DID YOU KNOW? 20+ Interesting & Useful FACTS About Portland

Over the past 30+ years of living in the City of Roses, I’ve definitely learned a few interesting facts about Portland, Oregon. Some Portland facts have surprised me while others make me appreciate my hometown all the more. Today I’m rounding up the 20 most interesting facts about Portland I’ve learned. I hope you enjoy!

Facts About Portland, Oregon

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Portland Facts

Facts About Portland, Oregon
Interesting Portland Facts (Post Summary)

#1. Portland is the most bike-friendly city in America

Year after year, Portland ranks among the best US cities for cyclists due to 400+ miles of biking trails and extensive biking infrastructure. Speaking from personal experience, biking around Portland is enjoyable, safe and a great way to explore the town.

In fact, prior to the pandemic, biking was so popular in Portland that on average 5.3% of locals commuted to work by bike, far exceeding the national average of .5%.

However, post-pandemic, there’s been a sharp decrease in bike commuters. This updated report does a great job explaining why the city is seeing a decline in ridership (in large part due to work-from-home), despite the great infrastructure.

Mill Ends Park, smallest park in the world

#2. Portland is home to the smallest park in the world

In 1971, Guinness World Records confirmed what most Portlanders already knew, Mill Ends Park is the smallest park in the world. Housing a single tree and measuring 2 feet, Mill Ends is an official city park.

So, what gives? Well, in 1948, the site was built for a light pole that never got installed. Over time, weeds began to sprout and one day a columnist for The Oregon Journal (whose office overlooked the median) planted flowers in the opening.

He named it after his column, Mill Ends, a reference to irregular leftovers at lumber mills. It wouldn’t Portland if it wasn’t weird, right? Regardless, this little park is one of the quirkiest facts about Portland.

Fun fact: The park’s sole tree was stolen in 2013 but promptly returned, presumably due to remorse.

You might enjoy reading: 12 Stunning Parks in Portland, Oregon

#3. We have one of the largest urban forests in the country

At 5,200 acres, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the country! The forest provides refuge for native plant species and wildlife, not to mention the great access to nature (there’s more than 80 miles of hiking trails).

Because the forest is so large, there’s 40 access points to various trails. The most popular trail in the forest is the 30-mile Wildwood Trail, which spans the length of Forest Park. I suggest hiking a small portion of the Wildwood Trail to see what all the fuss is about. Start at Pittock Mansion and hike over to the Witch’s Castle.

Further Reading: 17+ Epic Hikes Near Portland

#4. There’s a volcano within city limits

Portland is one of four American cities to have an extinct volcano within city limits. The culprit? Mount Tabor. Thankfully, Tabor is a dormant volcano, so it’s not expected to erupt.

If you’re interested, the other three cities in the United States that have extinct volcanoes are Bend (Oregon), Jackson (Mississippi) and Honolulu (Hawaii).

The best part about having a dormant volcano within a city? The views! In fact, Mt. Tabor has one of the best views of Portland. It’s hard to find a better spot for a summer picnic with friends.

Further Reading: 10 EPIC Portland Viewpoints to Check Off Your List

#5. Portland is the 3rd greenest city in America

According to a recent report by WalletHub, Portland is the 3rd greenest city in America. The survey collected data from the country’s 100 largest cities and used 28 key indicators of environmental friendliness and sustainability.

The survey took into account how well cities promoted green lifestyles, environmental-focused job opportunities per capita, greenhouse emissions per capita and energy policies and initiatives.

Further still, in 2020 Portland passed a green tax (Climate Justice Tax) which taxes large corporations and uses the funds for energy-efficiency initiatives in under-served communities. It’s the first city in America to pass such a tax, hard not to like that!

#6. The Portland Rose Garden is the oldest public rose garden in the U.S.

Portland is often referred to as the City of Roses because the local climate creates the perfect conditions for growing roses. Nowhere is this more evident than at the exceptional Portland Rose Garden within Washington Park, which is usually in bloom from May to October.

Home to an impressive 650+ varieties of roses and more than 10,000+ bushes, it’s easily one of the best free things to do in Portland. The history of the rose garden is equally fascinating.

Originally started in 1915 by Jesse Currey, (an Oregon Journal editor and rose hobbyist), the rose garden was created in an effort to preserve roses susceptible to eradication during World War I.

Location: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Further Reading: Visiting the Portland Rose Garden (Local’s Guide)

#7. Portland has the largest roost of Vaux’s Swifts in the world

Every September like clockwork, Chapman Elementary is swarmed with locals eager to watch a flock of migrating Vaux’s Swifts (sometimes 12,000 strong) dive into the school’s chimney for the night.

This is one of the largest roosts of Vaux Swifts in the world! Portlanders make an entire event out of this incredible sight. If you’d like to witness the swifts in Portland for yourself, visit Chapman Elementary School (located in NW Portland) about an hour before sunset any day in September.

Further Reading: How to see the famous swifts in Portland

#8. Powell’s is the largest independently-owned bookstore in the world

Spanning a full city block, Powell’s Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world. The local bookstore houses approximately one million books and spans 4 floors. Pop into the Gold Room to see the rarest and most expensive books at this incredible book shop.

Fun fact: The most expensive book at Powell’s is an 1814 copy of the Lewis & Clark Journal which includes Captain Lewis’ map safely tucked between the pages. The asking price? $350,000.

Read: Local’s Guide to Powell’s Books

#9. Portland is home to the second largest copper statue in America

At 35 feet high, the Portlandia Statue is the second-largest copper statue in America, second only to the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It’s located in the heart of downtown Portland.

