Oregon has the only two-sided state flag in the US ๐ŸฆซCrater Lake is the deepest lake in the US at 1,943 feet deep ๐Ÿ”Oregon beaches are 100% publicly owned by law โ€” no private beach access ๐ŸŒŠOregon has no statewide sales tax ๐Ÿ’ฐThe world's largest living organism is in Oregon โ€” a honey fungus spanning 2.4 miles in Malheur National Forest ๐Ÿ„Portland has the world's smallest park: Mill Ends Park, just 2 feet in diameter ๐ŸŒณOregon grows 99% of the US hazelnut crop ๐ŸŒฐPortland's Powell's Books is one of the world's largest independent bookstores ๐Ÿ“šNike was founded in Oregon in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman ๐Ÿ‘ŸMultnomah Falls drops 620 feet โ€” one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the US ๐Ÿ’งOregon was the first state to vote entirely by mail ๐Ÿ“ฌOregon City (1844) was the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains ๐Ÿ™Oregon has 40+ covered bridges โ€” more than any other western state ๐ŸŒ‰The Oregon Dunes are the largest coastal sand dune system in North America ๐ŸœSmith Rock State Park is considered the birthplace of American sport climbing ๐Ÿง—Oregon's state nut is the hazelnut ๐ŸŒฐOregon is the #1 US producer of Christmas trees ๐ŸŽ„Crater Lake gets an average of 533 inches of snow per year โ„Silver Falls State Park's Trail of Ten Falls passes 10 waterfalls in just 7.2 miles ๐ŸžOregon's Sea Lion Caves near Florence is the only mainland year-round wild sea lion habitat in the US ๐ŸฆญThe Columbia River Gorge has 77 named waterfalls ๐Ÿ’ฆOregon has 300+ craft breweries โ€” among the most per capita in the US ๐ŸบAstoria (1811) is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains โš“Mt. Hood is climbed by 10,000+ people every year ๐Ÿ”The Willamette Valley produces world-class Pinot Noir wine ๐ŸทTillamook County Creamery makes 167,000 pounds of cheese per day ๐Ÿง€Oregon's state bird is the Western Meadowlark ๐ŸฆPortland was named by a coin flip between settlers from Portland ME and Boston MA ๐Ÿช™Oregon's Painted Hills have layers of red, tan and black from 35 million years of volcanic history ๐ŸŽจThe Pacific Crest Trail runs 430 miles through Oregon ๐ŸฅพOregon's state mushroom is the Pacific Golden Chanterelle ๐Ÿ„The Wallowa Mountains in NE Oregon are nicknamed 'Oregon's Alps' ๐Ÿ”Oregon's state tree is the Douglas Fir โ€” the most common lumber tree in North America ๐ŸŒฒMt. Hood is Oregon's highest peak at 11,249 feet ๐Ÿ—ปThe Oregon Trail carried 400,000+ settlers from Missouri to Oregon in the 1840sโ€“60s ๐Ÿ‚Oregon's Crater Lake is so clear you can see 100+ feet into the water ๐Ÿ”ตThe Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood was hand-built by craftsmen in 1937 as a WPA project ๐Ÿ›Oregon's Columbia River Gorge is a National Scenic Area 80 miles long ๐ŸŒ„The Rogue River runs entirely within Oregon for 215 miles ๐ŸšฃOregon's state fish is the Chinook Salmon ๐ŸŸPortland's International Rose Test Garden has over 10,000 rose bushes ๐ŸŒนOregon's bottle bill (1971) was the first container deposit law in the US โ™ปOregon's Astoria Column has a 164-step spiral staircase with panoramic views ๐ŸŒ€Crater Lake was formed 7,700 years ago when Mt. Mazama collapsed ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon has 14 national forests covering millions of acres ๐ŸŒฒThe Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland runs February through October ๐ŸŽญOregon has more than 100 state parks ๐Ÿ•Bonneville Dam (1938) on the Columbia River was one of the first great New Deal hydropower projects โšกOregon's Pendleton Round-Up (est. 1910) is one of the top 5 rodeos in the US ๐Ÿค Oregon's state flower is the Oregon Grape ๐ŸŒฟPortland's Hawthorne Bridge (1910) is the oldest operating vertical-lift bridge in the US ๐ŸŒ‰Intel employs over 20,000 people in Hillsboro, Oregon ๐Ÿ’ปThe John Day Fossil Beds contain 50+ million years of continuous fossils ๐ŸฆดOregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge hosts over 320 bird species ๐Ÿฆ…Oregon's Harney County is bigger than Maryland and Delaware combined ๐Ÿ—บThe Willamette