Nicknames of Portland, Oregon

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There are several well-known and commonly used nicknames referring to Portland, Oregon.

Contents

Nicknames

City of Roses

The official, [1] and also most common, nickname for Portland is The City of Roses [1] [2] [3] or Rose City. [4] The first known reference to Portland as "The City of Roses" was made by visitors to an 1888 Episcopal Church convention.[ citation needed ]

In 1889, the Portland Rose Society was founded, and promoted the planting of 20 miles (32 km) of Portland's streets with roses in advance of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. [5] The nickname grew in popularity after the exposition, where Mayor Harry Lane suggested that the city needed a "festival of roses." [2]

The nickname is often attributed to Leo Samuel, [6] who founded the Oregon Life Insurance Company in 1906 (known today as Standard Insurance Company). Samuel, who moved to Portland in 1871, [7] grew roses outside his home. He placed a pair of shears outside his garden so people could snip a rose from his garden to take for themselves. This encouraged other people and businesses to plant their own roses outside their homes and business. Today, roses are still planted outside the Standard Insurance Company's home office building in downtown Portland.

The first Portland Rose Festival was held in 1907, and remains the city's major annual festival more than a century later. [5] In 1917, the International Rose Test Garden was established, and it now features more than 7,000 rose plants of 550 varieties. It is the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States.

The "City of Roses" nickname inspired the name for the four-year-old female Asian elephant who arrived in 1953, Rosy. The first elephant ever to live in Oregon, she remained the matriarch of the Oregon Zoo's herd and gave birth to six calves before her death in 1993. [8] On August 31, 1994, her daughter Me-Tu became the first elephant in North America to have twins. On August 23, 2008, her granddaughter Rose-Tu (the surviving twin) gave birth to Samudra, the first third-generation elephant born in the United States.

On June 18, 2003, the city council unanimously approved a resolution adopting "City of Roses" as the city's official nickname. [1] [2]

Stumptown

Stumptown was coined in a period of phenomenal growth in Portland after 1847. The city was growing so rapidly that the stumps of trees were left behind until manpower could be spared to remove them. In some areas the stumps remained for so long that locals whitewashed them to make them more visible. They also used them to cross the street without sinking into the mud. [9] [10] Captain John C. Ainsworth commented that there were "more stumps than trees" in Portland in the early 1850s. [9] [11]

Rip City

The nickname Rip City is usually used in the context of the city's NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers. [12] The term was coined by the team's play-by-play announcer Bill Schonely during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 18, 1971, the Blazers' first season. [13] In the days prior to the three-point field goal, Blazers guard Jim Barnett took an ill-advised long-distance shot that nonetheless went in, giving the new team hope for a victory against the powerful Lakers. Excited, Schonely exclaimed "Rip City Baby!" Schonely admits that he has no idea how he came up with the expression, but it became synonymous with the team and the city of Portland. [14]

Beervana

This nickname reflects the wide variety of craft beers brewed in Portland and throughout the state of Oregon. [15] [16]

PDX

The city of Portland is nicknamed PDX after the International Air Transport Association airport code for the Portland International Airport which is within the city limits. For example, the domain name for Portland State University of pdx.edu was chosen in 1987, since psu.edu had already been given to Pennsylvania State University in the previous year. [17] As well, many Portland businesses include pdx in their web sites' domain names to denote their Portland location.[ citation needed ] Although licensed in adjacent Vancouver, WA, KPDX-TV's call letter reflect this nickname.

Ordinary or obscure nicknames

City of Churches

Sunday Oregonian November 12, 1899.jpg

Portland was once compared with Brooklyn, New York, whose official nickname was "city of churches", by the Sunday Oregonian as seen on the front page of its November 12, 1899 issue of which a reproduction can be seen on the outside of the Oregonian's building. It reads, "On the Pacific coast, Portland occupies the same relative position as that of Brooklyn on the Atlantic seaboard and might well be called "a city of churches"...Wherever the stranger wanders here he will see steeples pointing heavenward, in the very midst of one of the most pleasing landscapes in all the world, embracing, as it does the comprehensive view of river and vale, hill and mountain, farm and fruit orchard, city and country—all combined." [18]

In more recent years Portland is considered one of the least churched major cities in the United States. [19]

Little Beirut

Staffers of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush used to refer to Portland as Little Beirut because of the protesters he encountered during his visits. [20] [21] [22]

Forbidden City of the West

Portland has been referred to as the Forbidden City of the West, an allusion to Beijing's Forbidden City. The city received the nickname due to its history of Shanghaiing and the legends that such actions took place in the city's Shanghai tunnels. [23]

P-Town

Portland is sometimes called P-Town by some locals. [24] [25] [26]

