1,200 technology companies existing within the metro.[133] This high density of technology companies has led to the nickname Silicon Forest being used to describe the Portland area, a reference to the abundance of trees in the region and to the Silicon Valley region in Northern California.[144] The area also hosts facilities for software companies and online startup companies, some supported by local seed funding organizations and business incubators.[145] Computer components manufacturer Intel is 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 of Hillsboro.[133]

The Portland metro area has become a business cluster for athletic/outdoor gear and footwear manufacturers.[146] The area is home to the global, North American or U.S. headquarters of Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, LaCrosse Footwear, Dr. Martens, Li-Ning,[147] Keen,[148] and Hi-Tec Sports.[149] While headquartered elsewhere, Merrell, Amer Sports and Under Armour have design studios and local offices in the Portland area. Portland-based Precision Castparts is one of two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Oregon, the other being Nike. Other notable Portland-based companies include film animation studio Laika; commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Trucks North America; advertising firm Wieden+Kennedy; bankers Umpqua Holdings; and retailers Fred Meyer, New Seasons Market and Storables.

Breweries are another major industry in Portland, which is home to 139 breweries/microbreweries, the 7th most in the nation, as of December 2018.[150] Additionally, the city boasts a robust coffee culture that now rivals Seattle and hosts over 20 coffee roasters.[151]

Housing

In 2016, home prices in Portland grew faster than in any other city in the United States.[152] Apartment rental costs in Portland in February 2020 averaged $1,522 per month.[153]

In 2017, developers projected an additional 6,500 apartments to be built in the Portland Metro Area over the next year.[154] 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.[155] 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 20's and 30's are still living in their parent's homes. [156]

Culture

Music, film, and performing arts

See also: Music of Oregon; Cinemas in Portland, Oregon; and List of films shot in Northwestern Oregon

The Sagebrush Symphony, an early incarnation of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, performing in Burns c. 1916

Portland is home to a range of classical performing arts institutions, including the Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic; the latter, established in 1924, was the first youth orchestra established in the United States.[157] The city is also home to several theaters and performing arts institutions, including the Oregon Ballet Theatre, Northwest Children's Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Miracle Theatre, and Tears of Joy Theatre.

In 2013, the Guardian named the city's music scene as one of the "most vibrant" in the United States.[158] Portland is home to famous bands such as the Kingsmen and Paul Revere & the Raiders, both famous for their association with the song "Louie Louie" (1963).[159] Other widely known musical groups include the Dandy Warhols, Quarterflash, Everclear, Pink Martini, The Hugs, Sleater-Kinney, the Shins, Blitzen Trapper, the Decemberists, and the late Elliott Smith. In the 1980s, the city was home to a burgeoning punk scene, which included bands such as the Wipers and Dead Moon.[160] The city's now-demolished Satyricon nightclub was a punk venue notorious for being the place where Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain first encountered future wife and Hole frontwoman Courtney Love in 1990.[161] Love was then a resident of Portland and started several bands there with Kat Bjelland, later of Babes in Toyland.[162][163] Multi-Grammy award-winning jazz artist Esperanza Spalding is from Portland and performed with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon at a young age.[164]

A wide range of films have been shot in Portland, from various independent features to major big-budget productions (see List of films shot in Oregon for a complete list). Director Gus Van Sant has notably set and shot many of his films in the city.[165] The city has also been featured in various television programs, notably the IFC sketch comedy series Portlandia. The series, which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2018,[166] was shot on location in Portland, and satirized the city as a hub of liberal politics, organic food, alternative lifestyles, and anti-establishment attitudes.[167] MTV's long-time running reality show The Real World was also shot in Portland for the show's 29th season: The Real World: Portland premiered on MTV in 2013.[168] Other television series shot in the city include Leverage, The Librarians,[169] Under Suspicion, Grimm, and Nowhere Man.[170]

An unusual feature of Portland entertainment is the large number of movie theaters serving beer, often with second-run or revival films.[171] Notable examples of these "brew and view" theaters include the Bagdad Theater and Pub, a former vaudeville theater built in 1927 by Universal Studios;[172] Cinema 21; and the Laurelhurst Theater, in operation since 1923. Portland hosts the world's longest-running H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival[173] at the Hollywood Theatre.[174]

The Oregon Symphony performs at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Hollywood Theatre is a non-profit organization.

The Art Deco-styled Laurelhurst Theater in the Kerns neighborhood was opened in 1923.

Avalon Theatre in the Belmont neighborhood plays second-run films.

The Moreland Theater in the Westmoreland neighborhood

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest premiered at the Bagdad Theater in 1975.

