Portland, Oregon's skyline is centered mainly in the southwest district of the city. The skyline is usually viewed to the west, with the west hills in the background and the Willamette River in the foreground. Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Official website: http://www. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Salem Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq. ... The Willamette River (pronounced wil-LAM-met) is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 240 mi (386 km) long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States. ...

Portland is unique, in that in its founding, city blocks in downtown were made an even 61x61 meters (200x200 feet). This was to encourage easy walking and make more corner lots, which are more valuable. In addition, Portland's buildings are restricted in height.

The downtown area is usually considered to extend west from the Williamette River to Interstate 405, and south from W. Burnside St. to just south of the PSU campus (also bounded by I-405). Some might consider the South Waterfront area (currently in development) as a potential extension of downtown. (See adjacent districts, below). The Willamette River (pronounced wil-LAM-met) is a tributary of the Columbia, approximately 240 mi (386 km) long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States. ... ROUTE JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # I-5 Mile 0 OR-10 Mile 0 OR-99W Mile 0 US-26 1D I-505 3 US-30 3 Mile 3. ... Portland State University (or PSU) is a university located in downtown Portland, Oregon. ...

Portland's skyline.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x250, 51 KB)Downtown Portland, OR (uploaded by copyright holder) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x250, 51 KB)Downtown Portland, OR (uploaded by copyright holder) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Success vs. Central City Decay

Downtown Portland largely escaped the central city flight (or "urban hollowing") that befell many U.S. cities in the 1970s through a program of aggressive city planning and transportation reform as part of the rather groundbreaking 1972 Downtown Plan (unlike most major downtown revitalization projects throughout the country at this time which normally called for wide-spread demolition and reconstruction). In the early 1970s, Portland's central city was beginning to decay, with the creation of suburban shopping malls in the neighboring cities of Beaverton and Gresham drawing away money and people from downtown. However, the creation of a downtown transit mall (1976) (see Transportation, below), a new waterfront park (1978) later named after Governor Tom McCall, the creation of the Pioneer Courthouse Square (1984), the contruction of the Portland-Gresham light rail line in 1986 and the 1990 opening of Pioneer Place Mall successfully drew or retained businesses and lured customers. The downtown, which had been a virtual ghost town after 6pm, is now becoming more and more a vibrant all-hours shopping, dining, and business venue. White flight is a colloquial term for the demographic trend of white people, generally but not always upper and middle class, moving from increasingly and predominantly non-white areas, often from urban cores to nearby suburbs or even to new locales entirely, e. ... Beaverton is the name of several places in the United States of America: Beaverton, Michigan Beaverton, Oregon It is also the name of places in Canada: Beaverton, Ontario This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Gresham may refer to: Greshams Law Places Gresham Park, Georgia Gresham, Nebraska (York County) Gresham, Oregon Gresham, Wisconsin Educational Establishments Gresham College, London Businesses Gresham hotels People Sir Thomas Gresham, creator of Greshams Law J. Gresham Barrett, Republican politician Douglas Gresham, British Film Producer Joy Gresham, poet Peter... Thomas Lawson McCall (March 22, 1913 – January 8, 1983) was an American politician, a Republican, and the thirtieth governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975. ... Another view of the square. ...

This apparent success due to Portland's policies has not been without criticisms. Some charge that the transit mall and increased pedestrian traffic has attracted transient and homeless persons from around the city, and aggressive panhandling has increased, despite periodic police crackdowns. Others argue that a proposed expansion of the transit mall is an unneeded expense, and that parking and traffic problems in the downtown area are an indication of the failure of Portland's transit policies to address growth-related problems.

Despite detractors, the majority of Portlanders believe in the success of its urban policies and many take pride in the accomplishments of the city and its regional planning in creating a very livable urban environment.

