Portlanders may lead the country in recycling, food culture, and keeping things weird, but these are 5 things that residents of our great city were actually the first in the world to create. While the list is not long, the mark on society is significant and lasting.
- Chainsaw Chains
Flickr / Ewen Roberts Portlanders know a thing or two about trees. Back in the heyday of logging, Portland inventor and businessman Joseph Buford Cox invented the chipper type chain for chain saws. Basing his design on the C-shaped jaws of the larva of the timber beetle, Cox’s design is still in use today.
- Wikis
Octavio Isaac Rojas Orduña / Flickr Long before Wikipedia took over the internet, Portland computer programmer Ward Cunningham developed the world’s first wiki. Cunningham is a leader in design patterns and extreme programming, and programmed WikiWikiWeb in 1994.
- The Computer Mouse
The Beard / Flickr American engineer and inventor Douglas Engelbart hails from Portland, and under his guidance at Augmentation Research Center Lab in SRI International, the computer mouse was invented. He was also in charge of projects that resulted in the creation of hypertext, networked computers and graphical user interfaces, making his substantial mark on the internet, computers, and the world.
- The Simpsons
Chupacabra Viranesque / Flickr Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons, introduced the world to this lovable family and continues to tell their story today. The Simpsons is notable as the longest-running prime time show in history, as well as the longest-running animated series and sitcom.
- Nike
Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine / Flickr Nike co-founder Phil Knight hails from Portland and created one of the largest global sports brands in world. Nike’s “swoosh” logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world. Knight also owns the stop-motion film company Laika.
Do you know of any other Portland firsts? Feel free to share below!
Flickr / Ewen Roberts
Portlanders know a thing or two about trees. Back in the heyday of logging, Portland inventor and businessman Joseph Buford Cox invented the chipper type chain for chain saws. Basing his design on the C-shaped jaws of the larva of the timber beetle, Cox’s design is still in use today.
Octavio Isaac Rojas Orduña / Flickr
Long before Wikipedia took over the internet, Portland computer programmer Ward Cunningham developed the world’s first wiki. Cunningham is a leader in design patterns and extreme programming, and programmed WikiWikiWeb in 1994.
The Beard / Flickr
American engineer and inventor Douglas Engelbart hails from Portland, and under his guidance at Augmentation Research Center Lab in SRI International, the computer mouse was invented. He was also in charge of projects that resulted in the creation of hypertext, networked computers and graphical user interfaces, making his substantial mark on the internet, computers, and the world.
Chupacabra Viranesque / Flickr
Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons, introduced the world to this lovable family and continues to tell their story today. The Simpsons is notable as the longest-running prime time show in history, as well as the longest-running animated series and sitcom.
Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine / Flickr
Nike co-founder Phil Knight hails from Portland and created one of the largest global sports brands in world. Nike’s “swoosh” logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world. Knight also owns the stop-motion film company Laika.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
