From Seattle, we’re traveling less than 200 miles to our next Great American City – Portland. A city that’s proud of being green, artistic, and weird, it’s certainly one of the most interesting cities in the country.
This city loves being weird.
Name – Unlike some of the cities we’ve covered so far, there isn’t really an interesting story behind the name Portland – it’s the “land near the port.” What is interesting, however, is the way that this name was chosen. The area was originally known as “The Clearing” because of the many trees that had to be cut down for its growth. Two people shared a claim of the land – Asa Lovejoy of Boston and Francis Pettygrove of Portland, Maine. Each wanted to name “The Clearing” after their hometown. It was settled in a coin toss, which Pettygrove won.
The riverfront in Portland.
Location – We’re not talking about Portland, Maine in this post (although it’s a great city, too). This Portland is located in the Pacific Northwest area of the US in the state of Oregon. It’s located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
Stop to smell roses.
Nicknames – The official and most common nickname for Portland is the City of Roses or the Rose City. In 1905, during the Lewis & Clark Centennial celebration, there were 200 miles of rose-lined streets in Portland. The nickname has stuck ever since. It’s also known as Bridgetown thanks to the city’s many bridges. Another interesting nickname is Rip City, which comes from the basketball team. The announcer who first said it has no idea where he got the idea from, but it’s still used. Some people simply refer to Portland by the city’s airport code – PDX.
Year Founded – Pioneer settlers began arriving in the area in the 1830s via the Oregon Trail. The settlement grew and eventually went from The Clearing to Portland. The city was incorporated on February 8, 1851. Eight years later, Oregon became the 33rd state in the US.
Not a lot of lazy people here.
Population – The 2015 estimate has Portland’s population at just over 632,000. The city is predominantly white (72%). About 9.5% are Hispanic or Latino, 7% Asian, and 6% black.
Transportation – You can get to Portland by air, train, bus, or car. It’s an easy city to get around in, whether it be on foot, by bike, or by public transport. The city has a great bus, light rail, and street car system in place. It’s also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, so explore the Rose City on two wheels.
Japanese Gardens
Famous Places – While Portland doesn’t have a lot of very famous places like some other bigger cities, there’s still a lot to see and do here. The city is all about the outdoors, so be sure to visit some of the great parks and gardens. There’s Forest Park, the Lan Su Chinese Gardens, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the Japanese Gardens for starters.
Mt. Hood
While it’s not exactly in Portland, Mt. Hood is a popular place to visit in the area. Plus, on a clear day you can see the huge mountain from the city. It’s one of the most climbed mountains in the world, so why not give it a try?
Get your learn on at a museum.
Culture – Portland is home to a wide variety of museums, such as the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon History Museum, and more.
Public art is all around.
You don’t have to go into a museum to enjoy art in Portland, as there’s public art around every corner. There’s even an iPhone app that you can use to find it!
Some of the many food carts.
When it comes to eating, Portland might be the food cart capital of the world. There are over 600 food carts in the city, so you’ll never go hungry there!
Mmmm… beer.
If you get thirsty in Portland, visit one of the city’s countless breweries. As a matter of fact, Portland has more breweries than any city in the world. The city has definitely earned one of its newest nicknames – Beervana.
Sports – Portland is home to two major professional sports teams:
- NBA – Portland Trailblazers
- MLS – Portland Timbers
Portland is the largest American city with only one team in the four major sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL). The city is also home to the Thorns (National Women’s Soccer), Steel (arena football), and the Winterhawks (Western Hockey League).
Have you ever been to Portland? What did you do there? If not, would you like to visit? Leave us a comment and let us know!