Bridges

Portland is sometimes known as the bridge city, due to the number of bridges that cross its two rivers. There are 8 bridges entering the downtown area. The bridges are (south to north): This article is about the edifice (it is primarily an index to articles concerning specific bridge types). ...

• Ross Island Bridge, which connects Powell Blvd and Mount Hood to the new south waterfront district high rises
• Marquam Bridge, a two deck bridge carrying Interstate 5 across the Willamette River
• Hawthorne Bridge, a Multnomah County owned bridge, highlighted in the movie The Hunted
• Morrison Bridge, leading directly into central business district from the east side of the river
• Burnside Bridge, connecting the east side to the northern part of downtown
• Steel Bridge, the only double-deck bridge with independent lifts in the world, and carrying MAX light rail into downtown
• Broadway Bridge, connecting the Lloyd business district to the downtown one
• Fremont Bridge, carrying I-405 through the Pearl District high rises and downtown Portland

The Ross Island Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. ... Mount Hood is an active stratovolcano in northern Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. ... The Marquam Bridge is a double deck cantilever bridge that carries Interstate 5 traffic across the Willamette River south of downtown Portland, Oregon. ... Interstate 5 (abbreviated I-5) is the westernmost interstate highway in the United States. ... The Willamette River (pronounced wil-LAM-met) is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 240 mi (386 km) long, in northwestern Oregon in the United States. ... The Hawthorne Bridge is a truss bridge with a vertical lift that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. ... Multnomah County (IPA: ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon, the smallest in area but the largest in population due to Portland, the county seat and largest city in Oregon. ... The Hunted is a 2003 film directed by William Friedkin and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro. ... The Morrison Bridge The Morrison Bridge is a double leaf Chicago style bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. ... The central business district of Melbourne, Australia. ... The Burnside Bridge The Burnside Bridge is a double leaf bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. ... The lower deck of the Steel Bridge is raised to let the sternwheeler Rose pass. ... Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. ... The Broadway Bridge is a double-leaf Rall type bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. ... The Fremont Bridge is a steel tied-arch bridge over the Willamette River located in Portland, Oregon. ... ROUTE JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # I-5 Mile 0 OR-10 Mile 0 OR-99W Mile 0 US-26 1D I-505 3 US-30 3 Mile 3. ... The Pearl District is a former warehouse and light industrial area just north of downtown Portland, Oregon. ... Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Official website: http://www. ...

Transportation

Most streets in downtown Portland are one-way and some of them are major ones. Naito Parkway (two-way) is the furthest east, while most of the high rises end by I-405 to the west. Interstate 5 runs on the opposite bank of the river, crossing over on the Marquam Bridge. US Highway 26 connects Portland to the coast and mountains. ROUTE JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # I-5 Mile 0 OR-10 Mile 0 OR-99W Mile 0 US-26 1D I-505 3 US-30 3 Mile 3. ... The Marquam Bridge is a double deck cantilever bridge that carries Interstate 5 traffic across the Willamette River south of downtown Portland, Oregon. ... United States Highway 26 is an east-west United States highway. ...

The city's downtown is also served by a number of alternate transportation options. Because of its shorter blocks, walking is often preferred by the locals. TriMet, the local mass transit agency, operates MAX light rail east/west on Yamhill and Morrison street, and north/south on 1st Ave. An extensive transit mall (known as Portland Mall) on 5th and 6th Avenues is closed to cars in many areas and is where over 50 bus lines connect to one another and Portland's suburbs. Plans are currently in place to renovate 5th and 6th Avenues, and the transit mall, to accommodate light rail. Woman walking downstairs Walk redirects here. ... A TriMet bus parked near MAX tracks. ... In the United States of America, transit describes local area common carrier passenger transportation configured to provide scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis. ... Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. ... First bus in history: a Benz truck modified by Netphener company (1895) TheBus, established by Mayor Frank Fasi, is Honolulus only public transit system. ... Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ...

