Portland is a city with a surprisingly high amount of nicknames. We found 8 in total, but there could be well more.

The image below which was shared on social media displays what local residents think about the best (and worst) names for each city. Sitting in top spot is PDX, which isn’t really a nickname in many way, but more of an abbreviation for the city. In last place was the non-creative “P-Town” with other names such dividing opinion in the mid-tiers.

About each nickname:

“Stumptown”: Originated in the mid-19th century when Portland experienced rapid growth and development. The city’s streets were laid out without removing the trees, resulting in many stumps dotting the landscape. The nickname “Stumptown” came about as a playful way to refer to the city during this period.

“PDX”: PDX is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for the Portland International Airport. Over time, locals began using “PDX” as a nickname for the city itself, representing its connection to the airport and the region’s transportation hub.

“Bridgetown”: Portland is often called “Bridgetown” due to its numerous bridges spanning the Willamette River. The city is home to several distinctive bridges, including the iconic Steel Bridge, Hawthorne Bridge, and St. Johns Bridge.

“Rip City”: ” The nickname Rip City came about due to the Portland Trail Blazers. The term “Rip City” was created by baskebtall announcer Bill Schonely during an NBA game against the LA Lakers.

“City of Roses”: Similar to the “Rose City” nickname, “City of Roses” highlights Portland’s association with the beautiful flower. This nickname is often used to promote the city and its annual Rose Festival, which features parades, concerts, and other events.

“Little Beiruit”: Certainly not the most flattering of nicknames. “Little Beiruit” is pretty much comparing Portland what to was then a Middle Eastern warzone. This nickname apparently originated from the staff of former president George HW Bush.

“Beervana”: A play on words with “beer” and “nirvana” from Buddhism. Portland is well known for producing some of the best craft ales in the world, so it makes sense people would consider the city a heaven on earth for this kind of niche industry.

“P-Town”: It’s not really known where this nickname orginated from. Although the meaning behind the nickname is simply putting the first letter ahead of the word “town”. This is fairly common in other cities in the USA such as Houston.