Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Portland, Oregon
State Oregon
City Portland
County1 Multnomah*
City Population (2005)2 513,627 14.4% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 30 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 30 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Salem
State Population (2005)2 3,560,109
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Tom Potter
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 503-823-4120
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 4, 2008
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Ted Kulongoski
State/Governor Website http://www.oregon.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 503-378-3111
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.21    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 14.4%    
     Disability Status 15.3% 38  
     Emphysema 1.20% 41  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.64% 49  
     Diabetes 5.16% 45  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.52% 50  
     Adult Asthma 9.96% 67  
     Adult Obesity 20.7%   29
     People Without Health Insurance 16.4%   36
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.6% 15  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.7% 36  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 16.0% 17  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 12.2% 60  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 28.1% 63  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 7.9% 33  
     Individuals Below Poverty 16.5% 31  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 15.7% 21  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 39.1% 15  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 18.8% 39  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.2    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 24.7 (of 51) 25  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 36,707,911 pounds   23
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 22,330,529 pounds 21
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 377,884 pounds 6
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 234,085,484 pounds 22
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 232,514,579 pounds 21
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 33.3 grams 24
Number of Superfund Sites in County 5 sites 56  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.185 tons per person 39
Recycling Rate (1997) 28.0% 21
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 4,325,290 tons 23
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.2 tons/person 15
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 1,981,369 tons 18
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 45.8% 1
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 3.6% 20
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 1.3% 15
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 63.6% 3
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    1.7***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 12,300 tons   8
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 8,800 tons   7
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 7,607,600 tons   8
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 200.0 pounds   9
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 1.7 PM2.5 31  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 8.5 PM2.5 8  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 1.3 PM2.5 32  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 8.7 PM2.5 8  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 1 ppm 1  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.017 ppm 23  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 26 ug/m3 24  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.003 ppm 15  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 0 days 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.5***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Lower Willamette ---  
# of Units in Watershed (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Assessed Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened (Not Available) 1  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed (Not Available) 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 36.30 inches 35  
Water Area Total, square miles 1,129 square miles 42  
Water Area Inland, square miles 1,050 square miles 34  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 80 square miles 31  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Portland ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 58 years 22  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 152 days 5  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Portland ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 55 years 34  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 6.5 inches 40  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 7,910,000,000 gallons/day 37  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 2,520,000,000 gallons/day 9  
Ground water, gallons/day 1,050,000,000 gallons/day 34  
Surface water, gallons/day 6,860,000,000 gallons/day 36  
Irrigation, gallons/day 6,170,000,000 gallons/day 23  
Public Supply, gallons/day 572,000,000 gallons/day 47  
Industrial, gallons/day 379,000,000 gallons/day 37  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 9,000,000,000 gallons/day 70  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 3,210,000,000 gallons/day 25  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Portland Bureau of Water Works ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 456,000 people 38  
Year(s) Included in Summary 2001-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 8 contaminants 9  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 2 contaminants 16  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 6 contaminants 18  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 2 contaminants 6  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 5 contaminants 18  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 8 contaminants 9  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 75 contaminants 49  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 73 contaminants 44  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 2 contaminants 58  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.5***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 3,939.2 people per square mile 27  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,766.7 housing units per square mile 23  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 23.1 minutes 35  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 23.5 minutes 49  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 11.9% 51  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 12.3% 14  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 7.0% 15  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 4.3% 3  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 109.8 54  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 86.0 MV registrations   29
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 47.1%   32
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 43.4 MV registrations   16
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.18 MV registrations   27
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 65,951 miles   21
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.156%   10
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 16.8%   31
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.03 miles   29
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 21.55 miles   28
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $983,000,000   18
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $14,905 per mile   12
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 10.7%   3
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 20.0 hours per person 24  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $341 per person 25  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $569,000,000 29  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 13 gallons per person 27  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $41,128 24  
Median Household Income (2000) $40,146 19  
Per capita income (2004) $24,751 20  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $22,643 19  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 11.2% 27  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 13.1% 24  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.5% 31  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 4.3% 40  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 15.7% 21  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 22,632 people 41  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 5.5% 38  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.9% 33  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 4.5% 42  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 6.5% 41  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 18.0% 33  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 17.7% 36  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $7.50 per hour 2  
EDUCATION
 
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 78,942 kids (2.2% of total pop.) 37  
Largest School District Enrollment 53,141 kids (1.2% of total pop.) 39  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 39.1% 15  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 71.9% 7  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 87.8% 13  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 37.8% 11  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 16% 17  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 227,233 units 26  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 42.3% 43  
Cost of Living: Housing 126.2 51  
Cost of Living: Utilities 79.6 4  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 105.0 54  
Cost of Living: Overall 111.5 46  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 70.50%   6
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 52.20%   4
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 70.50%   8
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 33.1%   15
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,371.8 incidents per 100,000 people 58  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 741.8 incidents per 100,000 people 30  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 7,630.0 incidents per 100,000 people 58  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 8,506.8 incidents per 100,000 people 56  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 2.8    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 1.5 parks per square mile 15  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 74.6 park acres per city square mile 8  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 24.5 acres 11  
Parkland as % of City Area 15.1% 9  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $99 per resident 31  
Total City Tree Canopy % 22.1% 14  
Total City Urbanized Area % 57.9% 34  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks No ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.8    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.52% 50
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.96% 67
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.19% 56
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.20% 41
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.64% 49
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.16% 45  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 20.7% 29
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 9.5% 37
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 15.0% 36
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 5.8% 11
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 197.2 26
Cost of Living: Health 121.7 57  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 17.0% 39
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 16.4% 36
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -3.5% 16
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.6% 10
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 40 farms 2
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 23 markets 16
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 21 restaurants 1
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 4 grocery stores 11
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 10 other sources 6
Cost of Living: Food 101.2 32
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 75.1% 34
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 50.0% 59
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    2.8***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 25 kW   21
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 25 kW   28
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds support Energy Effeciency & Renewable Energy   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 70.2%   3
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 47 years 32
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 39% 58
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.9 mph 47
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10 mph 24
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.6 mph 37
Heating Degree Days 4,522 days 27
Cooling Degree Days 371 days 7
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 58 years 5
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 85% 53
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 59% 35
Elevation, feet 39 feet 14
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 513,627 30 (of 72 in EDN study) 14.4% of state population
City Population (2000) 529,121 28 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 3,560,109 27 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region West ---  
EPA Region 10 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 134.0 square miles 34 0.2% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 96,002 square miles 10  
Watershed Name Lower Willamette ---  
Elevation, feet 39 ft. (11.9 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 39.9°F (4.4°C) 32
Average Daily Temperature - July 68.1°F (20.1°C) 6  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 36.2 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 78.3% 13  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.7% 36  
Under 5 years of age 34,855 kids (6.6% of total pop.) 32  
One Race-White % (2005) 79.5% 14  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 20.5% 59  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 8.4% 43  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 18.8% 34  
Largest School District Name City of Portland Public Schools ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network