Thursday, March 12, 2009

Portland Makes Grown Men Cry

By James Gilbert Pynn

One of the many emeralds in the sparkling crown of the Pacific Northwest is Portland, Oregon. Though overshadowed by Seattle to the north and Vancouver, even farther north, Portland has remained a vibrant, thriving city. It is the third most populous city in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle and Vancouver, and the largest city in the state.

Born of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland has the distinction of being one of the fifteen greenest cities in the United States according to the Environmental News and Commentary. It is home to approximately two million residents, making it the 23rd most populous metropolitan area in the United States.

Portland is home to some of the most influential and remarkable manufacturers in the nation. Among the stellar companies calling the city home are Nike, Intel, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear. Although these purveyors of modern American comfort and expediency abound, Portland has historically been known as a purveyor of wheat.

Portland is the single largest shipper of wheat in the United States. Indeed, it is the second largest wheat port in the world. The port handles well over 13 million tons of cargo a year. Consequently, it is home to the largest dry dock in the nation and is considered the third largest port in America.

Wheat aside, Portland is best know, culturally at least, as the home of the Portland Trail Blazers. Though the team has only ever won one championship in its forty-year history, it has placed the City of Roses on the national map. Though sports are popular in Portland, the NBA is the only major sports franchise to call the city home. The city is an artistic and cultural pulse point, offering tourists a wealth of museums, galleries, and live venues to enjoy. Subsequently, the Portland, Oregon hotels available to visitors and tourists alike are as vast as they are accommodating.

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