ABOUT THE CITY
Portland is a city located near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the State of Oregon. The climate is ideal for growing roses, and for more than a century Portland has been known as “The City of Roses” and has many rose gardens – most prominently the International Rose Test Garden.
The city and region are noted for strong land-use planning the city’s urban renewal agency. It provides housing and economic development programs within the city, and works behind the scenes with major local developers to create large projects. There is a requirement for an urban growth boundary for every city and metropolitan area. The city’s urban renewal agency provides housing and economic development programs within the city, and works behind the scenes with major local developers to create large projects.
The City of Portland has been proclaimed as North America’s “Best Big City,” according to Money magazine. Once you settle into your new surroundings you’ll quickly understand why!
About Portland
Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and county seat of Multnomah County. It is an eclectic metropolis, where sophisticated and alternative styles coexist peacefully. Visitors find a medium-sized city known for its friendliness, rich cultural scene and variety of outdoor pursuits. A temperate climate, thriving economy and close proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains are among the many reasons Portland has garnered high rankings on “most livable city” lists.
From 1954 to 1998, the City of Portland was one city within a larger federation of cities and municipalities called Metropolitan Portland. When Metropolitan Portland was amalgamated by the Ontario provincial government under Mike Harris to become one government, the City of Portland was enlarged to include the former cities and municipalities of York, East York, North York, Etobicoke, and Scarborough.
History
Well before visits by explorers and frontiersmen, the Portland area and its rivers were home to trading among the many native people who lived in the lush valleys bordering Mount Hood and the Cascade Mountains. Legend tells that the Native Americans who thrived here used to hunt at Elk Rock and meet at Council Crest, the city’s highest point.
Neighborhoods
The “great renumbering” on September 2, 1931 divided Portland into five sections: Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, North and Northeast. Burnside Street divides the north and south sections, and the Willamette River divides the eastern and western sections.
Fast Facts
City Population: 2,265,223
Male: 49.67%
Female: 50.33%
Median Age: 34.7
Ethnic Make-up
African American: 2.40%
Asian: 4.10%
Hispanic: 8.70%
Native American: 1.00%
White/Caucasian: 84.30%
Housing Units: 918,935
Median Household Income: $53,160
Cost of Living Index: 125.6
Cultural Index: 124.0
By Car
Downtown
In downtown Oregon, most of the streets are set up on a grid, so they’re fairly easy to get around. Generally, north-south avenues are numbers, while east-west streets have names. If you’re in the alphabet district in Northwest Portland, you’re really in luck, because the streets are in alphabetical order going north, starting with Burnside.
The town is divided into 5 sections. Burnside Street divides the city between north and south, while the Williamette divides it between east and west. The divisions are NE, SE, SW, like you’d think. What would be NW is divided, the section east of the river is N, while the section west is NW. When you get an address, the directional indicator is very important, because there are duplicates of many streets and avenues between sections.
Highways
Interstate 5 is the main artery in and out of the area, connecting to major California cities to the south, and Seattle to the north. Interstate 84 will head east toward Boise, while US 26 will connect with the Oregon Coast Highway to the west.
Public Transportation
Portland is well-known for its comprehensive public transportation system. TriMet operates most of the region’s buses and the Metropolitan Area Express, or MAX, light rail system, which connects the city and suburbs. 5th and 6th avenues are the Portland Transit Mall, an exclusive bus-only right-of-way running north/south through downtown.
TriMet
(503) 238-RIDE (7433)
Customer Service (503) 238-RIDE
TTY (503) 238-5811
Call-A-Bus (503) 231-3199
TTY (503) 239-3010
Lost & Found (503) 962-7655
Inter-City Transportation
Amtrak (316) 283-7533, (800) 872-7245
Greyhound Bus (800) 231-2222
Service from City to numerous locations throughout the United States.
Air Travel
Portland International Airport
(503) 460-4234, (877) 739-4636
7000 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97218
Voter Registration
Oregon Secretary of the State
http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/
You may register to vote in Oregon if:
• You are a resident of Oregon.
• You are a United States citizen.
• You will be 18 years old by Election Day.
