Portland

As of 2020, Portland had a population of 652,503, making it the 26th-most populated city in the United States. It is the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle. The city operates with a commission-based government, guided by a mayor and four commissioners. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area. 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. Before European settlers began arriving in the 1800s, the land was inhabited for many centuries by two bands of indigenous Chinook people the Multnomah and the Clackamas. 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, Portland became noted for its growing liberal and progressive political values, earning its reputation as a bastion of counter-culture. In 1888, the first steel bridge on the West Coast was opened in Portland, predecessor of the 1912 Steel Bridge that survives today. In 1889, Henry Pittock's wife, Georgiana, established the Portland Rose Society to make a "Rose City" movement to make Portland more attractive to women and girls.

History

Portland is the primary city name, but also King City, Tigard are acceptable city names or spellings, Durham on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. The official name is City of Portland. The land that would become Portland was flooded after the collapse of glacial dams from Lake Missoula. The Chinook people occupying the land were first documented in 1805 by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. In 1843 William Overton saw potential in the new settlement but lacked the funds to file an official land claim. At the time of its incorporation on February 8, 1851, Portland had over 800 inhabitants, a steam sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and a newspaper, the Weekly Oregonian. In 1888, the first steel bridge on the West Coast was opened in Portland, the predecessor of the 1912 namesake Steel Bridge that survives today. In 1889, Oregonian called Portland "the most filthy city in the Northern States" The city housed a large number of saloons, bordellos, gambling dens, and boardinghouses. During World War II, it housed nearly 100,000 "sober frontier miners" and garnered a reputation for being violent and dangerous. By the early 20th century, the city had lost its reputation as a " sober frontier city" and became known as "the Portland of the Pacific" It is located in the Willamette Valley, which was once one of the most densely populated regions on the Pacific Coast. Before its European settlement, the Portland Basin of the lower Columbia River and Willamettes River valleys had been one of. the most populated regions in the world.Portland's access to the Pacific Ocean provided the pioneer city with an advantage over other nearby ports, and it grew quickly.

Geography

Portland lies on top of a dormant volcanic field known as the Boring Lava Field, named after the nearby bedroom community of Boring. Mount St. Helens, a highly active volcano 50 miles (80 km) northeast of the city in Washington state, is close enough to have dusted the city with volcanic ash after its eruption on May 18, 1980. 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. The highest point east of the river is Mt. Tabor, an extinct volcanic cinder cone, which rises to 636 feet (194 m) 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. Portland has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with cool and rainy winters, and warm and dry summers. 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, when the North Pacific High reaches its northernmost point in midsummer. The coldest month of the year is December, with an average daily high of 46 °F (8 °3 °C), overnight lows usually remain above freezing by a few degrees. There are only 21 days per year where the daytime high temperature fails to rise above freezing.

Demographics

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%. 9.4% were Hispanic or Latino, of any race (54,840). Whites not of Hispanic origin made up 72.2% of the total population. In 2009, Portland had the fifth-highest percentage of White residents among the 40 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Some scholars have noted the Pacific Northwest as a whole is "one of the last Caucasian bastions of the United States" 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 Vietnamese ph restaurants. With about 12,000 Vietnamese residing in the city proper, Portland has one of the largest Vietnamese populations in America per capita. According to statistics, there are over 4,500 Pacific Islanders in Portland, making up 0.7%. There is a Tongan community in Portland, who arrived in the area in the 1970s, and Tongans and Pacific Islanders are one. of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the Portland area. In 1988, Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian immigrant, was killed by three skinheads.

Economy

Portland's location is beneficial for several industries. The city's marine terminals alone handle over 13 million tons of cargo per year. Computer components manufacturer Intel is the Portland area's largest employer, providing jobs for more than 15,000 people. The area is home to the global, North American or U.S. headquarters of Nike (the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Oregon), Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, LaCrosse Footwear, Dr. Martens, Li-Ning, Keen, and Hi-Tec Sports. Breweries are another major industry in Portland, which is the 7th most in the nation, as of December 2018. Housing prices in Portland continue to rise, the median price rising from $391,400 in November 2018 to $415,000 in November 2019. 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. As of December 2019, the number of homes available for rent or purchase in Portland continues to shrink. The Portland metro area has become a business cluster for athletic/outdoor gear and footwear manufacturer's headquarters. It also hosts facilities for software companies and online startup companies, some supported by local seed funding organizations and business incubators. It boasts a robust coffee culture that now rivals Seattle and hosts over 20 coffee roasters. 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.

Arts and culture

Portland is home to a range of classical performing arts institutions, including the Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. The city's music scene has been named one of the "most vibrant" in the United States. Portland is also home to numerous museums and educational institutions, ranging from art museums to institutions devoted to science and wildlife. Portland has 58 active breweries within the city limits, and 70+ within the metro area. Food carts are extremely popular in the city, with over 600 licensed carts. Portland hosts the world's longest-running H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival at the Hollywood Theatre. The Real World: Portland was shot in Portland for the show's 29th season. The series, which ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2018, satirized the city as a hub of liberal politics, organic food, alternative lifestyles, and anti-establishment attitudes. It was known as the "Coney Island of the Northwest" upon opening in 1905, and was once referred to as "The Island of Coney Island" by the city's residents. It is the only U.S. amusement park in the Sellwood district of the city. It houses the country's only amusement park, the OOO Amusement Park, which has operated since 1905 and is also the longest running amusement park of its kind in the country. The Oregon Historical Society Museum, founded in 1898, houses permanent and temporary exhibits about Oregon history and hosts traveling exhibits about the history of the state.

