1. Regions

Portland is located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in the state of Oregon. It’s the most populous city in Oregon and the third most populous in the Pacific Northwest. This may seem pretty large, but in fact, it’s just below 600,000 people(1) (compared with the 8.4 million in New York city(2), or the 3.8 million in Los Angeles(3)).

The Port of Portland is the 3rd largest port on the west coast of the United States1. Much of Portland’s economic muscle can be attributed to its Port’s natural access to the ocean, via the converging Willamette and Columbus rivers. Although it seems natural to call the city Portland, due to this economical viability as a port, this is not how it came to be known as Portland. Portland received its name by the flip of a coin (the Portland Penny) between founders Francis W. Pettygrove, from Portland, Maine and Asa Lovejoy, from Boston, Massachusetts(1). The rest is history.

Portland is divided into five major regions: North Portland, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. The west and east regions are all more or less divided by the Willamette river. The western side was the earliest to be populated and remains the densest of the regions.

Portland has one of the most advanced transportation networks in the United States. Effective use of buses, freeways and light rails makes Portland’s transportation network comparable to New York or Boston. There is even a ‘Ride Free’ on the light rail systems surrounding the shopping districts. Portland, however, has an advantage above all other U.S. cities, when it comes to transportation. Portland is ranked the most bicycle friendly city in the U.S(4). This is one of the main reasons I would love to live in Portland, Oregon.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Oregon
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_york_city
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_angeles
4. http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/15/portland_considered_most_bicycle_friendly_city