• To register to vote or update your current registration:
Local Phone Numbers
| City Area Codes | |
| The area codes for Portland: | 503 and 971 |
| Emergency | |
| All Emergencies (Fire, Police, Ambulance) | 911 |
| Poison Control | (800) 764-7661 |
| Runaway Hotline | (800) 392-3352 |
| Portland Police Department | (503) 625-5011 |
| Washington Poison Center
24-hour information and advice regarding poisonous substances and overdoses. |
(800) 732-698,
(206)526-2121 |
| Non–Emergency | |
| Fairview Police | (503) 823-3333 |
| Gresham Police | (503) 618-3333 |
| Lake Oswego Police | (503) 635-0238 |
| Maywood Park Police | (503) 823-3333 |
| Multnomah County Sheriff | (503) 255-3600 |
| Portland Police | (503) 823-3333 |
| Sheriff’s Office | (503) 255-3600 |
| Troutdale Police | (503) 823-3333 |
| Financial Services | |
| Automatic Teller Information | |
| ATM Locator | (800) 248-4286 |
| MasterCrd ATM | (800) 424-7787 |
| VISA Plus System | (800) 843-7587 |
| Lost or Stolen Credit Cards | |
| American Express | (800) 233-5432 |
| AT&T Universal Card | (800) 423-4343 |
| Diners Club | (800) 234-6377 |
| Discover Card | (800) 347-2683 |
| JCB | (800) 736-8111 |
| MasterCard | (800) 826-2181 |
| VISA | (800) 336-8472 |
| Lost or Stolen Travelers Checks | |
| American Express | (800) 221-7282 |
| Thomas Cook MasterCard | (800) 223-7373 |
| Travelers Check Customer Service | (800) 645-6556 |
| VISA | (800) 227-6811 |
| Government | |
| Local Government | |
| City of Portland | (503) 823-4000 |
| City of Fairview | (503) 665-7929 |
| Clackamas County | (503) 655-8011 |
| Clark County (Vancouver, WA) | (369) 699-2000 |
| Washington County | (503) 648-8611 |
| Courts/Legal | |
| Civil (small claims) Court | (503) 988-3022 |
| Criminal Court | (503) 988-3235 |
| Family Court Services | (503) 988-3189 |
| Family Law (State Circuit Court) | (503) 988-3943 |
| Traffic Court | (503) 988-3233 |
| Public Defender, Metropolitan | (503) 225-9100 |
| Public Defender, Multnomah | (503) 226-3083 |
| Hospitals | |
| Adventist Medical Center
10123 SE Market Portland, OR 97216 |
(503) 257-2500 |
| Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, OHSU
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, OR 97201 |
| Eastmoreland Hospital
2900 S E Steele Street Portland, OR 97202 |
(503) 234-0411 |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Cnt.
1015 North West 22nd Avenue Portland, OR 97210 |
(503) 413-7711 |
| Oregon Health & Science University Hospital
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, OR 97201 |
(503) 494-8311 |
| Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan Portland, OR 97213 |
(503) 215-1111 |
| Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center
9205 South West Barnes Road Portland, OR 97225 |
(503) 297-4411 |
| Woodland Park Hospital
10300 NE Hancock St Portland, OR 97220 |
(503) 257-5500 |
| Services /Support Networks | |
| Directory Assistance | 411 |
| Aging/Disability Helpline | (503) 988-3646 |
| Alcohol & Drug 24-Hour Help Line | (800) 562-1240 |
| Animal Control | (503) 988-7387 |
| Assessment and Taxation | (503) 988-3326 |
| Child Support Enforcement | (503) 988-3150 |
| Crisis Line | (503) 988-4888 |
| Crisis Pregnancy Center | (800) 395-4357 |
| District Attorney’s Office | (503) 988-3162 |
| Health Dept. Information and Referral | (503) 988-3816 |
| Library’s Reference Line | (503) 988-5234 |
| Marriage License | (503) 988-3027 |
| Mental Health Hotline | (503) 988-4888
(800) 716-9769 |
| National Runaway Switchboard
24-hour hotline to link runaways to social service agencies or to their families. Confidential. |
