The City of Portland Oregon; Elected Officials
Services & BureausCouncil AgendaCity CodeJobsSearchContact Us
 
Home
Elected Officials
Form of Government
City Symbols
      • City Flower
      • City Bird
      • City Slogan
      • City Song
      • City Flag
      • City Seal
 

City of Portland Symbols

City Flower - "The City of Roses"

Most residents of Portland, if asked, would name the rose as the Portland city flower, consider "The City of Roses" as an official city name, and would be surprised to know that no City Council Resolution has ever been passed to make it so.

Charles Paul Keyser (Portland Parks Superintendent 1917-1950) stated that Portland was "christened the City of Roses by visitors to an Episcopal Church convention which was held in the city in 1888 when the Portland Rose Society was formed. In 1889 Portland's first annual Rose Show was held and from 1904 through 1906 the Portland Rose Society sponsored a Fiesta along with its annual rose show.

In a 1905 address at the Lewis and Clark Exposition, Mayor Harry Lane suggested that Portland needed a "festival of roses." Two years later, in 1907, the first Rose Festival was held.

It seems that the City Council believes that the title "City of Roses" is well enough established not to need its own Resolution. The Resolutions establishing both the City Bird (Great Blue Heron) and the City Song (Portlandia) begin with the words: "WHEREAS, Portland, the City of Roses …."

City Bird - Great Blue Heron was named the Portland City bird by passage of Resolution
No. 34215 in 1986.

City Slogan - "The City that Works"

In 1995 the Portland City Council selected "The City that Works" as a new slogan for City government. The slogan resulted from a contest among City workers for suggestions to make the city more efficient and customer-service oriented. Parks Bureau community relations director came up with the new slogan to go on all city vehicles. The slogan, "The City that Works," is accompanied by the city/county information and referral line number, 503-823-4000, and the name of the bureau that operates the vehicle.

"Having our new slogan 'The City that Works' on all our dump trucks, etc., lets the citizens know that the city cares about what they think and wants to hear from them," said Mayor Vera Katz. "And that's whether it's just a question of why we're doing something, a complaint, or a compliment for a job well done."

City Song - "Portlandia"

Resolution 34547, adopted by the Portland City Council on May 3, 1989, established "Portlandia," by Marc C. Miller, as the Portland City Song. The lyrics are as follows:

PORTLANDIA

Old town, downtown, fountains and lights,
The Willamette reflecting our city at night
From bridges, nightspots in neighborhoods, too.
Together, we grow in love and respect for you.

Hours, days, weeks at a time,
Holiday weekends, time to unwind.
From winter's reign through summer's fall,
The lady of seasons belongs to us all.

Portlandia

Gazing upon the busy streets,
Reflecting the mountain's history
Through her eyes,
She fills me with pride.

City Flag - City of Portland flag

City Seal - City of Portland seal


Liisa Fagerlund
Former City Recorder
September 21, 2001

For additional information contact:
City of Portland Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center
Location: 9360 N. Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97213
Hours: 10 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday (Appointments are strongly recommended)
E-mail: sparc@ci.portland.or.us
Phone: (503)823-4631

  top


Disclaimer • The City Home Page Group last updated this page September 17, 2001.