Tides & Towns
Lower Columbia · OR

Portland

The coin-toss city where the Willamette meets the Columbia.

Population
652,503 (2020 census)
Named
1845
Incorporated
1851

Then

  1. Before 1843

    The Multnomah and Clackamas bands of Chinook people live along the rivers.

  2. 1843

    William Overton shares his claim on "The Clearing" with Asa Lovejoy for 25 cents.

  3. 1845

    Francis Pettygrove wins a coin toss with Lovejoy, two out of three, and gets to name the town.

  4. 1851

    Portland incorporates with over 800 people.

  5. WWII

    Kaiser shipyards build Liberty ships and escort carriers, and the population grows by over 150,000.

  6. 1948

    The Vanport flood displaces many residents.

Now

Portland is Oregon's largest city. The tide reaches up the Columbia past the city, and this place also covers the Washington shore at Washougal and Beacon Rock.

3 tide stations around Portland

Sources