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Location of the City of Portland Oregon

The City of Portland is located in Northwestern Oregon, where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet. The metropolitan area is made up of four counties: Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington in Oregon; and Clark County in Washington. Portland is the most affordable and perhaps desirable City on the West Coast. It sits at the north end of the famous Willamette Valley home to nurseries, farms, vineyards and open land. Oregon has very strict land use laws that do not allow for urban sprawl. These were set in place in 1975 to protect our farmland and have been strengthened since. If you research Portland, you will come across the acronym UGB. The Urban Growth Boundary exists around all Oregon cities to prevent growth outside the boundary and preserve our farmland. Some say it takes an act of God to increase it. Especially when it comes to the city of Portland. Because Portland consists of three counties (and the City, called Metro) all of them have to collectively agree. That doesn't happen very often. The overwhelming push is to increase density within the UGB (as in small lot sizes), and encourage alternate transportation. Portland really is a green city and leads the country in so many ways.

The entire Portland Metro area including the suburbs is within a 15 mile radius of downtown Portland. We consider a commute of more than 30 minutes unacceptable. I think the averages is somewhere around 23 minutes. Check out our blog Living In Portland for more information.

Population is 1.9 million, the largest metropolitan area in Oregon, but the City is just over 500,000. Elevations vary from a few feet above sea level to 11,235 feet atop Mt. Hood. The metro area is by no means flat. I would have to say we offer a very diverse topography as well as a diverse population. Portland is green all year long and extremely environmentally responsible. The State of Oregon web site is: www.oregon.gov

Climate

Mild temperatures averaging 78 degrees in the summer and 38-42 degrees in the winter, make Portland a great place to live. We have four distinct seasons but none of them are extreme. The area gets approximately 37 inches of precipitation a year, most of which is rain. While Portland does get snow, it is seldom more than a couple inches a year and rarely lasts more than one or two days. Some years (like winter 2005, and 2010) we have experienced warmer than usual temperatures. The daffodils will be in bloom by the middle of February. When people ask me if it rains all the time, my answer is NO. While the sun may not shine as often as it does in California we experience cloudy days with no rain. Or, more typical is a day that starts with rain then changes to cloudy and ends with sun. Statistically this would be counted as a day of rain.

Outdoor Recreation

Portland has it all, camping, fishing, hiking, river rafting, biking, snow skiing, wind surfing, and rock climbing. Portland has 9,400 acres of parks, including the smallest park in the world (Mill Ends Park) and the largest urban wilderness (Forest Park). Within an hours drive of downtown Portland are the ski slopes on Mt. Hood and the historic Timberline Lodge or the beautiful Oregon coast.

Sports

The metropolitan area offers many spectator sports, from the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers to the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks. There are also running events, bicycle and auto races, pro/am golf tournaments, horse and greyhound dog racing and more.

Culture

Numerous art galleries and museums. Portland boasts a world-class symphony, ballet and opera, as well as a number of theater groups and jazz clubs. Portland is a hot bed for up and coming musicians. The Metro Washington Park Zoo and Oregon Museum of Science & Industry are a must see for family's. The Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, International Rose Test Gardens, and annual Rose Festival, are just a few of the many events held each year. This city boasts amazing displays of art and culture at the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon History Center, the historic Old Town District and Pittock Mansion. The calendar is packed with performances by the Oregon Symphony, the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Portland Opera, as well as events like Cinco de Mayo (May) and the many festivals held a waterfront park all year long.

Property Taxes

Oregon's property tax system is primarily a rate-based system with a limit on assessed value. The tax rate or 'mill-rate' is charged per $1000 of tax assessed value. The tax assessed value of homes in Portland is significantly lower than the actual market value. The mill-rate varies from one community to another. In the Portland Metro area, mill-rates range from $14.00 to $20.30. Example: A home assessed at $242,000 (with an actual market value of around $300,000.) with a mill-rate of $16.40, would owe annual property taxes of approximately $3968.

State Income Tax

The state income tax is 9% for those of you in the 28% tax bracket. Some itemized deductions allowed on your federal tax return will not be allowed on the Oregon return. Oregon does not tax social security income. But never fear, Oregon does not have a sales tax! You can actually write your check while waiting in line to pay. This applies to everything from cars to restaurants.

Portland Oregon Map