Portland Metro
The Portland Metro area is home to about 1.8 million people, almost half of Oregon’s population. It spans three counties and is located at the mighty confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The Willamette Valley is known for its deep, fertile soils caused by the Ice Age Missoula floods which deposited many layers of sediment in the valley while helping to carve the nearby Columbia River Gorge. There are countless opportunities for outdoor recreation nearby including Mt Hood National Forest, Mt St Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, coastal beaches and forests, and the agricultural & wildlife refuges of Sauvie Island. Portland is known for its commitment to sustainability, its dynamic food culture, and its support for local agriculture. There are around 50 farmers markets in the Metro area and a thriving CSA. Beyond the larger cities in the area (Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham) a multitude of smaller towns anchor the surrounding agricultural landscapes providing vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat, eggs, dairy, and nursery crops.