Bridge City or Bridgetown

The City of Portland is bisected by the Willamette River. Twelve Portland bridges span the Willamette River. Because of the many bridges, Portland has earned the nickname Bridge City. [27]

Soccer City USA

Portland is home to a very successful MLS franchise, the Portland Timbers and a very successful NWSL franchise, the Portland Thorns. The Portland Timbers hosted the 2021 MLS Cup. The Portland Thorns have won three NWSL Championships, most recently in 2022.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland, Oregon</span> Largest city in Oregon, United States

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, it is the county seat of Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous county. As of 2020, Portland's population was 652,503, making it the 26th-most populous city in the United States, the sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle. Approximately 2.5 million people live in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WA metropolitan statistical area, making it the 25th most populous in the United States. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Trail Blazers</span> National Basketball Association team in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Trail Blazers are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team played its home games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to the Moda Center in 1995. The franchise entered the league as an expansion team in 1970, and has enjoyed a strong following: from 1977 through 1995, the team sold out 814 consecutive home games, the longest such streak in American major professional sports at the time, and which has only since been surpassed by the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Mavericks. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team based in the Pacific Northwest, after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis and became the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 and the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moda Center</span> Sports arena in Portland, Oregon

Moda Center, formerly known as the Rose Garden, is the primary indoor sports arena in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is used for basketball, ice hockey, rodeos, circuses, conventions, ice shows, concerts, and dramatic productions. The arena has a capacity of 19,393 spectators when configured for basketball. It is equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics and other amenities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)</span> Multi-use indoor arena in Portland, Oregon

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena located in the oldest part of the Rose Quarter area in Portland, Oregon. The arena is the home of the Portland Winterhawks, a major junior ice hockey team, and was the original home of the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. It has been included on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Providence Park</span> Sports stadium in Portland, Oregon, United States

Providence Park is an outdoor soccer venue located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. It has existed in rudimentary form since 1893, and as a complete stadium since 1926. Providence Park is currently the oldest facility to be configured as a soccer-specific stadium for use by a MLS team, and is one of the most historic grounds used by any United States professional soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Schonely</span> American sports announcer (1929–2023)

William W. Schonely, nicknamed "The Schonz", was an American sports broadcaster who was the play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers for almost three decades, from the team's launch in 1970 until 1998. A native of Pennsylvania, he worked in radio in Louisiana and Seattle before settling in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his work for the Blazers, he was a sportscaster for Major League Baseball games, several minor league baseball teams, college sports, National Hockey League games, and junior ice hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPOJ</span> Radio station in Portland, Oregon

KPOJ is a radio station serving the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon and neighboring Washington. It airs a sports format, and is affiliated with Fox Sports Radio. Its transmitter is located in Sunnyside, Oregon, and its studios are in Tigard, Oregon. The station is owned by iHeartMedia.

Henry Merritt Paulson III is an American businessman who is the minority owner of Peregrine Sports, LLC, which owns the operating rights to the Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. He and his company also founded and formerly owned Portland Thorns FC, a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team; both clubs are based in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Garden arena bankruptcy</span>

The Rose Garden bankruptcy occurred in 2004 when the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon was the subject and primary asset in a bankruptcy filing, shifting ownership of the arena from billionaire Paul Allen to a consortium of creditors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roses in Portland, Oregon</span> History of roses in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

The city of Portland, Oregon is ideal for growing roses outdoors due to its location within the marine west coast climate region, its warm, dry summers and rainy but mild winters, and its heavy clay soils. Portland has been known as the City of Roses, or Rose City, since 1888, after Madame Caroline Testout, a large pink variety of hybrid tea rose bred in France, was introduced to the city. Thousands of rose bushes were planted, eventually lining 200 miles (320 km) of Portland's streets in preparation for the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Thorns FC</span> Soccer team and National Womens Soccer League franchise in Portland, Oregon

The Portland Thorns FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which received support from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

The 2013 season was the Portland Thorns' inaugural season in the newly created National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's professional soccer in the United States. The Thorns ended the 22-game regular season with a 10-6-6 record, qualifying them for the NWSL playoffs. In their semi-final game the team beat FC Kansas City 3-2 in extra time, qualifying them to play Western New York Flash in the championship. The Thorns beat the Flash 2–0, making Portland Thorns FC the NWSL champion.

