Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, estimated to have reached 609,456 in 2013, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the Pacific Northwest region (after Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). Approximately 2,314,554 people live in the Portland metropolitan area (MSA), the 19th most populous MSA in the United States.Portland was incorporated in 1851 and is the county seat of Multnomah County. The city has a commission-based government headed by a mayor and four other commissioners as well as Metro, a distinctive regional government. The city is noted for its superior land-use planning and investment in light rail. Because of its public transportation networks and efficient land-use planning, Portland has been recognized as one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the world.