(800) 621-4000 |
| Passports | (503) 988-4508 |
| SafeNet (Health info) | (503) 988-5858 |
| Senior & Disabled Citizen Information | (503) 962-2455 |
| TTY | (503) 238-5811 |
| Teen Link (Various Topics) | (800) 235-9678 |
| Teen Health InfoLine | (800) 998-3600 |
| WIC Program | (503) 988-3503 |
| Utilities | |
| Electric | |
| Pacific Power | 888-221-7070 |
| Portland General Electric (PGE) | (503) 228-6322
(800) 542-8818 |
| Water and Sewer | |
| City of Portland
1120 SW Fifth Avenue Portland, OR |
(503) 823-7770 |
Television
| 2 | ABC | KATU |
| 6 | CBS | KOIN |
| 8 | NBC | KGW |
| 10 | PBS | KOPB |
| 12 | FOX | KPTV |
| 22 | “i” | KPXG |
| 32 | WB | KWBP |
| 49 | MyTV | KPDX |
Radio
| AM Radio Stations | ||
| 620 | KPOJ | progressive talk |
| 750 | KXL | news, talk, |
| 800 | KPDQ | Christian talk |
| 860 | KPAM | news, talk and information |
| 880 | KWIP | regional Mexican |
| 910 | KKSN | oldies |
| 940 | KWBY | regional Mexican |
| 970 | KCMD | comedy |
| 1040 | KXPD | regional Mexican |
| 1080 | KFXX | ESPN |
| 1150 | KXMG | Spanish contemporary |
| 1190 | KEX | news, talk, information |
| 1230 | KMUZ | Spanish Oldies |
| 1330 | KKPZ | Christian talk |
| 1360 | KUIK | News, talk, sports |
| 1410 | KBNP | business news |
| 1480 | KBMS | Urban Adult Contemporary |
| 1520 | KGDD | regional Mexican |
| 1550 | KKAD | Adult Standards |
| 1640 | KDZR | Radio Disney |
| FM Radio Stations | ||
| 91.5 | KOPB | National Public Radio |
| 92.3 | KGON | classic rock |
| 93.1 | KTRO | Talk |
| 93.9 | KPDQ | Christian inspirational |
| 94.7 | KNRK | alternative rock |
| 95.5 | KXJM | Rhythmic Top 40 |
| 97.1 | KYCH | adult hits |
| 98.7 | KUPL | country music |
| 99.5 | KWJJ | country music |
| 100.3 | KKRZ | CHR |
| 101.1 | KUFO | album-oriented rock |
| 101.9 | KINK | adult alternative |
| 103.3 | KKCW | adult contemporary |
| 104.1 | KFIS | christian |
| 105.1 | KRSK | hot adult contemporary |
| 105.9 | KIJZ | smooth jazz |
| 106.7 | KLTH | 60s-70s hits |
| 107.5 | KVMX | 70s-80’s rock hits |
Newspapers
The Oregonian
(503) 221-8240
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, and circulates statewide.
The Oregon Herald
A non-profit paper that provides a diverse listing of local, regional, national, and international news.
The Portland Tribune
(503) 226-6397
6605 S.E. Lake Road
Portland, OR 97222
A general audience twice-weekly paper.
The Portland Mercury
(503) 294-0840
605 NE 21st Ave, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97232
An alternative weekly newspaper, targeted at younger, hipper urban readers.
Willamette Week
(503) 243-2122
2220 NW Quimby
Portland, OR 97210
The largest local, alternative weekly in the metro area.
Dining & Nightlife
Downtown
One of the best restaurants in Portland, or possibly anywhere, is the Heathman Hotel Restaurant and Bar. The Northwest cuisine varies from season to season, but always includes amazing seafood, game and local fruit preparations. The atmosphere is clean and elegant.
To experience Portland’s freshest seafood, make a reservation at Jake’s Famous Crawfish, which has not changed much since opening in 1892. Savor a few pre-dinner drinks in the lively bar, then settle into a roomy mahogany booth and be pampered for a while.
Another excellent downtown reservation is Pazzo Ristorante. As the name tells you, the food is Italian and so is the atmosphere, with overhead bouquets of garlic and candlelit tables.
Other sterling downtown choices include Typhoon! On Broadway, Dan and Louis Oyster Bar and Saucebox. Do not miss the dim sum served daily at Fong Chong in Chinatown.
