Facts and Praises
Demographics:

Portland Area QuickFacts

POPULATION AND LAND AREA

• The annualized 2003 population of the Portland metro area is 2,009,350 (projected to be 2.1 million by 2005 and 2.3 million by 2010)
• The population of the City of Portland is 545,140 (2003 estimate: Center for Population Research & Census)
• A forecasted regional population growth rate of 1.8% annually through 2010
• From 1990–2003, the City of Portland's population increased by 107,821 people, a 25% increase
• Oregon's population is projected to grow by about 27% over the next 20 years
• Land area of Portland metropolitan area (2002): 462.2 square miles (1,197 square kilometers); the City of Portland covers 130 square miles
• Portland Metro Region's workforce has grown more than 91,000 since 2000
• Of Portland's land area, 15% (12,591 acres) is devoted to public park land and open space; including Forest Park, which at 5,124 acres and over 74 miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails, is the largest urban wilderness area within a U.S. city's boundaries.

EMPLOYMENT

• The nonfarm payroll employment in the Portland metro area (2003): 922,000 (a 27% increase from 1990)
• View a Portland Metro Area map showing the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and selected firms throughout the region

Note: These employment sector numbers are annualized for 2003.

The most current monthly employment figures are available in the Portland Briefing paper, with additional detail in the Portland Metro Area Labor Trends report.

• Average 2003 manufacturing wage: $15.31 per hour
• Major employers: Intel Corp. 15,000, Providence Health Systems 12,800, Fred Meyer, Inc. 13,325, Legacy Health System 7,158, and Kaiser Permanente 6,725

ENVIRONMENT & LIVABILITY

• The City of Portland was officially incorporated on Feb. 8, 1851.
• Portland is 78 miles from the Pacific Coast and 65 miles from year round skiing on Mt. Hood.
• TriMet is the municipal corporation providing public transportation for much of the Portland, Oregon, metro area, and operates 93 bus lines and a 44-mile, 64-station MAX light rail system.
• TriMet has a service area ranking 29th nationally in population; but ranks 13th nationally for transit ridership—carrying more people than any other US transit system its size.
• Bus and light rail ridership has increased for 15 consecutive years.
• Each weekday, MAX light rail eliminates 55,000 car trips off our roads, easing traffic congestion and helping keep our air clean. (That adds up to 18.2 million fewer car trips each year and elimination of 4.2 tons of smog producing pollutants each day!)
• In the Portland Metro Area, 57.9% of all home-based work trips are taken on transportation other than single passenger autos. These alternate transit modes include walking, biking, public transportation (light rail, streetcar and bus), as well as shared ride autos. In the Downtown core, the percentage is even higher at 62.0%. See other transit ridership statistics.
• Portland named #1 cycling city in America for second straight year. Portland area bicycle ridership has doubled since 1990.
• Portland's bikeway network increased in mileage by 160% from 1991–2001.
• Portland was awarded one of the Top Five "Impressive City" awards for communities where citizens are making a difference in their environment.

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