Portland Apartments and Rentals

Portland Oregon is one of those cities that lives large in the national imagination. The City of Roses, as it's called, gets respect for its music scene, its laid-back attitude, and its excellent micro-brewed beer. Considering that it's one of the West Coast's largest metropolises, this place still feels like a big town-and one resistant to overwhelming urbanization at that. So, if you're up for a Portland apartment, expect an eco-friendly experience in the company of forward-thinking, alternative-minded people.

As far as Europeans are concerned, the first travelers to this area were Lewis and Clark. They sailed along the Columbia River in 1805. Settlers followed shortly thereafter and Portland was incorporated by 1851. The city boomed with the blue-collar goodness of lumber, steel, and railroads. When the 1970s came around, Portland earned an impressive reputation for progressive urban planning. The counter-culture took root, spurring creative outpourings in music, publishing, activism, and-after a while-dot com development.

Today, Portland is a pretty patchwork of interesting neighborhoods, many of which are worth your attention. Downtown serves as the heart of the city, particularly Pioneer Square with its modern condos and museums. Old Town marks the site of the original settlement and keeps things lively with an active nightlife. The Pearl District is trendy, mansions dot the maze-like streets of West Hills, and Hollywood.

Portland is, unfortunately, a tough job market. This is because so many people keep moving to this appealing city. There is hope, however. Intel is the city's largest employer and it's just one of 1,200 technology companies in the area. Adidas also bases its North American operations in Portland, along with Nike, Columbia Sportswear, and Keen, Inc. The steel industry does well in Portland still, as do logistics and shipping companies.

For those in search of an education, the City of Roses offers up a handful of colleges and universities. Portland State University, the University of Portland, Reed College, and Lewis & Clark College are some of the better-known examples.

Things will cost you more than the national norm in this city, but prices aren't too out of sight. If you're looking for a place to call home, expect to pay around $1,221 a month for a two-bedroom Portland apartment. Over a third of residents here are renters. About six percent of properties are available at any given time.

The City of Roses doesn't slack when it comes to entertainment. Many residents here pass on tourist attractions-of which there are many-to hit indie rock shows, zine release parties, or other smaller-scale affairs. Among the highlights of Portland's sights, try the International Rose Test Garden, the oldest of its kind in the country. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Portland Art Museum are also both popular stops. Another point of Portland pride is Powell's City of Books, an entire block filled with more then 1.5 million new and used things to read.

If you'd rather spend some time outside, biking and running are popular Portland pastimes. Forest Park is just the largest of many green spaces within the city limits. If you prefer to watch other people exert themselves, grab tickets to watch the Portland Timbers play soccer or the Trail Blazers shoot some hoops.

There are a few particularly Portland-style special events that enliven the local calendar each year. The PDX Soapbox Derby offers spectators an eyeful of insanity on wheels. The Portland Rose Festival turns the waterfront into a carnival for weeks of parades and other parties. The Portland Jazz Festival is in February, the Stumptown Comics Festival hits in April, the Oregon Brewers Festival happens in July, and Wordstock fills October with live literary workshops and readings.

If your heart is set on a Portland apartment, you've come to the right site. Rent.com® has the listings you need to get settled in a City of Roses home.