Portland (/ˈpɔːrtlənd/ PORT-lənd) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located in the Pacific Northwest at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, it is the 28th-most populous city in the United States, sixth most populous on the West Coast, and third most populous in the Pacific Northwest (after Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia) with a population of 652,503 at the 2020 census.[11] The Portland metropolitan area, with over 2.54 million residents, is the 26th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Almost half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metro area.[a] It is the county seat of Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous county.
Named after Portland, Maine,[12] which is itself named after England's Isle of Portland, the Oregon settlement began to be populated near the end of the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. Its water access provided convenient transportation of goods, and the timber industry was a major force in the city's early economy. At the turn of the 20th century, the city had a reputation as one of the most dangerous port cities in the world, and was a hub for organized crime and racketeering; this reputation dissipated after its economy experienced an industrial boom during World War II. From the 1960s onwards, it became known for its growing liberal and progressive political values and prominent protests,[13] earning it a reputation as a bastion of counterculture exemplified by the popular slogan "Keep Portland Weird".[14] This aspect of the city has since been championed by organizations such as Weird Portland United[15] and the comedy series Portlandia (2011–2018).[16]
