Portland is not a US state. It is a city in the state of Oregon. Portland is the largest city in Oregon. (There's also a smaller Portland in Maine — people sometimes confuse the two.) The state is Oregon (capital: Salem).
Oregon at a glance
USPS code: OR
Capital: Salem
Largest city: Portland
Region: West
Year admitted: 1859
Why people ask this
"Is Portland a state?" gets searched thousands of times a year. There are three common reasons:
- City is more famous than its state. Travelers see "Portland" on flights, news, sports, and TV — but the state name comes up less often.
- The US has 50 states + many big cities, so it's easy to lose track. Only 17 of the 50 capitals are the largest city of their state — meaning a famous city is usually not the capital.
- People learning US geography from scratch (non-Americans, kids, ESL learners) need a quick disambiguation page like this one. You're welcome.
Quick reference: Portland vs Oregon
If you ever need to fill in a form or quiz:
- City: Portland
- State: Oregon
- State abbreviation (USPS): OR
- State capital: Salem
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Is Portland a state?
No — Portland is a US city in Oregon.
What state is Portland in?
Portland is in Oregon.
What is the capital of Oregon?
The capital of Oregon is Salem. The largest city is Portland.
How many cities does Oregon have?
Oregon has dozens of incorporated cities and towns. The largest is Portland. See all of Oregon's major cities and facts.