No. Portland is a city, not a state. The Portland almost everyone means is in Oregon, postal code OR, where it is the largest city while the capital is Salem. There is a second Portland in Maine, and it is that state's largest city too.
| State | Oregon |
|---|---|
| USPS code | OR |
| Capital | Salem |
| Largest city | Portland |
| Region | West, Pacific division |
| Statehood | February 14, 1859, the 33rd state |
| Nickname | Beaver State |
| Motto | Alis volat propriis |
| Electoral votes | 8 |
| Area rank | 9th of 50 |
Why this question gets asked
Portland is a harder case than most city names, and for reasons you can point at.
- There are two famous Portlands. Anyone who has heard both without a state attached ends up treating the word itself as the unit of geography. The tiebreaker is simple: Portland, Oregon is on the Pacific side, Portland, Maine is on the Atlantic side.
- Neither Portland is a capital. Oregon governs from Salem, Maine governs from Augusta. So in both states the recognizable name is the one with no statehouse in it, and the capital never shows up to correct the record.
- The word "state" is attached to it already. Portland State University sits in the middle of the city, and Oregon State is a separate university elsewhere in the state. Seeing "Portland State" in a scoreline or a mailing address plants the idea before anyone asks the question.
- The metro crosses a state line. Portland sits where the Willamette meets the Columbia, and the Columbia is the Oregon and Washington border, so the built-up area carries on into a second state. A place that spans a border reads like something bigger than a city.
- The abbreviation disappears. Oregon shortens to OR, which is also an ordinary English word, so "Portland, OR" is easy to read straight past without registering a state name at all.
Portland, Oregon compared with Portland, Maine
| Portland, OR | Portland, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| State | Oregon | Maine |
| State capital | Salem | Augusta |
| Largest city in its state | Yes | Yes |
| Statehood | 1859, 33rd | 1820, 23rd |
| Coast | Pacific | Atlantic |
The near answers people give instead
- Salem. Oregon's actual capital, south of Portland in the Willamette Valley. Smaller than Portland and far less quoted, which is why it rarely comes to mind first.
- Seattle. The other big Pacific Northwest name, and also not a state. Seattle is in Washington, which governs from Olympia.
- Oregon itself. Some people have the pair but not the order. Oregon is the state, Portland is a city inside it.
What Oregon actually is
Oregon joined the Union on February 14, 1859 as the 33rd state, and ranks 9th in area. Its nickname is the Beaver State and its motto is "Alis volat propriis", Latin for she flies with her own wings.
The state charges no statewide sales tax, one of a small group that does not. Its coast is on the Pacific, the Cascade Range and its volcanoes run down the middle, and the Pacific Crest Trail crosses it end to end. The state tree is the Douglas Fir, the bird the Western Meadowlark, the flower the Oregon Grape. Oregon carries 8 electoral votes, and no US president has been born there.
Filling in a form or a quiz
- City: Portland
- County: Multnomah County
- State: Oregon
- State abbreviation (USPS): OR
- State capital: Salem, not Portland
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Is Portland a state?
No, Portland is a US city in Oregon.
What is the capital of Oregon?
The capital of Oregon is Salem. The largest city is Portland.
Which Portland is bigger?
Portland, Oregon, by a wide margin. It heads a state ranked 9th in area, while Portland, Maine heads one ranked 39th.
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.