<i>Frank E. Beach Memorial Fountain</i> 1975 stainless steel fountain and sculpture in Portland, Oregon

The Frank E. Beach Memorial Fountain, officially titled Water Sculpture, is an abstract 1975 stainless steel fountain and sculpture by artist Lee Kelly and architect James Howell, installed in Washington Park's International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon. The memorial commemorates Frank E. Beach, who christened Portland the "City of Roses" and proposed the Rose Festival. It was commissioned by the Beach family and cost approximately $15,000. Previously administered by the Metropolitan Arts Commission, the work is now part of the City of Portland and Multnomah County Public Art Collection courtesy of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

Stumptown Comics Fest was a comic book convention, held annually in Portland, Oregon from 2004–2013. In the model of the Alternative Press Expo and the Small Press Expo, Stumptown was a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to expose the public to comics not typically accessible through normal commercial channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose City Riveters</span> Independent supporters group of Portland Timbers soccer club

The Rose City Riveters is the supporters' group of Portland Thorns FC, Portland's National Women's Soccer League club.

The 2020 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's and the league's eighth season of existence. The Thorns played in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 12, 2020 the Thorns canceled their preseason tournament, scheduled for March 29-April 4. On March 20, 2020, the NWSL postponed the start of the league's regular season indefinitely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Bixby</span> American soccer player

Annabella Madeleine Bixby is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Portland Thorns FC.

Marissa Everett is an American retired soccer player who played as a forward for Portland Thorns FC.

The 2022 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's tenth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

The 2021 Portland Thorns FC season was the team's ninth season as a professional women's soccer team. Thorns FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stern, Henry (June 19, 2003). "Name comes up roses for P-town: City Council sees no thorns in picking ‘City of Roses’ as Portland's moniker". The Oregonian , p. D1.
  2. 1 2 3 "City Flower". City of Portland Auditor's Office. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Moniker List". Tagline Guru. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Queen City". Time . January 30, 1928. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "International Rose Test Garden – Washington Park". Portland Parks & Recreation . Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ "StanCorp Financial History Page" . Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Elephant matriarch Rosy dies at 43". (January 29, 1993). The Oregonian, p. C1.
  9. 1 2 MacColl, E. Kimbark (1979). The Growth of a City: Power and Politics in Portland, Oregon 1915–1950. Portland, Oregon: The Georgian Press. ISBN   0-9603408-1-5.
  10. ↑ "From Robin's Nest to Stumptown". End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Archived from the original on September 1, 2000. Retrieved November 7, 2006.
  11. ↑ MacColl cites the "4 March 1877, entry in 'Autobiographical Account', John C. Ainsworth Papers, OHS; Oregonian; 4 December 1900"
  12. ↑ Jaynes, Dwight (June 5, 2007). "The day Rip City ruled the Rose City". The Portland Tribune . Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Bill Schonely Returns to Blazers". National Basketball Association. September 10, 2003. Archived from the original on November 18, 2003. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  14. ↑ Quick, Jason (October 14, 2009). "Ill-advised shot from feisty guard leaves indelible mark on Blazers". The Oregonian . Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  15. ↑ Beervana opb.org
  16. ↑ Freewheeling Portland, Oregon USA Today , 2008-08-14
  17. ↑ Freedman, David H (1997). At Large: The Strange Case of the World's Biggest Internet Invasion . Simon and Schuster. p.  101. ISBN   978-0-684-82464-2.
  18. ↑ "Portland's Churches and Churchgoers". Sunday Oregonian. November 12, 1899.
  19. ↑ See, for example, Antonia Blumberg, "The 30 Least Religious Cities In The United States" Huffington Post website, citing Joanna Piacenza, Robert P. Jones, "The Top Two Religious Groups That Dominate American Cities", Public Religion Research Institute website (last accessed 1 January 2021)
  20. ↑ McCall, William (August 18, 2003). "'Little Beirut' nickname has stuck". The Oregonian .
  21. ↑ McCall, William (August 18, 2003). "Portland police, activists get ready for Bush's visit". The Seattle Times . Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  22. ↑ Perry, Douglas (May 18, 2019). "'Little Beirut' legacy: 21 of the most memorable protests in Portland history". The Oregonian . Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  23. ↑ Mellema, Valerie (March 2008). "Portland Underground: Shanghai Tunnels – Legends of America". Legends of America. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  24. ↑ Hagestedt, Andre (April 7, 2009). "The Missing Oregon Coast: Waves After Dark" . Retrieved April 30, 2009. I'm used to seeing that hint of dawn back in P-town, with my wretched habit of playing video games until 6 a.m
  25. ↑ Griffin, Anna (April 24, 2007). "Free bikes failed, so P-town thinks rentals". The Oregonian . Retrieved April 30, 2009. The city of Portland soon could become the Hertz, Avis and Enterprise of the bicycling business
  26. ↑ Nkrumah, Wade (March 31, 2005). "P-town grinds toward skate park legitimacy". The Oregonian . Retrieved April 30, 2009. Skateboarders are abuzz over plans for Portland's first city-funded skate parks
  27. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (June 2016). "Portland's nicknames, explained". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
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