Vancouver is a city in Clark County, Washington, situated on the north bank of the Columbia River directly across from Portland, Oregon. With a population of about 191,000, it is the fourth-most populous city in Washington and serves as the seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Washington side of the Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area. Vancouver's origins reach back to 1825, when the Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Vancouver as a fur-trading outpost and regional headquarters. The settlement that grew around the fort was incorporated in 1857, making Vancouver one of the oldest communities in the Pacific Northwest. That frontier history is preserved today at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, which includes a reconstructed fort, Officers Row, and the adjacent Pearson Field, one of the nation's oldest continuously operating airfields. The city's geography is defined by the Columbia River. Its downtown rises from the riverfront, anchored by Esther Short Park, the oldest public square in Washington state. The Waterfront Renaissance Trail runs along the river, connecting parks, the historic site, and the riverfront district with views toward Portland and Mount Hood. Vancouver's neighborhoods range from the urban, walkable core around downtown and Esther Short to established residential districts spreading north and east across the city. Public education is provided by Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen Public Schools, which together serve the city and surrounding areas. The city's transportation network is shaped by the river crossings. Interstates 5 and 205 connect Vancouver to Portland and the broader region, and Portland International Airport lies just across the river. The Columbia River Gorge and its recreation areas begin a short distance to the east, extending Vancouver's outdoor amenities well beyond the city limits.