Apart from the scenic beauty of pastoral river riverscapes and the mouth of the mighty Columbia Gorge, the renowned friendliness of the people and some of the best schools in both Portland metro and Washington State, Clark County does have the distinction of straddling Washington’s income-tax free zone along with Portland’s sales-tax advantages. Your dollar goes further mostly because real estate is still relatively inexpensive but remains exposed to powerful economic growth fostered by a friendly business climate on the outskirts of a large city.
Portland has all the amenities of a large city including ballet, opera and the University-sponsored events of a school like Portland State. Clark County however dodges the traffic snarls of larger cities, which is especially nice since going into Portland remains a highly elective activity given its own recreational amenities. Vancouver has its own symphony, a large County Fair and the Vancouver Volcanoes of the International Basketball League. The local soccer scene boasts Portland Timbers affiliates for young players including Vancouver United and the Washington Timbers FC.
Clark County also boasts the presence of several large health systems with hospitals operated by Peace Health and Legacy Health, as well as clinics from Providence, Kaiser Permanente, Adventist and OHSU. A small but significant technology sector includes WaferTech, the largest semiconductor integrated circuit foundry in the United States, based in Camas. BNSF Railroad and Georgia Pacific have significant operations in the county along with Fred Meyer. Northwest Natural Products produces “gummy bear” products like gummy bear vitamins and fiber supplements. Frito-Lay has a plant and the Bonneville Power Administration is one of the largest employers.
A diversity of economic opportunities, ongoing economic growth and migration make Clark County a great place to work. But a young and vibrant population makes for fantastic recreational opportunities, including skiing at Mount Hood, hiking Mount St. Helen’s and exploring the wine country of the Columbia Gorge, The Willamette and the burgeoning Southwest Washington aspiring AVA. Scenic natural beauty, friendly people and opportunity make Clark County a great place to live, work and play.
Contact the Clark County Medical Society if you are a physician or physician assistant exploring the area for employment.