Portland, PA

Portland is a Northampton County borough on the Delaware River, tucked into the Lehigh Valley near the New Jersey line. The 2020 census counted 494 residents. River transport once filled this stretch with rafts and made Portland part of a working water route; today, Route 611 and the river valley connect the borough to Bangor, Easton, the Poconos, and nearby New Jersey. The river remains the town’s defining edge.

Borough hall keeps up with water, sewer, trash and recycling, meeting notices, permits, and council business, while Bangor Area School District serves local children. Portland’s small calendar includes council meetings, local events, and the July Fourth parade shared with Mount Bethel. The river also keeps weather, recreation, and flood questions in local planning conversations throughout the year. The borough has the feel of a river crossing that became a town: the water sets the view, the road handles the trips, and the school and municipal offices keep the everyday week in place.