If you want a definitive, well-written history of Portland, I highly recommend Portland in Three Centuries by Carl Abbott, with a copyright 2011.  I found Dr. Abbott’s book easy to read because it flowed and told stories with interesting photos.

I had the good fortune to take a class from Dr. Abbott in the 1980s that was part of the Urban Studies Program at Portland State University.  Our term paper assignment was to research a Portland area address or piece of real estate and then write about it.  I learned so much, including how racially restrictive the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CCRs in real estate language) were on the Clackamas County address I was writing about.  I was shocked, and without Dr. Abbott’s assignment, I wouldn’t have known about that ugly part of local history.

To read more about the book:  http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780870716133-2