Office of International Affairs
Portland's Sister Cities
Portland's first sister city relationship was established in 1959 linking Portland to Sapporo, Japan. Portland has nine sister cities spread across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced the U.S. Sister City Program in 1956 calling it the "people-to-people program." The premise of the program was that cities sharing similarities like population, industry or art would find ways to form partnerships which would create an international atmosphere of understanding and respect.
Sister Cities
Building Your Local Program (PDF)
Background information from Sister Cities International about sister cities.
