Located 30 minutes from downtown Portland, Hillsboro is part of the second-largest and fastest growing urban county in Oregon, with nearly half a million residents. The nearby Portland metro area is often referred to as the "Silicon Forest" for its continuing growth in the area of high technology. Hillsboro was placed on Money Magazine's* "Best Places to Live" list for 2006. The area has also been recognized by other groups and publications:

• Sustainability SustainLane* — a San Francisco Bay area group, rank Portland the number one city in the nation in sustainability practices. June 2006



• Green Energy* — Portland's two electric utilities are number two and three in the amount of green energy they sold for the year 2005



• FitPregancy* — The magazine rated Portland as the best place in America in which to have a baby. February 2008

Hillsboro's growing ethnically diverse community offers many cultural and social opportunities for everyone, including outstanding public art, dozens of urban parks and green spaces, bike paths and a world-class transportation system featuring one of the nation's most rider-friendly light rail systems.

Hillsboro is home to several festivals, fairs and open-air gatherings, including the Washington County Fair, the U.S. West Rose Festival Air Show* (presented by Intel) and many outdoor farmers markets. Hillsboro offers easy access to the coast, the Cascade Mountains, and the high desert of Eastern Oregon. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike, hunt, fish, bike, wind surf and enjoy a myriad of other activities, including skiing throughout the year.

Tourists and residents take advantage of Oregon's nearby attractions, including the Oregon Trail, Multnomah Falls, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Symphony and many others. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the close proximity to one of the world's most renowned vineyard regions. The Portland area is also home to many sporting events, such as the Portland Trail Blazers*, Portland Fire*, Portland Winter Hawks*, and Portland Beavers*.

Interested in finding out more about Hillsboro? Visit OregonLive.com to find everything you need, including weather, recreation, housing, finances, community information and more.