Vancouver, Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. To the east of Vancouver, WA rises the Cascade Mountain Range and it’s less than 90-miles east of the Pacific Coast. Vancouver, WA shares its name with the larger city of Vancouver in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Though both cities were named in honor of sea captain George Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington was incorporated 29 years before the Canadian city. City officials have periodically suggested changing the US city’s name to reduce confusion with its northern neighbor. Many residents simply distinguish between the two cities by referring to the Canadian city as “Vancouver, B.C.” and the United States’ one as “Vancouver, USA” or “Vancouver, Washington.”
Historically, Vancouver’s economy was based on salmon and trade by the indigenous Chinook people until the Hudson Bay Company established Fort Vancouver and pioneered extractive industries such as the fur trade and timber in the 1700s. Later, agriculture gave way to the marketing and exporting of crops. As the old-growth forests were depleted and heavy industry left the United States, suburban mall developments in the 1970s and 80s drove Vancouver’s economy. The Downtown area became home to a variety of independently owned small businesses, with outer areas dominated by strip malls and franchise stores. Today, the economy of Vancouver, Washington has largely changed to high-tech and service industry jobs. Other large employers are grocery stores and markets, and government agencies including school districts. Many Vancouver residents work in nearby Portland, the downside of which is typically a significant rush hour traffic jam with congestion on two bridges that cross the Columbia River.
Living in Vancouver, USA
The city was named one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations of the National Register of Historic Places. Vancouver breathes history as it combines the excitement of a major metropolitan area with small-town charm and abundant recreational opportunities. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mt. Hood are less than two hours away. The spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area lies just 30-minutes to the east.
An inspired renewal project in the City of Vancouver begun in the late 1980s brought new life to the Downtown, successfully blending park, public square, improved street designs and new housing in the historic Esther Short district. Ester Short Park is now home to Vancouver’s farmer’s market, bandstand with noontime and evening summer concerts, a community theater, and a lively fountain that mimics a Cascade stream. Annual events feature the largest jazz festival in SW Washington: the Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival in Esther Short Park in late August and each September the Vancouver Sausage Fest draws an attendance upwards of 100,000 over three days.
Similar to how many Vancouver residents commute to work in nearby Portland, Oregon, Vancouver residents are frequently crossing the Columbia River (the natural border marker between Washington and Oregon) to do their shopping in tax-free Oregon.
Renting an Apartment in Vancouver, WA
Renting an apartment in Vancouver is increasingly popular with retirees, partially because of its proximity to Portland and the absence of a state income tax in Washington. It is a city of a mixed population of single individuals, married couples and families. Popular Vancouver neighborhoods for apartment rentals include: urban Evergreen neighborhood, which has apartment rentals with a low cost relative to WA, but a high cost relative to the nation. The more suburban Barberton and Five Corners rentals have a high cost relative to WA, and high cost relative to the nation, and Lake Shore urban apartment rentals have a price tag that is a medium cost relative to WA, but high cost relative to the nation.