Portland Metro and Oregon Research: Government
Support for research about local issues, places, laws, people, history, and more.
What can you find on government websites?
Looking for sources only with a .gov address? Do a Google search with site:.gov in it to limit to resources in that domain. Example: portland homeless site:.gov
Search relevant government websites on your topic to find the following (among other things):
- Research studies, data, and statistics conducted/compiled by government agencies;
- Planning documents and information about how the government is addressing a specific issue;
- Information about government agencies, programs, and rules, codes, and/or laws.
State and Local Government Websites
- Oregon Blue BookThe official state directory and fact book about all levels of government in Oregon. Published since 1911, it is produced and updated by the Oregon State Archives.
Oregon Data
Oregon Legislative Information
- Oregon State LegislatureWebsite for the Oregon State Legislature. Find information about current bills, state law, legislators, and more.
- Oregon Revised Statutes (2021 Edition)Listing of all Oregon laws
State & Local Planning Agencies
- Clackamas County Department of Planning and ZoningProvides information about long-range planning for the county, as well as various projects and studies being conducted.
- Washington County Land Use and TransportationProvides information on long-range, capital improvement, and immediate traffic concerns.
- Multnomah County Land Use PlanningCounty department focused on land and physical infrastructure.
- Clark County Community PlanningPlanning department in Clark County, Washington.
- MetroMetro is a collaborative agency between cities and counties in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Use the site to find Metro council documents and reports.
- Oregon Department of Land Conservation and DevelopmentAgency overseeing land use at a state level. Includes the state's Transportation and Growth Management Program, state-wide planning goals, and urban growth boundaries.
- Oregon Policy DirectoryThis resource provides links to several hundred selected organizations that influence public policy in Oregon.