# Portland:Oregon or Maine?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 28, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472 "2013-10-28T18:49:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3

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### Author: ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/41 "2013-10-29T12:08:22Z")

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Maine, but only because I live about 20 miles away from it. Before we moved out here, I assumed Oregon.

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### Author: ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/42 "2013-10-29T16:59:26Z")

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> [@appleciders](#):
>
> Portland, OR. I live in OR. No one out here means Portland, ME, unless they specify ME.

This. I live less than 60 miles from Portland, Oregon, and **appleciders** is correct.

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### Author: ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/43 "2013-10-29T17:29:02Z")

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Maine, of course! 😃 I went to Univ of Maine in Orono, and lived in various places the state for almost 10 years. Grew up in CT, and am now in SC.

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### Author: ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/44 "2013-10-29T18:30:10Z")

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Having lived in both, I’m saying ME. Location is over yonder----\>

And **saje** I went to UMO too!

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### Author: ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/45 "2013-10-29T18:57:17Z")

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Growing up in MA, I’d have said Maine; but living in the south now I’m more likely to think Oregon since it’s larger (and we’re fans of _Portlandia_).

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### Author: ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/46 "2013-10-29T19:36:33Z")

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**Astroboy** , I was there 1980-84, An.Sci. major and (dear god) Dunn Hall resident. My now husband was there too, he was my RA freshman year 😃

I miss Maine, even the winters…

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### Author: ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/47 "2013-10-29T19:46:44Z")

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Not meaning to be contrary, but the first place to come to mind is [Portland, Tennessee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Tennessee) which I hear more about than either of those bigger cities.

If it’s down to the two in the OP, I’ll say Maine.

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### Author: ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/48 "2013-10-29T20:41:04Z")

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> [@saje](#):
>
> **Astroboy** , I was there 1980-84, An.Sci. major and (dear god) Dunn Hall resident. My now husband was there too, he was my RA freshman year 😃
> 
> I miss Maine, even the winters…

Just missed ya… I was '84-'88.

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### Author: ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/49 "2013-10-29T22:48:57Z")

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I’ve never been to any Portland, but I think Oregon because I’ve kept up with the Dies the Fire series.

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### Author: ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/50 "2013-10-29T23:57:27Z")

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Portland, Oregon. If I had to think of a reason why, it would probably be because I live in Portland, Oregon.

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### Author: ![Flying\_Ghoti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Flying\_Ghoti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Ghoti)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/51 "2013-10-30T16:21:34Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> There’s a Portland, Maine?

I was only dimly aware of Portland, Maine existing up until recently. I was reading Stephen King’s _Night Shift_ and constant references to Portland made me slightly disoriented–I knew the stories were supposed to be set in Maine because, you know, Stephen King, so why are they talking about Portland, Oregon? Then I remembered that there’s a Portland in Maine too! :smack: I’m from New Jersey, and have never been to Oregon or Maine.

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### Author: ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/52 "2013-10-30T16:54:59Z")

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Portland, Maine.

From Boston, here.

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### Author: ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/53 "2013-10-30T18:08:36Z")

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> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> I think of Portland, Oregon, because I grew up in Vancouver, Washington, directly across the Columbia River from Portland.

Following up on my first post, I considered making a poll - Vancouver: Washington or British Columbia? But I’m pretty sure I know the results of that one. Even _within Washington_, people tend to assume you’re talking about BC if you just say “Vancouver”. Despite Vancouver being the state’s 5th largest city it’s still smaller than, and gets overshadowed by, Portland.

My family moved from Vancouver to Wenatchee, WA when I was in high school. On the first day of school my band teacher introduced me to the rest of the band, telling them I’d just moved from Vancouver. Two months later I was dancing with a clarinet player at a school dance, and after some very confusing questions about “when are you going back?” I realized she thought I was a foreign exchange student. All the way from British Columbia 😛

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### Author: ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/54 "2014-10-12T21:31:09Z")

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> [@Astroboy14](#):
>
> And **saje** I went to UMO too!

> [@saje](#):
>
> **Astroboy** , I was there 1980-84, An.Sci. major and (dear god) Dunn Hall resident. My now husband was there too, he was my RA freshman year 😃
> 
> I miss Maine, even the winters…

> [@Astroboy14](#):
>
> Just missed ya… I was '84-'88.

Sorry to revive a near dead zombie, but I didn’t see this last year.

First of all - thread bidness. Maine. I’ve lived the majority of my life in and around Portland, ME.

Secondly, I was at UMO also, for the '83 - '84 academic year (and I use the term loosely). York Hall, if what’s left of my memory serves me.

I always knew I’d be the missing link somewhere, somehow.

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### Author: ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/55 "2014-10-12T21:51:41Z")

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As a native Oregonian, I always think of the Oregon Portland when I hear the name. Now that I actually live in Portland, that reaction has only been cemented.

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### Author: ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/56 "2014-10-12T22:07:43Z")

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Maine when I lived in the East; Oregon when I lived in the West.

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### Author: ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/57 "2014-10-12T22:14:20Z")

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> [@Disheavel](#):
>
> Oregon.
> 
> I’m in the PNW so the inferior 😉 Maine version doesn’t come up much.

Exact opposite here. I live near Boston, so Maine is the default assumption. Especially since my family regularly visited one of the Casco Bay islands.

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### Author: ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2014, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/58 "2014-10-13T11:51:33Z")

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Just to be annoying – the two Portlands in Australia: on the coast, some 200 miles west of Melbourne; and, not quite 100 miles inland from Sydney.

(No, actually, I’m English: so for me, it’s the one below.)

> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Or [Isle of Portland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Portland).

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### Author: ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/59 "2014-10-13T12:08:39Z")

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I live in Connecticut, so I assume people are referring to Maine in the absence of contrary evidence.

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### Author: ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portland-oregon-or-maine/672472/60 "2014-10-13T12:39:53Z")

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Went to university in California but…

I’ll go with Portland, Maine. LL Bean and lobster rolls trumps roses and micro-brews.

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