The Arts
Stand in the heart of downtown Portland and glance around you. Beautiful fountains form graceful arcs against some of the nation’s best architecture. A street musician may serenade you as you step off MAX, holding tickets to a Broadway musical. Portland is an art haven and its nurturing environment has inspired countless creative minds.
To explore Portland’s more inspired side, start with the Portland Art Museum (PAM). This museum has been a stop for much touring grandeur, and you can enjoy everything from Native American artifacts to modern art. Stay late on Wednesday and enjoy live music at the Museum After Hours.
Peek at PAM’s wilder sister, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), in a newer building on Northwest 12th Avenue. PICA is the place for the very latest in art, music and theater, especially the avant-garde. To sample the hottest portions of Portland’s visual arts scene, visit one of the many local galleries. Check into the First Thursday and Last Thursday gallery walks.
Attractions
Take a drive up to 100-year-old Washington Park and explore the famed International Rose Test Garden and Japanese Garden. The views of downtown and Mount Hood will leave you weak. The Oregon Zoo features outdoor concerts, a zoo railroad and hundreds of animals. With all of the area highlights, including the World Forestry Center and Hoyt Arboretum, you will have no trouble finding something to your liking here.
Another Portland attraction that turns locals into tourists is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), across the river from Washington Park. OMSI features changing interactive science exhibits, Omnimax Theater laser and adventure shows and a submarine in the Willamette River.
Popular day trip attractions include touring the Mount Hood/Columbia Gorge Loop, where the beauty of the great Columbia River is matched by a series of waterfalls. You can check out Multnomah Falls, the Bonneville Dam and Timberline Lodge. Visit the beautiful coastline while you are here. Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is particularly memorable, and you will see a part of Oregon that is often overlooked.
Festivals
The mother of all Portland festivals, the Rose Festival is still going strong. The Grand Floral Parade is by far the most famous attraction, but children also love the Waterfront Village amusement park at Waterfront Park. During Fleet Week, you can tour a fleet of U.S. and Canadian Navy ships. Amid the hubbub, be sure to stop and smell the roses at the kaleidoscopic rose show.
Living in Portland, you will not doubt be spending your Saturday mornings at the Street Market. You are sure to find something to pique your interest with more than 300 booths of unique art, crafts and gadgets. For more than 20 years, this seasonal outdoor market has featured handmade items and tasty treats. The street performers and characters that assemble here provide the ultimate show, so grab some falafel, settle down by Skidmore Fountain and enjoy.
Three stages featuring the greatest names in jazz and more than 30 hours of music are offered at the Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz. This August tradition features names like Al Jarreau and David Sanborn.
Sports
A little old-fashioned competition never hurt anyone, right? Portland hosts a multitude of exciting sports teams and events, including NBA basketball, pre-NHL hockey, minor league baseball and A-League soccer.
The ultra-modern Rose Garden arena is home to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland Winter Hawks hockey team, the Portland LumberJax indoor lacrosse team, as well as countless concerts and special events.
Fans may also cheer alongside Portland’s loyal and enthusiastic sports fans at historic PGE Park, whose recent renovation added state-of-the-art amenities without sacrificing the stadium’s elegant 1926 design. PGE Park is home to Triple-A baseball’s Portland Beavers, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The A-League Portland Timbers’ soccer games are also played here.
Portland Shopping
Bridgeport Village
7455 SW Bridgeport Rd
Tigard, OR 97224-7252
This shopping center is home to many exclusive shops, both regional and national. Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, and Z Gallery all have locations here. There’s an 18-screen movie theater and a variety of restaurants including P. F. Changs and California Pizza Kitchen.
Recommended Tours
Walking Tours
Downtown
If your time here is limited, opt for a downtown hotel and stay in the city. It is easy to wander all over the heart of this city on foot, and Portland also offers an incredible public transportation system that allows you to ride the bus or MAX light rail free inside “Fareless Square.” Begin your tour at the Portland Oregon Visitor’s Association (POVA) where you can plan the day’s destinations and pick up any maps or tickets you will need. Do not worry about getting lost when leaving the premises-—the folks in the green jackets on the city’s streets are not fashion victims, but Portland guides who will be happy to point you in the right direction.