Sports

Portland is home to three major league sports franchises: the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer (MLS), and the Portland Thorns FC 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. Despite being the 19th most populated metro area in the United States, Portland contains only one franchise from the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB. The city has been often rumored to receive an additional franchise, although efforts to acquire a team have failed due to stadium funding issues. An organization known as the Portland Diamond Project (PDP) has worked with the MLB and local government, and there are plans to have an MLB stadium constructed in the industrial district of Portland.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 served as the center to an elite running group, the Nike Oregon Project until its 2019 disbandment following coach Alberto Salazar's ban due to doping violations. The annual Cambia Portland Classic women's golf tournament in September is the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour, plays in the southern suburb of West Linn. 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.

Parks and recreation

Portland is one of only four cities in the U.S. with extinct volcanoes within its boundaries. Forest Park is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) 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. In February 2015, the City Council approved a total ban on smoking in all city parks and natural areas and the ban has been in force since July 1, 2015. The ban includes cigarettes, vaping, as well as marijuana. 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. The city's downtown features two groups of contiguous city blocks dedicated for park space: the North and South Park Blocks. 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. The nearby historically significant Burnside Skatepark and five indoor skateparks give Portland a reputation as possibly "the most skateboard-friendly town in America.".

Government

The city of Portland is governed by the Portland City Council, which includes a mayor, four commissioners, and an auditor. The city's Community & Civic Life (formerly Office of Neighborhood Involvement) serves as a conduit between city government and Portland's 95 officially recognized neighborhoods. Portland and its surrounding metropolitan area are served by Metro, the United States' only directly elected metropolitan planning organization. The Multnomah County government provides many services to the Portland area, as do Washington and Clackamas counties to the west and south. Portland is gerrymandered and split among three U.S. congressional districts. In the current 76th Oregon Legislative Assembly, which first convened in 2011, four state Senators represent Portland in the state Senate: Diane Rosenbaum (District 21), Chip Shields (District 22), Jackie Dingfelder (District 23), and Rod Monroe (District 24). Portland sends six Representatives to the state House of Representatives: Rob Nosse (District 42), Tawna Sanchez (District 43), Tina Kotek (District 44), Barbara Smith Warner (District 45), Alissa Keny-Guyer (District 46), and Diego Hernandez (District 47) In the 2008 presidential election, Democratic candidate Barack Obama easily carried Portland, winning 245 votes from 50,614 city residents to his Republican rival, John McCain. In 2012, Obama again easily carried the city, winning 256,925 votes for his rival, Mitt Romney, 70,958 for his Republican challenger. In 2013, Obama easily won Multnomahs County, winning 255,938 votes from 70,925 county residents.

Education

Nine public school districts and many private schools serve Portland. Portland Public Schools is the largest school district, operating 85 public schools. David Douglas High School, in the Powellhurst neighborhood, has the largest enrollment of any public high school in the city. Portland State University has the second-largest enrollment rate of any university in the state (after Oregon State University), with a student body of nearly 30,000. The city is also home to the Oregon Health & Science University, as well as Portland Community College. Portland is home to a large number of Roman Catholic-affiliated private schools, including St. Mary's Academy, an all-girls school, and De La Salle North Catholic High School; the co-educational Jesuit High School. It is the only archdiocesan high School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland. It has been named among the top fifteen percentile of American regional universities by The Princeton Review for undergraduate education, and has been internationally recognized for its degrees in Master of Business Administration and urban planning. It also has a number of private universities, including the University of Portland, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, and Portland Adventist Academy. It was the site of the World War II-era Battle of the Bulge, in which the U.S. Army was forced to retreat from the city to protect against the Japanese invasion of the Pacific Ocean. It's also the birthplace of the Oregon Trail, which was built in the early 20th century.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon = 68.2. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 52. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Portland = 3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 652,503 individuals with a median age of 38.7 age the population grows by 6.32% in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 4,888.10 residents per square mile of area (1,887.30/km²). There are average 2.29 people per household in the 239,084 households with an average household income of $48,372 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 10.30% of the available work force and has dropped -5.76% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 17.78%. The number of physicians in Portland per 100,000 population = 389.9.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Portland = 42.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 3.3 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 154. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 144. 79 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 36.6 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 63, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon which are owned by the occupant = 52.18%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 51 years with median home cost = $265,910 and home appreciation of -7.96%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $12.55 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,386 per student. There are 17.5 students for each teacher in the school, 543 students for each Librarian and 500 students for each Counselor. 5.80% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 21.18% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 11.20% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).