Woodland is a city in southwestern Washington that straddles the Clark and Cowlitz county line along the Lewis River, near its confluence with the Columbia River. Most of the city lies within Cowlitz County, and Woodland is part of the Longview metropolitan statistical area. The 2020 census recorded a population of 6,531, giving the community the scale and feel of a small riverside town rather than a suburb of the larger cities nearby. Woodland's location on Interstate 5 is central to its identity: it sits roughly 30 minutes north of Portland, Oregon, and about two and a half hours south of Seattle, making it a practical base for commuters and travelers along the West Coast's primary north-south corridor. The Lewis River, which flows through the city toward the Columbia, has long shaped local life, providing water access for boating and fishing, and the rivers remain central to the area's recreation and identity. The city is best known for the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, a National Historic Site that preserves the work of the celebrated lilac hybridizer Hulda Klager. The gardens contain more than 90 varieties of lilacs along with a restored Victorian farmhouse, and they host the annual Lilac Days celebration each spring, drawing visitors to the city and anchoring its reputation for horticulture and history. Public education is provided by the Woodland School District, serving the city and its surrounding area, and the community retains a stable, family-oriented character with a predominantly owner-occupied housing stock. For those seeking a quiet, community-oriented place with river access and freeway convenience, Woodland offers a blend of small-town character, horticultural heritage, and strategic location in southwestern Washington.