Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the state of Oregon. As of July 2009, it has an estimated population of 582,130, making it the 30th most populous in the United States. Portland is Oregon's most populous city, and the third most populous city in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Approximately 2.2 million people live in the Portland metropolitan area (MSA), the 23rd most populous in the United States as of July 2006.
Portland was incorporated in 1851 and is the county seat of Multnomah County. The city extends slightly into Washington County to the west and Clackamas County to the south. It is governed by a commission-based government headed by a mayor and four other commissioners.
The City of Portland has been referred to as one of the most environmentally friendly or "green" cities in the world. The city and region are noted for strong land-use planning and investment in light rail, supported by Metro, a distinctive regional government. Portland is known for its large number of microbreweries and microdistilleries, as well as its coffee enthusiasm.
Portland lies in the Marine west coast climate region, marked by warm, dry summers and rainy but mild winters. This climate is ideal for growing roses, and for more than a century, Portland has been known as The City of Roses with many rose gardens—most prominently the International Rose Test Garden.
