About Southwest Washington

Clark College is located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a region known for its lush forests, pristine coast, and stunning mountain vistas. Southwest Washington sits on the north bank of the Columbia River, just across from Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Ocean is to the west; the Columbia Gorge and Cascade Range to the east.

Vancouver, where Clark College’s main campus is located, is the fourth-largest city in the state and the county seat of Clark County. It also is a part of the Portland-Vancouver metro area, the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the country. Clark County is composed of the city of Vancouver and many close-knit towns and cities connected by plains, farms, hills, forests, and rivers. The weather is similar to nearby Portland, with infrequent winter snow; rain in the fall, winter and spring; and dry, sunny summers.

Recreation: Clark College offers several recreational and collegiate sports teams, a modern fitness center, theater productions, music groups, and more than 50 clubs and organizations. But there are many recreational activities to enjoy off campus, too. Hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing and kayaking are some of the outdoor opportunities available. Winter sports include skiing and snowboarding in the Cascade Mountain Range. The scenic beauty and geologic history of the nearby Columbia River Gorge draws visitors from around the world. The gorge also offers sailboarding and kite-sailing athletes a chance to compete in world-class conditions.

Employment: Clark County attracts major employers such as Sharp, WaferTech, Hewlett Packard, and SEH America, as well as a growing number of smaller tech firms and corporate headquarters for Nautilus Inc. and The Holland, parent company of the Burgerville, a Northwest restaurant chain. The Port of Vancouver USA operates on the Columbia River and handles more than 400 ocean-going vessels annually. As the largest workforce training provider in Southwest Washington, Clark College continually meets the needs of the business community and ensures that students are equipped with high-demand, relevant skills, whether they are full-time students entering the workforce or incumbent workers developing new skills to improve the productivity of their employers.

Services: The county features two state-of-the-art hospitals, several nationally recognized K-12 school districts, and, in addition to Clark College, Washington State University Vancouver, a branch campus offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Two interstate bridges — the I-5 and Glenn Jackson bridges — cross the Columbia River to connect Clark County to Oregon, where many residents work or access the area’s international airport, regional transportation, schools and shopping.