Portland Metropolitics examines trends shaping the Portland region, and compares Portland with other similarly-sized regions in the U.S. The report, published in 1998, shows that while Portland is not exhibiting the same degree of social and economic polarization seen in regions like Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul, many of the same dynamics do exist here.

The report includes 24 full-color maps, which we have split into groups for downloading. All files are in pdf format (You need the free Acrobat Reader).

Report Narrative (83 pages)

Figures 1-3: Metropolitan Subregions (2.1 MB)
Figure 1: Chicago Subregions
Figure 2: Minneapolis-St. Paul Subregions
Figure 3: Portland Subregions

Figures 4-9: Concentrated Poverty (5.0 MB)
Figure 4: Percentage Persons in Poverty by Census Tract, 1980
Figure 5: Percentage Persons in Poverty by Census Tract, 1990
Figure 6: Percentage of Children Under 5 Years in Poverty, 1990
Figure 7: Percentage Change in Percentage of Children Under 5 Years in Poverty, 1980-1990
Figure 8: Percentage of Students Eligible for Free and Reduced Meals by School District, 1997
Figure 9: Change in Percentage Points Students Eligible for Free and Reduced Meals by School District, 1997

Figures 10-13: Income and Segregation  (4.6 MB)
Figure 10: Median Household Income, 1989
Figure 11: Percentage Change in Real Median Household Income, 1979-1989
Figure 12: Percentage of Children Under 5 Years in Poverty by Census Tract, 1990
Figure 13: Median Household Income by Census Tract, 1989

Figures 14-17: Schools  (1.0 MB)
Figure 14: Percentage Minority Elementary Students by Elementary School, 1996 (zoomed to Portland)
Figure 15: Percentage Minority Elementary Students by Elementary School, 1996
Figure 16: Change in Percentage Points - Minority Elementary Students by Elementary School, 1993-1996
Figure 17: School Spending per Student by District, 1995-96

Figures 18-21: Crime, Density, and Jobs  (5.5 MB)
Figure 18: Part One Crimes per 100,000 Population, 1996 Portland Neighborhoods
Figure 19: Population Density by Neighborhood, 1993
Figure 20: Percentage Change in the Number of Jobs Per Capita by County Subarea, 1980-1994
Figure 21: Percentage Change in the Number of Jobs by County Subarea, 1990-1994

Figures 22-24: Fiscal Disparities  (6.0 MB)
Figure 22: Property Value Per Household, 1996
Figure 23: Percentage Change in Property Value Per Household, 1990-1996 (Adjusted for CPI)
Figure 24: Redistribution of 40% of Tax Base Growth 1990 to 1994, According to Tax Base per Capita