The city commissioned Raymond Kaskey to create a sculpture of the figure depicted on the Portland seal (fun fact, he modeled the statue’s face after his wife). Kaskey completed sections of the statue near Washington D.C. and then shipped it to Portland piece by piece via boat.

It was assembled in Portland and finally installed on the Portland Building in 1985. You might ask yourself why such an iconic statue is not better known. Well, the sculptor guards the rights to the statue strictly and doesn’t allow photos of it to be used for commercial purposes.

However, the statue may look familiar to Portlandia fans because the show received permission to use the statue after hefty negotiations and an agreement not to use it in a “disparaging way.”

#10. Portland’s name was decided by a coin toss

Heads or tails? Most Portlanders already know this fun Portland fact, but just in case you don’t, here’s the story:

The founders of Portland (Oregon) were two settlers from New England. One from Boston (Massachusetts) and the other from Portland (Maine). Both settlers wanted to name the city after their respective home towns and decided to settle for a coin toss.

You can see the famous 1845 penny used to decide Portland’s name at the Oregon Historical Society. The museum is free for Multnomah County residents. If you’re not a resident, admission is $10 and worth every penny (some pun intended).

My husband and I visited the “other” Portland and had a fun time comparing the two cities. Read: Portland, Oregon vs. Portland, Maine.

#11. Portland International Airport (PDX) is considered one of the best in America

For seven years in a row, PDX has been named as the best domestic airport in the country by Travel & Leisure. And in 2019, Forbes named PDX the best large airport in America. As someone that flies frequently, I can attest that the Portland International Airport is a gem, I absolutely love flying in and out of the airport, itt’s always been hassle-free for me.

#12. Portland’s beer is the best in the nation

Of all the things Portland is known for, perhaps the most notable is Portland’s beer scene. In fact, Portland is often rated as the best beer city in America.

Our area of expertise? Craft beer and plenty of it. It’s almost impossible to be disappointed at most Portland breweries but there are some clear standouts you can’t afford to miss.

Breakside Brewing: Breakside opened with a bang in NW Portland and has become so well-loved it’s hard to remember what we did before they came to town.
10 Barrel Brewing (from Bend, Oregon): Their sours are worth writing home about and the seasonal salad is dream-worthy, especially if salmon is involved.
Deschutes Brewery: The interior alone is worth the visit, so charming and rustic. This brewery is very popular and gets very busy very quickly because it’s the brewery everyone wants to visit. It’s not uncommon for folks to wait in line for 2+ hours before being seated. Come early or have snacks to tide you over, the experience is worth it.

But does this fact about Portland really surprise you? How else would we get through the gray winter months?

#13. Hood to Coast is the longest (and largest) relay in the world

Did you know that Oregon’s annual Hood to Coast relay is the the longest and largest relay races in the world? The beloved relay starts at the base of Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge) and ends in Seaside, Oregon.

Known as the “mother of all relays” the race covers 196 miles with an average finish time of 28–34 hours. Typically taking place the Friday and Saturday before Labor Day weekend, Hood to Coast is so popular it has sold out for the past 36 years, usually on opening day.

#14. Portland is one of the best coffee cities in the country

Portland consistently ranks as one of the top 3 best coffee cities in America (our neighbors Seattle and San Francisco are always in the mix, too). And I can tell you from firsthand experience that locals are spoiled for choice.

It’s hard to accept a mediocre cup of joe when you live in Portland, which is why I highly recommend drinking as much coffee as you can while you’re visiting the city. I’ve been to most of the cafes in town, here’s a quick list of my favorites: Coava, Heart Coffee, Stumptown, Good Coffee and Barista.

#15. Portland is tied to the Simpsons

“Howdily-doodily, neighborino!” Few people know that the creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening, grew up in Portland, Oregon. As such, you may notice that a lot of the streets in NW Portland seem familiar.

The reason? A handful of Simpsons characters are named after Portland streets. So, if you’re looking for unique things to do in Portland, why not go on a self-guided tour and search for all the streets that the Simpsons characters are named after?

Further Reading: The Simpsons & the City of Portland

#16. Portland is ranked as the best city in America for vegans and vegetarians

In 2023, Forbes released a list of the best cities for vegetarians and vegans and Portland clocked in at #1, beating out Los Angeles and New York City, to the surprise of most.

Healthy living is a way of life in Portland and locals take great pride in sourcing/cooking with local and seasonal ingredients. Therefore, it doesn’t surprise me that we have so many restaurants catering to vegetarians and vegans.

#17. Stalin’s granddaughter runs an antique shop in Portland

Definitely saving the best fact about Portland for last. I’m not going to spoil the fun, here’s a New York Post article that answers ~~all~~ most of the questions you probably have.

Interesting Portland Facts (Post Summary)

In sum, here’s a quick list of the most interesting facts about Portland.

Portland is the most bike-friendly city in America
The creator of the Simpsons is from Portland
Portland is home to the smallest park in the world
And one of the urban forests in the country
The Portland International Rose Garden is the oldest rose garden in America
There’s a volcano within city limits
The largest roost of Vaux swifts come through Portland
Ranked as the best city in America for vegans and vegetarians
Portland is the 9th greenest city in America
The Portland International Airport is considered one of the best in the country
Portland is home to the second largest copper statue in America
The city’s name was decided by a coin toss
Powell’s Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world
Portland is ranked as one of the best coffee cities in the world
Hood to Coast is the longest relay in the world
The oldest public rose garden is in Portland
Stalin’s granddaughter lives in Portland

Love Portland? Here’s some articles you may find interesting

I hope you enjoyed this quick list of interesting facts about Portland! Did you learn anything new? Do you know any interesting Portland facts that should be added to the list? If so, let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

Antonina