Meteorite (1902) is the largest meteorite ever found in the US โ˜„Oregon's state motto: 'She Flies with Her Own Wings' ๐Ÿฆ…Eugene's Prefontaine Memorial Trail honors Steve Prefontaine, who held 7 American track records ๐ŸƒOregon's McKenzie River near Eugene is rated one of the top trout streams in the West ๐ŸŽฃOregon Caves in Josephine County are still being formed by moving water today ๐Ÿ•ณThe Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport has a massive open-ocean exhibit ๐ŸฆˆOregon's state insect is the Oregon Swallowtail butterfly ๐Ÿฆ‹Portland's MAX light rail (opened 1986) is one of the longest light rail systems in the US ๐Ÿš‡Oregon's Forest Park in Portland is one of the largest urban forests in the US, at over 5,000 acres ๐ŸŒณThe Columbia River produces more hydropower than any other river in North America โšกOregon's Pacific Flyway is a major migratory route for birds from Alaska to Baja California ๐Ÿฆ†Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden is the largest authentic Suzhou-style garden outside China ๐ŸฏOregon's state rock is the thunder egg โ€” a type of geode found in volcanic ash beds โšก๐ŸฅšOregon has more than 600 lakes over 10 acres in size ๐ŸžSilver Falls is Oregon's largest state park at 9,000+ acres ๐ŸŒฒOregon's Sea Lion Caves are accessible by elevator carved into the cliff โฌ‡The original Oregon Territory (1848) included modern Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana ๐Ÿ—บOregon's Willamette Valley is the #1 US producer of grass seed ๐ŸŒพOregonians consume more coffee per capita than almost any other US state โ˜•Portland has over 500 food carts โ€” one of the most vibrant food cart cultures in the country ๐ŸŒฎOregon's Crater Lake has a small island called Wizard Island formed by a cinder cone ๐ŸŒ‹The Umpqua River is considered one of the oldest river systems in the Cascade Range ๐Ÿ”Oregon's Newberry Volcanic National Monument contains one of North America's largest calderas ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon's state fossil is Metasequoia (dawn redwood) ๐ŸŒฒThe Alvord Desert in southeast Oregon is one of the driest places in the Pacific Northwest โ˜€Steens Mountain in SE Oregon rises 9,773 feet above the desert floor ๐Ÿ”Portland's Saturday Market (est. 1974) is the largest continuously operating outdoor arts market in the US ๐ŸŽจOregon's Tillamook Air Museum houses one of the world's largest wooden structures ๐Ÿ›ฉThe Pacific Ring of Fire runs through Oregon โ€” several volcanoes are still considered active ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon's Mt. Jefferson is the 2nd highest peak in the state at 10,495 feet ๐Ÿ—ปOregon has more designated Wild and Scenic Rivers than any other state ๐ŸšฃOregon is one of only 5 states with no general sales tax ๐Ÿ’ตThe Astoria-Megler Bridge (1966) crossing the Columbia River is 4.1 miles long ๐ŸŒ‰Oregon banned self-serve gas for 72 years โ€” since 2023, drivers statewide may pump their own โ›ฝOregon's Fort Clatsop near Astoria is where Lewis and Clark spent winter 1805โ€“1806 โ›บOregon's 1000 Friends (est. 1975) pioneered land-use planning to protect farmland from sprawl ๐ŸŒพOregon has 13 National Wildlife Refuges ๐Ÿฆ…Portland's Union Station has been an active train station since 1896 ๐Ÿš‚Oregon's Crater Lake National Park was established in 1902 โ€” Oregon's only national park ๐ŸžOregon is one of the top US producers of peppermint oil ๐ŸŒฟThe Fremont Bridge in Portland (1973) has the longest tied-arch span in the US at 1,255 feet ๐ŸŒ‰Oregon's 'Open Beaches Act' (1967) ensures all Oregon beaches are publicly accessible ๐Ÿ–Oregon's Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland was built by 65 craftspeople from Suzhou, China ๐ŸชทOregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859 โ€” Valentine's Day ๐Ÿ’˜The beaver is Oregon's state animal, which is why it's called the Beaver State ๐ŸฆซHaystack Rock at Cannon Beach rises 235 feet from the sand ๐ŸชจHells Canyon on the Oregonโ€“Idaho border is North America's deepest river gorge ๐ŸžOregon has the