Portland, OR

(As reported by the Portland, Oregon Visitor’s Association)

A Cosmopolitan City
Portland, Oregon’s 25-year vision plan elegantly notes “vibrant, diverse neighborhoods are home to all manner of people, but it’s the other things that give a place its soul – the cafes and markets, the art, parks, plazas, vistas and sanctuaries.” Portland’s districts do indeed possess distinct personalities, which is perhaps unusual for a relatively small city.

Within these districts, the “Rose City’s” culture simmers in hip coffeehouses, Native American art galleries, ubiquitous bookstores and lively brewpubs. Like much of Portland, these areas encourage exploration on foot.

A Walker’s Delight
A slow, relaxed pace is the best way to people-watch, window shop and see the sites. Built on a European model, Portland is indeed a walker’s paradise. The city’s streets, which feature statues, fountains and half-size city blocks, prompted Portland’s selection in 1998 as one of America’s best walking towns by Walking Magazine.

Facts About Portland, Oregon

POPULATION
538,180; 1.95 million in the metropolitan area

AREA
130 square miles

ELEVATION
173 feet above sea level

LONGITUDE
40 miles east of the 122nd meridian west

LATITUDE
30 miles north of the 45th parallel north

MILES TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN
78

MILES TO A GLACIER
65 (Mount Hood)

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
33.5° (January); 79.5° (July)

AVERAGE PRECIPITATION
37"
(less than Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston or Seattle - and without that nasty humidity)

ACRES OF PARKS IN METRO AREA
37,000, including the 5,000-acre Forest Park

NEWSPAPERS
The Oregonian (daily)
The Portland Tribune (semiweekly)
Willamette Week (weekly)

TIME
All of Oregon is on Pacific Standard Time, except for the Ontario city area in Eastern Oregon, which is on Mountain Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.

WEATHER INFORMATION
503.275.9792 or 503.225.5555, access code 8051