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First of all, I have only visited each place once so while I have a decent impression I certainly don't think my opinion is immune to change.
Anyhow, a lot of this is going to reference personal preferences. These are two cities that I like. If you told me I had to live in one of them long term, the choice would be Oregon. It's a bigger city with far more amenities and much better Asian cuisine (which is a seriously important factor for us). Winter is more moderate and there would be more opportunities for my family. Location is also a bit better for us.
That said, Maine is the one that I really want to spend time in. I'm planning to do a few weeks in the summer there soon, and I can definitely see us spending lots of summers there in the future. Portland, ME is a place I would actually want to live on a seasonal basis. We avoid the winter weather, get to enjoy the festivities, vibrancy, and portions of lobster season. In small doses it won't feel too small. There's just something about it that makes it more of a special place to be imo.
And so, when it comes down to it, although I would rather LIVE LIVE in Portland, OR than Portland, ME, the truth is neither is a top choice. If I were going to relocate to the west coast, LA, SF, SD, Seattle, and Vancouver are all ahead of Portland for us. However, Portland, ME is actually a place that I hope and plan to "live" in temporarily/seasonally, so it should be the winner for me.
I've not been to Portland, Ore., yet, but Oregon seems to have Issues with people who look like me, though I understand that in Portland, they're doing their best to bury that past.
I should really visit someday. Besides, I need to ride MAX.
I have, however, been to Portland, Me., and found it absolutely delightful. It's a small city that feels as lively as a city three times its size, if not more (by comparison, Manchester, N.H., is bigger but blander). I suspect the culinary scene in the Oregon city is more diverse, but lobster!
Maine's current Governor may be a kook, but I think this is a temporary affliction.
Gimme Portland, Me., please.
BTW, you all do know, do you not, that the Oregon Portland was first settled by New Englanders who gave it that name because the terrain there reminded them of the Maine one?
I've not been to Portland, Ore., yet, but Oregon seems to have Issues with people who look like me, though I understand that in Portland, they're doing their best to bury that past.
I should really visit someday. Besides, I need to ride MAX.
I have, however, been to Portland, Me., and found it absolutely delightful. It's a small city that feels as lively as a city three times its size, if not more (by comparison, Manchester, N.H., is bigger but blander). I suspect the culinary scene in the Oregon city is more diverse, but lobster!
Maine's current Governor may be a kook, but I think this is a temporary affliction.
Gimme Portland, Me., please.
BTW, you all do know, do you not, that the Oregon Portland was first settled by New Englanders who gave it that name because the terrain there reminded them of the Maine one?
What race/ethnicity are you? Portland, OR may have a high %White population for a big city (although it’s significantly more diverse than Portland, ME) but there isn’t a recent history of racial discrimination/strife (that stands out more than most US cities, at least).
What race/ethnicity are you? Portland, OR may have a high %White population for a big city (although it’s significantly more diverse than Portland, ME) but there isn’t a recent history of racial discrimination/strife (that stands out more than most US cities, at least).
Hence my comment about "bury[ing] the past."
Oregon tried to write racism into its state Constitution when it was admitted to the Union in 1859 - the document would have forbade black settlement in the state.
The Klan was very strong in the state too, and the city pretty much wiped out its one significant black neighborhood in a 1960s redevelopment scheme. (The city is now offering incentives to lure African-Americans back to the district, which has gentrified.)
You can probably figure out by now that I'm African-American myself.
Yeah, Maine's real white too, but I don't think it had that history behind it. Massachusetts gave it up so that my native state could enter the Union as a slave state in 1821.
First of all, I have only visited each place once so while I have a decent impression I certainly don't think my opinion is immune to change.
Anyhow, a lot of this is going to reference personal preferences. These are two cities that I like. If you told me I had to live in one of them long term, the choice would be Oregon. It's a bigger city with far more amenities and much better Asian cuisine (which is a seriously important factor for us). Winter is more moderate and there would be more opportunities for my family. Location is also a bit better for us.
That said, Maine is the one that I really want to spend time in. I'm planning to do a few weeks in the summer there soon, and I can definitely see us spending lots of summers there in the future. Portland, ME is a place I would actually want to live on a seasonal basis. We avoid the winter weather, get to enjoy the festivities, vibrancy, and portions of lobster season. In small doses it won't feel too small. There's just something about it that makes it more of a special place to be imo.
And so, when it comes down to it, although I would rather LIVE LIVE in Portland, OR than Portland, ME, the truth is neither is a top choice. If I were going to relocate to the west coast, LA, SF, SD, Seattle, and Vancouver are all ahead of Portland for us. However, Portland, ME is actually a place that I hope and plan to "live" in temporarily/seasonally, so it should be the winner for me.
I voted for Portland Oregon
However I have never been to Portland Maine , must make it up that way soon ( bucket list)...
Oregon tried to write racism into its state Constitution when it was admitted to the Union in 1859 - the document would have forbade black settlement in the state.
The Klan was very strong in the state too, and the city pretty much wiped out its one significant black neighborhood in a 1960s redevelopment scheme. (The city is now offering incentives to lure African-Americans back to the district, which has gentrified.)
You can probably figure out by now that I'm African-American myself.
Yeah, Maine's real white too, but I don't think it had that history behind it. Massachusetts gave it up so that my native state could enter the Union as a slave state in 1821.
I wasn’t actually aware of all that about Portland, OR’s past - it’s sad how much of this country has a dark history. I will say that these days Portland (the city proper at least) is a relatively welcoming and accepting place and, as I mentioned, is notably more diverse than its Maine counterpart.
I've not been to Portland, Ore., yet, but Oregon seems to have Issues with people who look like me, though I understand that in Portland, they're doing their best to bury that past.
I should really visit someday. Besides, I need to ride MAX.
I have, however, been to Portland, Me., and found it absolutely delightful. It's a small city that feels as lively as a city three times its size, if not more (by comparison, Manchester, N.H., is bigger but blander). I suspect the culinary scene in the Oregon city is more diverse, but lobster!
Maine's current Governor may be a kook, but I think this is a temporary affliction.
Gimme Portland, Me., please.
BTW, you all do know, do you not, that the Oregon Portland was first settled by New Englanders who gave it that name because the terrain there reminded them of the Maine one?
Oregon is as socially liberal as it gets they don't really judge by race. In fact most of the Western US has far less of a racial obsession than the east.
BTW, you all do know, do you not, that the Oregon Portland was first settled by New Englanders who gave it that name because the terrain there reminded them of the Maine one?
That is simply not true. Here's the real reason:
Quote:
As recounted by PDXHistory.com: Portland got its name when Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove flipped a coin in 1845. Lovejoy was from Massachusetts and he wanted to name the new settlement Boston. Pettygrove was from Maine and wanted to name the new town Portland.
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