only two-sided state flag in the US ๐ŸฆซCrater Lake is the deepest lake in the US at 1,943 feet deep ๐Ÿ”Oregon beaches are 100% publicly owned by law โ€” no private beach access ๐ŸŒŠOregon has no statewide sales tax ๐Ÿ’ฐThe world's largest living organism is in Oregon โ€” a honey fungus spanning 2.4 miles in Malheur National Forest ๐Ÿ„Portland has the world's smallest park: Mill Ends Park, just 2 feet in diameter ๐ŸŒณOregon grows 99% of the US hazelnut crop ๐ŸŒฐPortland's Powell's Books is one of the world's largest independent bookstores ๐Ÿ“šNike was founded in Oregon in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman ๐Ÿ‘ŸMultnomah Falls drops 620 feet โ€” one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the US ๐Ÿ’งOregon was the first state to vote entirely by mail ๐Ÿ“ฌOregon City (1844) was the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains ๐Ÿ™Oregon has 40+ covered bridges โ€” more than any other western state ๐ŸŒ‰The Oregon Dunes are the largest coastal sand dune system in North America ๐ŸœSmith Rock State Park is considered the birthplace of American sport climbing ๐Ÿง—Oregon's state nut is the hazelnut ๐ŸŒฐOregon is the #1 US producer of Christmas trees ๐ŸŽ„Crater Lake gets an average of 533 inches of snow per year โ„Silver Falls State Park's Trail of Ten Falls passes 10 waterfalls in just 7.2 miles ๐ŸžOregon's Sea Lion Caves near Florence is the only mainland year-round wild sea lion habitat in the US ๐ŸฆญThe Columbia River Gorge has 77 named waterfalls ๐Ÿ’ฆOregon has 300+ craft breweries โ€” among the most per capita in the US ๐ŸบAstoria (1811) is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains โš“Mt. Hood is climbed by 10,000+ people every year ๐Ÿ”The Willamette Valley produces world-class Pinot Noir wine ๐ŸทTillamook County Creamery makes 167,000 pounds of cheese per day ๐Ÿง€Oregon's state bird is the Western Meadowlark ๐ŸฆPortland was named by a coin flip between settlers from Portland ME and Boston MA ๐Ÿช™Oregon's Painted Hills have layers of red, tan and black from 35 million years of volcanic history ๐ŸŽจThe Pacific Crest Trail runs 430 miles through Oregon ๐ŸฅพOregon's state mushroom is the Pacific Golden Chanterelle ๐Ÿ„The Wallowa Mountains in NE Oregon are nicknamed 'Oregon's Alps' ๐Ÿ”Oregon's state tree is the Douglas Fir โ€” the most common lumber tree in North America ๐ŸŒฒMt. Hood is Oregon's highest peak at 11,249 feet ๐Ÿ—ปThe Oregon Trail carried 400,000+ settlers from Missouri to Oregon in the 1840sโ€“60s ๐Ÿ‚Oregon's Crater Lake is so clear you can see 100+ feet into the water ๐Ÿ”ตThe Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood was hand-built by craftsmen in 1937 as a WPA project ๐Ÿ›Oregon's Columbia River Gorge is a National Scenic Area 80 miles long ๐ŸŒ„The Rogue River runs entirely within Oregon for 215 miles ๐ŸšฃOregon's state fish is the Chinook Salmon ๐ŸŸPortland's International Rose Test Garden has over 10,000 rose bushes ๐ŸŒนOregon's bottle bill (1971) was the first container deposit law in the US โ™ปOregon's Astoria Column has a 164-step spiral staircase with panoramic views ๐ŸŒ€Crater Lake was formed 7,700 years ago when Mt. Mazama collapsed ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon has 14 national forests covering millions of acres ๐ŸŒฒThe Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland runs February through October ๐ŸŽญOregon has more than 100 state parks ๐Ÿ•Bonneville Dam (1938) on the Columbia River was one of the first great New Deal hydropower projects โšกOregon's Pendleton Round-Up (est. 1910) is one of the top 5 rodeos in the US ๐Ÿค Oregon's state flower is the Oregon Grape ๐ŸŒฟPortland's Hawthorne Bridge (1910) is the oldest operating vertical-lift bridge in the US ๐ŸŒ‰Intel employs over 20,000 people in Hillsboro, Oregon ๐Ÿ’ปThe John Day Fossil Beds contain 50+ million years of continuous fossils ๐ŸฆดOregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge hosts over 320 bird species ๐Ÿฆ…Oregon's Harney County is bigger than Maryland and Delaware combined ๐Ÿ—บThe Willamette Meteorite (1902) is the largest meteorite ever found in the US โ˜„Oregon's state motto: 'She Flies with Her Own Wings' ๐Ÿฆ…Eugene's Prefontaine Memorial Trail honors Steve Prefontaine, who held 7 American track records ๐ŸƒOregon's McKenzie River near Eugene is rated one of the top trout streams in the West ๐ŸŽฃOregon Caves in Josephine County are still being formed by moving water today ๐Ÿ•ณThe Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport has a massive open-ocean exhibit ๐ŸฆˆOregon's state insect is the Oregon Swallowtail butterfly ๐Ÿฆ‹Portland's MAX light rail (opened 1986) is one of the longest light rail systems in the US ๐Ÿš‡Oregon's Forest Park in Portland is one of the largest urban forests in the US, at over 5,000 acres ๐ŸŒณThe Columbia River produces more hydropower than any other river in North America โšกOregon's Pacific Flyway is a major migratory route for birds from Alaska to Baja California ๐Ÿฆ†Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden is the largest authentic Suzhou-style garden outside China ๐ŸฏOregon's state rock is the thunder egg โ€” a type of geode found in volcanic ash beds โšก๐ŸฅšOregon has more than 600 lakes over 10 acres in size ๐ŸžSilver Falls is Oregon's largest state park at 9,000+ acres ๐ŸŒฒOregon's Sea Lion Caves are accessible by elevator carved into the cliff โฌ‡The original Oregon Territory (1848) included modern Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana ๐Ÿ—บOregon's Willamette Valley is the #1 US producer of grass seed ๐ŸŒพOregonians consume more coffee per capita than almost any other US state โ˜•Portland has over 500 food carts โ€” one of the most vibrant food cart cultures in the country ๐ŸŒฎOregon's Crater Lake has a small island called Wizard Island formed by a cinder cone ๐ŸŒ‹The Umpqua River is considered one of the oldest river systems in the Cascade Range ๐Ÿ”Oregon's Newberry Volcanic National Monument contains one of North America's largest calderas ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon's state fossil is Metasequoia (dawn redwood) ๐ŸŒฒThe Alvord Desert in southeast Oregon is one of the driest places in the Pacific Northwest โ˜€Steens Mountain in SE Oregon rises 9,773 feet above the desert floor ๐Ÿ”Portland's Saturday Market (est. 1974) is the largest continuously operating outdoor arts market in the US ๐ŸŽจOregon's Tillamook Air Museum houses one of the world's largest wooden structures ๐Ÿ›ฉThe Pacific Ring of Fire runs through Oregon โ€” several volcanoes are still considered active ๐ŸŒ‹Oregon's Mt. Jefferson is the 2nd highest peak in the state at 10,495 feet ๐Ÿ—ปOregon has more designated Wild and Scenic Rivers than any other state ๐ŸšฃOregon is one of only 5 states with no general sales tax ๐Ÿ’ตThe Astoria-Megler Bridge (1966) crossing the Columbia River is 4.1 miles long ๐ŸŒ‰Oregon banned self-serve gas for 72 years โ€” since 2023, drivers statewide may pump their own โ›ฝOregon's Fort Clatsop near Astoria is where Lewis and Clark spent winter 1805โ€“1806 โ›บOregon's 1000 Friends (est. 1975) pioneered land-use planning to protect farmland from sprawl ๐ŸŒพOregon has 13 National Wildlife Refuges ๐Ÿฆ…Portland's Union Station has been an active train station since 1896 ๐Ÿš‚Oregon's Crater Lake National Park was established in 1902 โ€” Oregon's only national park ๐ŸžOregon is one of the top US producers of peppermint oil ๐ŸŒฟThe Fremont Bridge in Portland (1973) has the longest tied-arch span in the US at 1,255 feet ๐ŸŒ‰Oregon's 'Open Beaches Act' (1967) ensures all Oregon beaches are publicly accessible ๐Ÿ–Oregon's Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland was built by 65 craftspeople from Suzhou, China ๐ŸชทOregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859 โ€” Valentine's Day ๐Ÿ’˜The beaver is Oregon's state animal, which is why it's called the Beaver State ๐ŸฆซHaystack Rock at Cannon Beach rises 235 feet from the sand ๐ŸชจHells Canyon on the Oregonโ€“Idaho border is North America's deepest river gorge ๐Ÿž
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Portland Metro, Oregon