Museums and recreation

See also: List of museums in Portland, Oregon; Tourism in Portland, Oregon; and List of artists and art institutions in Portland, Oregon

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

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 the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), which consists of five main halls and other ticketed attractions, such as the USS Blueback submarine,[175] the ultra-large-screen Empirical Theater (which replaced an OMNIMAX theater in 2013),[176] and the Kendall Planetarium.[177] The World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, located in the city's Washington Park area, offers educational exhibits on forests and forest-related subjects. Also located in Washington Park are the Hoyt Arboretum, the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Oregon Zoo.[178]

Portland Art Museum

The Portland Art Museum owns 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. Other museums include the Portland Children's Museum, a museum specifically geared for early childhood development; and the Oregon 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.[179]

Oaks Amusement Park, in the Sellwood district of Southeast Portland, is the city's only amusement park and is also one of the country's longest-running amusement parks. It has operated since 1905 and was known as the "Coney Island of the Northwest" upon its opening.[180]

Cuisine and breweries

Portland has been named the best city in the world for street food by several publications and news outlets, including the U.S. News & World Report and CNN.[181][182] Food carts are extremely popular within the city, with over 600 licensed carts, making Portland one of the most robust street food scenes in North America.[183][184] In 2014, the Washington Post called Portland the fourth best city for food in the United States.[185] Travel + Leisure ranked Portland's food and bar scene No. 5 in the nation in 2012.[186][187] Portland is also known as a leader in specialty coffee.[188][189][190] The city is home to Stumptown Coffee Roasters as well as dozens of other micro-roasteries and cafes.[191]

Widmer Brewing Company headquarters

It is frequently claimed that Portland has the most breweries and independent microbreweries of any city in the world,[192][193][194][195][196] with 58 active breweries within city limits[197] and 70+ within the surrounding metro area.[197] However, data compiled by the Brewers Association ranks Portland seventh in the United States as of 2018.[198] The city receives frequent acclaim as the best beer city in the United States and is consistently ranked as one of the top-five beer destinations in the world.[199] Portland has played a prominent role in the microbrewery revolution in the U.S. and is nicknamed "Beertown" and "Beervana" as a result.[200][201][202] The McMenamin brothers alone have over thirty brewpubs, distilleries, and wineries scattered throughout the metropolitan area, several in renovated cinemas and other historically significant buildings otherwise destined for demolition. Other notable Portland brewers include Widmer Brothers, BridgePort, Portland Brewing, Hair of the Dog, and Hopworks Urban Brewery.

Portland hosts a number of festivals throughout the year that celebrate beer and brewing, including the Oregon Brewers Festival, held in Tom 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.[203] 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, the Portland International Beerfest in July,[204] and the Holiday Ale Festival in December.

Sustainability

Portland is often awarded "Greenest City in America" and similar designations. Popular Science awarded Portland the title of the Greenest City in America in 2008,[205] and Grist magazine listed it in 2007 as the second greenest city in the world.[206] The city became a pioneer of state-directed metropolitan planning, a program which was instituted statewide in 1969 to compact the urban growth boundaries of the city.[207]

Sports

Main article: Sports in Portland, Oregon

Portland is home to three major league sports franchises: the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, and the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League. In 2015, the Timbers won the MLS Cup, which was the first male professional sports championship for a team from Portland since the Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1977.[208] Despite being the 19th most populated metro area in the United States, Portland contains only one franchise from the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB, making it America's second most populated metro area with that distinction, behind San Antonio. The city has been often rumored to receive an additional franchise, although efforts to acquire a team have failed due to stadium funding issues.[209] An organization known as the Portland Diamond Project (PDP)[210] has worked with the MLB and local government, and there are plans to have an MLB stadium constructed in the industrial district of Portland.[211] The PDP has not yet received the funding for this project.

Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns

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.[212] 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.[213] The Timbers season ticket waiting list has reached 10,000+, the longest waiting list in MLS.[214] 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.[215]

The Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers

Two rival universities exist within Portland city limits: the University of Portland Pilots and the Portland 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, the University of Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State University Beavers both receive substantial attention and support from many Portland residents, despite their campuses being 110 and 84 miles from the city, respectively.[216]

The Shamrock Run, held annually on St. Patrick's Day

Running is a popular activity in Portland, and every year the city hosts the Portland Marathon as well as parts of the Hood to Coast Relay, the world's largest long-distance relay race (by number of participants). Portland serves as the center to an elite running group, the Nike Oregon Project, and is the residence of several elite runners including British 2012 Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m champion Mo Farah, American record holder at 10,000m Galen Rupp, and 2008 American Olympic bronze medalist at 10,000m Shalane Flanagan.[citation needed]

Historic Erv Lind Stadium is located in Normandale Park.[217] It has been home to professional and college softball.

