North Portland is a diverse mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. It includes the Portland International Raceway, the University of Portland, and massive cargo facilities of the Port of Portland. North Portland is connected to the industrial area of Northwest Portland by the St. Johns Bridge, a 2,067 ft long suspension bridge completed in 1931.

Nicknamed "NoPo", North Portland has been regarded as the land of opportunity as the city of Portland grew and the north district became easily accessible through the Max yellow line that connects to downtown. Because of this the area has seen a surge in real estate prices in recent years.