Portland is the most populous city in the state of Oregon, with a population of about 584,000. The city’s climate produces warm, dry summers and wet but mild winters. This climate is perfect for growing roses, which has resulted in the city being known as “The City of Roses.” Portland lives up to this nickname, as the city is often awarded “Greenest City in America,” and ranks among the world’s top 10 greenest cities. Portland’s parks and the city’s legacy of preserving open spaces have become a source of pride for residents.
Portland is home to several art and museum attractions, and was named the tenth best Big City Arts Destination in the U.S by American Style magazine in 2006. These attractions include the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Powell’s City of Books, the Portland Rose Festival, and Washington Park.
Portland’s economy is largely dominated by the technology industry, as well as the freight business, as the Port of Portland is the third largest export tonnage port on the U.S’ west coast, and the largest shipper of wheat in the United States. The city’s largest employer is computer components manufacturer Intel, one of more than 1,200 technology companies that reside in Portland. The large amount of technology companies in the area has led to the nickname Silicon Forest being used to describe the Portland area.
The Portland real estate market peaked in 2007, and has since slightly declined and leveled out. Median sales price in the area has hovered around $250,000 from 2008-2012, demonstrating market stability.