Vancouver is a city in Clark County, Washington, located on the north bank of the Columbia River directly north of Portland, Oregon. With a population of 190,915 according to the 2020 census, it is the fourth-most populous city in Washington. The city serves as the county seat of Clark County and is part of the Portland metropolitan area.
Founded in 1825 and incorporated in 1857, Vancouver developed around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost established during the early colonial period. The city's origins as a trading hub shaped its historical significance in the Pacific Northwest, and its location along the Columbia River on the Washington–Oregon state line continues to define its geography and regional role.