Portland

Portland is a city in northwestern Oregon that spreads across both banks of the Willamette River, shortly before it joins the Columbia River. The urban area includes several districts that range from dense residential neighborhoods filled with wooden houses to industrial zones along the waterfront, while Mount Hood looms about fifty miles to the east.

The settlement grew from the 1840s onward along the Willamette River as a trading post for timber and agricultural goods. After the California gold rush, it experienced its first boom as merchants and travelers stopped here on their way south, before railroad connections in the late 19th century linked it firmly to the rest of the country.

The city is known for its craft beer scene, with over a hundred small breweries scattered through former warehouses and residential neighborhoods. Weekly markets draw locals shopping for produce from the surrounding Willamette Valley region, while public parks host regular free concerts and outdoor movie screenings throughout warmer months.

The downtown area is best explored on foot or by using the streetcar lines that run through the center in a compact grid. Visitors looking to see the surrounding area will find well-developed bike paths along the rivers and into the hills west of the city, especially rewarding during clear summer weather.

Hundreds of mobile food carts are scattered throughout the city and organized into fixed zones, where small communities of international cuisine form. These locations rarely change and evolve into informal meeting points where locals come regularly for lunch or dinner.

Location: Multnomah County

Location: Clackamas County

Location: Washington County

Elevation above the sea: 152 m

Part of: Portland metropolitan area

Address: Portland, OR, USA

Website: https://portland.gov

GPS coordinates: 45.51667,-122.66667

Latest update: December 2, 2025 20:45