Additionally, the City of Portland also operates the Portland Streetcar system from Riverplace to the north into the Pearl District. The system is approximately 8 km (5 miles) long, and an extension to North Waterfront, a new urban district south of downtown, is under construction. Overall, as part of Fareless Square, all local transit rides are free. Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Official website: http://www. ... A streetcar at the corner of SW 11th and Alder. ... The Pearl District is a former warehouse and light industrial area just north of downtown Portland, Oregon. ... Fareless Square is an area within Portland, Oregon where all TriMet bus and MAX, as well as Portland Streetcar, transit rides are free. ...

An aerial tram is also under construction to connect the south waterfront high rises to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is the present-day (2005) name for a university that can trace its roots back to the 1860s. ...

Buildings

Portland has several high rise buildings. The 5 tallest are:

• Wells Fargo Center: rises to 166 meters (544 feet) and was constructed in 1972
• US Bancorp Tower, or "Big Pink": rises to 163 meters (534 feet) and was constructed in 1983
• KOIN Center: rises to 155 meters (508 feet) and was constructed in 1984
• PacWest Center: rises to 127 meters (416 feet) and was constructed in 1984
• Fox Tower: rises to 113 meters (370 feet) and was constructed in 2000

*Please see sources Wells Fargo Center The Wells Fargo Center (Originally known as First National Bank Tower, then First Interstate Bank Tower) is the tallest building in Portland, Oregon. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... The US Bankcorp Tower The US Bancorp Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in Portland, Oregon. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... KOIN Center is a multi-purpose skyscraper in Portland, Oregon. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... PacWest Center (Officially Key Bank Tower at PacWest Center) is a 30 story office building in Portland, Oregon. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... View of the Fox Towers curving east side. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

While not located in the downtown area, another notable building is the Oregon Convention Center, the largest Convention Center in the Pacific Northwest, which draws many people across the river to downtown. The Oregon Convention Center and its signature twin spires. ... Metro Toronto Convention Centre, late 2004. ... Darker red states are always considered part of the Pacific Northwest. ...

Attractions

• Pioneer Courthouse Square
• Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
• Portland Art Museum
• Portland Opera Repertory Theatre
• Portland Classical Chinese Garden
• Oregon Historical Society
• Portland Saturday Market
• Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Another view of the square. ... The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is a historic theater building and performing arts center in Portland, Oregon. ... The Portland Art Museum (PAM) in Portland, Oregon was founded in 1892, making it the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest. ... Portland Classical Chinese Garden is a Suzhou-style walled garden enclosing a full city block in the Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. ... The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is an organization which encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of the Oregon Country, within the broader context of U.S. history. ... The Portland Saturday Market is the largest outdoor arts and crafts market in continuous operation in the United States. ...      This article is the current Oregon Wikigroup Project Collaboration! Gov. ...

Adjacent districts

• Old Town - immediately north, bordering the river
• Chinatown - north, also adjacent/overlapping Old Town
• Pearl District - north, adjacent to Chinatown
• "Brewery Blocks" -- north, adjacent/overlapping Pearl District
• "Goose Hollow" -- residential, west of PSU, north of US-26
• "Southwest Hills" -- residential, west of PSU, south of US-26
• "Pill Hill"/OHSU -- south, including OHSU and the Veteran's Hospital
• RiverPlace
• South Waterfront

Gate to Portlands Chinatown. ... Portlands China Gate The Chinatown in Portland, Oregon comprises the streets between Burnside Avenue and Union Station along the Willamette River. ... The Pearl District is a former warehouse and light industrial area just north of downtown Portland, Oregon. ... The South Waterfront (or SoWa) is a new high-rise neighborhood under construction in Portland, Oregon on former brownfield industrial land south of downtown. ...

External links

• Official Portland Homepage
• Portland Visitors Association
• Area Mass Transit
• Live View from the top of the Wells Fargo Center
• Photos, Arial Views, and Lot Profiles for the City

Sources

• Emporis Building Database