Portland City Map Poster

About Portland

"Keep Portland Weird" is an unofficial slogan for the city.During its first century, the city's growth was slow—it spread across 40 square miles (100 km2) and was populated by less than 10,000 people in 1850. However, through land reclamation and annexation of surrounding areas in subsequent decades, Portland developed into a bustling metropolis by 1900. The city annexed Ladd's Addition in 1905; named after Charles Ladd with support from his son-in-law William S. Ladd Jr., who would go on to serve as mayor of Portland three times; created the multi-commissioned government that runs today; and implemented a new plan for streets (the "Alphabet Districts") which still remains largely intact today despite heavy development pressure since World War II . In 1931 it opened its first subway line , which has consistently been voted one of America's best public transportation systems ever since .