As population growth and an area home-building boom have demonstrated, people from all over are choosing to call the Portland-Vancouver Metro Area home. No wonder! As you will begin to see when you explore this website further, the beauty of the region and its wonderful quality of life can't be matched!
Below is just some of the special recognition the area has recently received:
> Named "The Best Place To Live In The USA", Money Magazine, 2001 > No. 5 on list of "100 Fabulous Places for 2001", Travel + Leisure > No. 2 on "big cities" list of "The 50 Best Places To Live", Men's Journal, 2004 > Among the "Top 20 Best Places To Work" in America, Employment Review > No. 1 out of the 50 top metropolitan areas for women-owned businesses, Center for Women's Business Research, 2001 > Named "Most Kid-friendly City in USA", Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card, 2001 > Among the "10 Greatest Places To Live", Outside Magazine > No. 1 in resident satisfaction on a city survey by eGrad > Named "Best City For Bicycling In The USA", Bicycling Magazine, 2001 > No. 11 out of 50 metro areas ranked on 16 fitness categories, Men's Fitness Magazine, 2002 > Named one of the "Top Ten American Walking Cities", Walking Magazine > No. 2 on an Utne Reader list of "Most Enlightened" towns > More "Wi-Fi" (wireless fidelity network) locations per capita than any other city in USA, 2003 > No. 18 out of 83 metro areas for the least urban sprawl, Smart Growth America report, 2002 > No. 1 "Big-City Recycler", Waste News, 2001 > No. 3 on list of "Pet Healthiest Cities" in the USA, Purina Pet Institute
These descriptive pages on metro area counties, cities, and towns, as well as the surrounding countryside, are intended to help you become better acquainted with the region and to begin, in effect, to know your way around and be able to identify communities that might best match your wants and needs. The Portland-Vancouver Metro Area consists primarily of four counties: Multnomah, Clark, Washington, and Clackamas. As growth moves outward from the city centers, neighboring counties, such as Cowlitz County, are increasingly being considered as a place to call home for those in the area as well as newcomers. Others are choosing to settle in the Columbia River Gorge in Skamania County and other river or coastal communities in SW Washington's Wahkiakum and Pacific counties as well as other outlying areas.
Clark County, WA: Population: 358,000 Area: 656 square miles Includes: Vancouver, Battleground, Camas, Ridgefield, Hockinson, La Center, Washougal, Brush Prairie, Yacolt, and Amboy
Multnomah County, OR: Population: 338,260 Area: 1,879 square miles Includes: Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village
Washington County, OR: Population: 445,345 Area: 727 square miles Includes: Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Durham, Tualatin, Sherwood, Forest Grove, North Plains, Banks, Cornelius
Clackamas County, OR: Population: 338,260 Area: 1,879 square miles Includes: Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Gladstone, West Linn, Wilsonville, Oregon City, Molalla, Sandy, Canby, Estacada, Happy Valley
Cowlitz County, WA: Population: Area: Includes: Woodland, Kalama, Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock
Note: While this site emphasizes SW Washington, especially Clark County (Portland's immediate neighbor to the north, just across the Columbia River), MoveToSWWA.com also facilitates easy access to more information on Portland's principal tri-county area. Also, though to a lesser extent, you will be able to learn about other nearby parts of the region, from the Columbia River Gorge on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west, and Mount St. Helen's to the north. So go on, explore! And have fun!