Portland also hosts numerous cycling events and has become an elite bicycle racing destination.[citation needed] The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association supports hundreds of official bicycling events every year. Weekly events at Alpenrose Velodrome and Portland International Raceway allow for racing nearly every night of the week from March through September. Cyclocross races, such as the Cross Crusade, can attract over 1,000 riders and spectators.[citation needed]

On December 4, 2019, the Vancouver Riptide of the American Ultimate Disc League announced that they ceased team operations in Vancouver in 2017 and are moving down to Portland Oregon for the 2020 AUDL season.

Portland area sports teams

Club Sport League Championships Venue Founded Attendance

Portland Thorns FC Women's soccer National Women's Soccer League 2 (2013, 2017) Providence Park 2012 16,945

Portland Timbers Soccer Major League Soccer 1 (2015) Providence Park 2009 21,144

Portland Timbers 2 Soccer USL Championship 0 Hillsboro Stadium 2014 1,740

Portland Timbers U23s Soccer USL League Two 1 (2010) Providence Park 2008 —

Portland Trail Blazers Basketball National Basketball Association 1 (1976–77) Moda Center 1970 19,317

Portland Winterhawks Ice hockey Western Hockey League 2 (1982–83, 1997–98) Moda Center 1976 6,080

Parks and gardens

Main article: List of parks in Portland, Oregon

Forest Park is the largest wilderness park in the United States that is within city limits

Parks and greenspace planning date back to John Charles Olmsted's 1903 Report 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.[218] Ten years later, more than 8,100 acres (33 km2) of ecologically valuable natural areas had been purchased and permanently protected from development.[219]

Portland is one of only four cities in the U.S. with extinct volcanoes within its boundaries (along with Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon, Jackson Volcano in Jackson, Mississippi, and Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii). Mount Tabor Park is known for its scenic views and historic reservoirs.[220]

Forest Park is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 5,000 acres (2,023 ha).[221] Portland is also home to Mill Ends Park, the world's smallest park (a two-foot-diameter circle, the park's area is only about 0.3 m2). Washington Park is just west of downtown and is home to the Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, the Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden. Portland is also home to Lan Su Chinese Garden (formerly the Portland Classical Chinese Garden), an authentic representation of a Suzhou-style walled garden. Portland's east side has several formal public gardens: the historic Peninsula Park Rose Garden, the rose gardens of Ladd's Addition, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, the Leach Botanical Garden, and The Grotto.

Portland's downtown features two groups of contiguous city blocks dedicated for park space: the North and South Park Blocks.[222][223] The 37-acre (15 ha) Tom McCall Waterfront Park was built in 1974 along the length of the downtown waterfront after Harbor Drive was removed; it now hosts large events throughout the year.[224] The nearby historically significant Burnside Skatepark and five indoor skateparks give Portland a reputation as possibly "the most skateboard-friendly town in America."[225]

Tryon Creek State Natural Area is one of three Oregon State Parks in Portland and the most popular; its creek has a run of steelhead. The other two State Parks are Willamette Stone State Heritage Site, in the West Hills, and the Government Island State Recreation Area in the Columbia River near Portland International Airport.

Portland's city park system has been proclaimed one of the best in America. In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, the Trust for Public Land reported Portland had the seventh best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.[226] ParkScore ranks city park systems by a formula that analyzes the city's median park size, park acres as percent of city area, the percent of city residents within a half-mile of a park, spending of park services per resident, and the number of playgrounds per 10,000 residents. The survey revealed that 80% of Portlanders were living within a half-mile of a park, and over 16% of Portland's city area is parkland.

Holly Farm Park is a relatively new park in Portland. After it was acquired in 2003 by Portland Parks & Recreation the land was developed into a park by 2007.

Located in Downtown Portland, Keller Fountain Park is named for Portland Development Commission chairwoman Ira Keller.

The Portland Japanese Garden is a traditional Japanese garden that opened in 1967.

Cathedral Park, under the St. Johns Bridge, hosts an annual jazz music festival.

Named in honor of Oregon's governor Tom McCall in 1984, the park opened in 1978. It hosts several annual events, including the Waterfront Blues Festival and the Oregon Brewers Festival.

Originally built as the private residence of The Oregonian publisher Henry Pittock, the grounds of Pittock Mansion are a public park.