Portland History, Oregon

Portland is the largest and most populated city in the US state Oregon. Portland is known across USA as the ‘City of Roses’ and it is recognized as one of the greenest cities in the country (take a look at Portland Sights and Portland Travel Guide articles for more information on the city with the same name in Maine). Probably the most interesting event in Portland history is the legend of its foundation: it all began with a quarter of a dollar.

Portland History – The Legend of Portland’s Foundation

At its origins, Portland was a small resting place on the banks of Willamette River, known by trappers and pioneers as ‘the Cleaning’. William Overton claimed the land around the Cleaning with the help of Asa Lovejoy, who borrowed him the 25 cents needed to process the papers. But Overton soon changed his mind and sold his share to Francis W. Pettygrove. The new partners had problems deciding how to name the settlement, so they finally flipped a coin and Pettygrove’s variant – Portland, after the homonymous city in Maine, was chosen.

Portland History – Early Years

By the mid 19th century, Portland had grown to be quite a view: in opposition to its muddy roads and predominantly masculine population, Portland was already the most populous city on the northwest coast and had its own newspaper. On February 8, 1851, Portland, Oregon was incorporated as a city, and the incorporation was soon followed by the election of the first mayor and city council. The city’s economy grew rapidly in the second half, facilitated by the waterway transportation. The efforts to make the river accessible to steamboats and freights were soon rewarded, as Portland played a major role in the transportation of precious metals during the Gold Rush. Portland’s history took a major turn with the arrival of the railroad in 1868 and the installation of the first telephone lines and electric streetlights in the 1880s. A destructive fire hit the town’s business district in 1873 and the damages were estimated to more than 1 million dollars.

Portland History – Portland in the 20th Century

In the first decade of the 20th century, the population again doubled. The first part of the century was a time of violence and riots. The West Coast waterfront strike and the organized crime networks in the ‘40s were important challenges for the city administration. During the 80s and 90’s, Portland underwent a series of infrastructural improvements, following the Central City Plan drawn in 1987. Portland’s economy took a new ascending path at the end of the century, as the new IT and design companies attracted a lot of young artists. It is estimated that 10000 artists live and work in Portland in the present. In 2000, just one year before the city’s 150 celebration, Money Magazine declared Portland the number one city to live in.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Portland
ask now

Things about Portland you may be interested in

• Portland Reviews
• Portland Travel tips

 

+ list your site

 

ReviewsTravel TipsWrite a reviewWrite a travel tip

 

 

Read our members' reviews about Portland

• What to do in Portland
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Although I was in Portland only when I was young, I can say that it's a nice clean place with nice outdoor activities not too far away. Mt. Rainier is one of my favorites. It is not very busy, but maybe that's why it is so attractive. It's calm andnot thenightlife is the best thing about it....
• Discovering Portland
  review by mohds2 posted more then 30 days ago
  Perhaps it is the climatic condition, or perhaps it is only a better day to be a bit off. A few of it have to act undoubtedly with the truth that I perform in psychological strength & these people mesmerize me instead of concerning me. Anything it’s, just here in the Portland do I get...
• Check the Ikea shop in Portland
  review by mohds2 posted more then 30 days ago
  Ikea Portland Oregon is the most important store for house furniture in a region and numerous clients persist to gather to the shop daily and have their requirements for furnishings met. The liberal shop lies in the space of 280,000 square feet. There’re nearly 10,000 things to select from...

view all

 

Read our members' travel tips about Portland

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
  travel tip by itachan posted more then 30 days ago
  This museum is heaps of fun for anyone who is interested in natural sciences, industry, and technology, and it's a good place to bring your kids to for some intellectual fun. OMSI has five different exhibit halls specialized in...
• Hat Museum in Portland
  travel tip by tylerd posted more then 30 days ago
  The Hat Museum in Portland is the largest hat museum in the United States, where you can see the evolution through the ages of this most essential accessory. If you have an interest in fashion (or history, as a matter of fact), the...
• Roseway Theatre
  travel tip by evike14 posted more then 30 days ago
  I you feel like going to a movie while you're in Portland, buy a ticket to one of the shows at Roseway Theatre, a historic theatre from the 1920' which hasn't lost its vintage charm despite all the modern equipment. All the shows...

view all

 

 

Community

Members Who Have Been to Portland

See who has been to Portland and ask them a question (membership required)

MadSuh ask a question add to friends

hudson88 ask a question add to friends

Joanna ask a question add to friends

gregdane ask a question add to friends

 

show all

 

 

the best travel deals provided by TravelZoo...