Oregon's largest city and surrounding metro โ€” tech, food, arts, and outdoor access all within reach.

About the Portland Metro Region

Oregon's largest metropolitan area, home to Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, and Lake Oswego. Tech industry, world-class food scene, and easy access to mountains and coast.

Counties

Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas County, Columbia County

Highlights

Living in Portland Metro

The Portland Metro area offers the most urban amenities in Oregon: a robust public transit system (TriMet MAX light rail, buses, WES commuter rail), internationally recognized restaurants, a vibrant arts scene, and major employers in technology (Intel, Nike, Adidas, Oregon Health & Science University). Housing costs are higher than rural Oregon but moderate compared to Seattle or San Francisco. Neighborhoods range from dense urban core to quiet suburban communities in Washington County's Silicon Forest.

Visiting Portland Metro

Visitors come for Powell's Books (one of the world's largest independent bookstores), the International Rose Test Garden, Portland Saturday Market, food carts, and year-round farmers markets. Day trips reach Mt. Hood (45 min), the Columbia River Gorge (30 min), Oregon Coast (90 min), and Willamette Valley wine country (30โ€“60 min south).

Top Cities in Portland Metro

All Cities in Portland Metro (39 total)

CityCountyPopulation (2020)
PortlandMultnomah, Washington, Clackamas652,503
GreshamMultnomah114,247
HillsboroWashington106,447
BeavertonWashington97,494
TigardWashington54,539
Lake OswegoClackamas, Multnomah, Washington40,732
Oregon CityClackamas37,572
TualatinWashington, Clackamas27,942
West LinnClackamas27,373
WilsonvilleClackamas, Washington26,664
Forest GroveWashington26,225
Happy ValleyClackamas23,733
MilwaukieClackamas, Multnomah21,119
SherwoodWashington20,450
CanbyClackamas18,171
TroutdaleMultnomah16,300
St. HelensColumbia13,817
CorneliusWashington12,694
SandyClackamas12,612
GladstoneClackamas12,017
FairviewMultnomah10,424
MolallaClackamas10,228
ScappooseColumbia8,010
King CityWashington5,184
Wood VillageMultnomah4,387
EstacadaClackamas4,356
North PlainsWashington3,441
VernoniaColumbia2,374
Columbia CityColumbia1,949
DurhamWashington1,944
RainierColumbia1,911
BanksWashington1,837
ClatskanieColumbia1,716
Maywood ParkMultnomah829
GastonWashington, Yamhill676
RivergroveClackamas, Washington545
Johnson CityClackamas539
BarlowClackamas133
PrescottColumbia82

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