Portland, Oregon
Portland is the largest city in Oregon and the seat of Multnomah County. It covers 145 square miles (380 square kilometers) and has an estimated population of 647,805 making it the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest.
Before American pioneers began arriving in the 1800s, the land that eventually became Portland and surrounding Multnomah County was inhabited for many centuries by two bands of indigenous Chinook people— the Multnomah and the Clackamas peoples. Named after the city in Maine, Portland became populated by European descendants in the 1830s near the end of the Oregon Trail. The city grew initially due to both its access to the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia and Willamette rivers, and its rich timber industry.
During the early 20th century, the city became infamous as a hub for organized crime and racketeering, a reputation that began to fade after its economy boomed during World War II. Since the 1960s, Portland has become noted for its progressive politics and alternative arts and culture scene, as made famous by the popular TV show <i>Portlandia</i>. Its metro area has become a center for athletic and footwear manufacturers with companies like Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, LaCrosse Footwear and Dr. Martens establishing global, North American or U.S. headquarters there.
Since the establishment of companies like Intel, SolarWorld, Mentor Graphics and others, the Portland metro area has also become a hub for the technology industry, earning it the nickname Silicon Forest.
Located downtown, the Pioneer Courthouse was built starting in 1869, and is both the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest, and the second oldest west of the Mississippi River.