From POVA, cross the street to Waterfront Park. Stroll along the seawall, splash in the fountains and visit Portland Saturday Market. Head west to Fifth Avenue and seek shelter under the huge outstretched arm of the copper statue Portlandia. Continue down Fifth Avenue to Southwest Yamhill Street where the sidewalk is called Street Wise. This public art offers great quotations and no shortage of wisecracks. Take in the nearby Soaring Stone Sculptures located directly in front of Saks Fifth Avenue. There is always people-watching at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Education
Community Colleges
Community colleges exist for two major purposes. The first is to serve as a bridge from high school to college by providing courses for transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. Four out of 10 collegebound high-school graduates start their college education this way.
The second function of community colleges is to prepare students for the job market by offering entry-level career training as well as courses for adult students who want to upgrade their skills for the workplace. They often offer programs that are not available at four-year schools, like fashion design.
Portland Community College
(503) 731-6600
1626 Se Water Ave
Portland, OR 97214
Offer a great variety of classes and programs that serve many audiences, centered around traditional college programs: University transfer and two-year professional-technical degrees. Three campuses:
Cascade Campus
705 N. Killingsworth St.
Portland, OR 97217
Rock Creek Campus
17705 NW Springville Rd.
Portland, OR 97229
Sylvania Campus
12000 SW 49th Ave.
Portland, OR 97219
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal arts colleges offer a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Most are private and focus mainly on undergraduate students. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available.
Online Learning
Recent years have witnessed the rise of online degree programs, to allow the busy professional a chance to work at their own pace from the comfort of their home on the path to getting a degree. The costs to students are typically the same as for traditional classes— and financial aid is equally available—while the cost to the institution can be much less.
There are online universities ranging from legitimate distance learning systems to fly-by-night degree-mills. It’s important to research a particular institution before deciding to enroll in their system. Generally, brick-and-mortar schools that also offer online classes are the safest, though there are plenty of fully accredited online universities out there.
Nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year. That number has been growing about 25% a year recently. Now, virtually all public higher education institutions, as well as a vast majority of private, for-profit institutions, now offer online classes. By contrast, only about half of private, nonprofit schools offer them. Online schools offer everything from Associate’s degrees to Doctoral programs with available emphases in everything from Business Administration to Criminal Justice to Nursing. Some programs require students to attend some campus classes or orientations, but many are delivered completely online. Online courses generally require a computer with a broadband connection, but are now a serious option for the busy professional.
Public vs. Private
Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government. Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources. Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention and often more prestige.
Lewis & Clark College
(503) 768-7000
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd
Portland, OR 97219 – 7879
At Lewis & Clark College, we welcome all who are alive to inquiry, open to diversity, and eager to shape life in an interdependent world. We pursue baccalaureate studies in the arts, humanities, and sciences, and graduate and professional studies in education, counseling, and law.
University of Portland
(503) 943-8000
5000 N. Willamette Boulevard
Portland, OR 97203-5798
Since 1901, Oregon’s Catholic university has devoted itself to educating hearts and minds by focusing on three central elements: teaching, faith, and service. The University is ranked among the top 10 schools in the West by U.S. News and World Report.
Universities
Generally, a university is bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Class size often reflects institutional size and some classes may taught by graduate students.
Portland State University
(503) 725-3511
1631 SW 12th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
With graduate and undergraduate enrollment of around 24,000, is Oregon\’s largest university. Its primary campus is at the southern edge of downtown.
Upper Division
Upper-division schools offer the last two years of undergraduate study, usually in specialized programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Students then generally transfer to an upper-division college after completing an associate degree or after finishing a second year of study at a four-year college.
Trade and Specialty Schools
Art Institute Of Portland
(503) 228-6528
1122 NW Davis St
Portland, OR 97209
With more than 80,000 square feet of space at 1122 NW Davis Street, The Art Institute of Portland is more than just a note-taking, test-taking institution. Twelve computer labs are abuzz all day long with students working on Macs and PCs, using various software applications such as Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, CAD, 3D Studio Max, ProTools and Avid DV Express for class projects.
Oregon Health & Science University
(503) 494-8311
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd.
Portland, Oregon 97239-3098
Formed in 1974 as the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, combining state dentistry, medicine, and nursing programs into a single center. It was renamed Oregon Health Sciences University in 1981 and took its current name in 2001, as part of a merger with the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (OGI) in Beaverton.
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