The city of Eugene is the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about 60 miles (100 km) east of the Oregon Coast. According to the official 2008 population figures Eugene is the second largest city in the state of Oregon, with an estimated population of 154,620, and the third largest metropolitan population. Eugene has long been the state's second largest city after Portland, but was briefly overtaken by Salem in terms of population, between 2005 to 2007. Eugene has since overtaken Salem as Oregon's second largest city. Eugene is home to the University of Oregon. The city is also noted for its natural beauty, activist political leanings, alternative lifestyles, recreational opportunities (especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking), and focus on the arts. Eugene's motto is "The World's Greatest City of the Arts and Outdoors." It is also referred to as "Track Town, USA," the "Emerald City" and "The People's Republic of Eugene." The Nike corporation had its beginnings in Eugene.------------------Track Town, USA, a popular nickname for Eugene, Oregon, is widely known as the mecca for the sport of track and field in the United States. The home of the University of Oregon (UO), Eugene is considered by some to be the capital of the running world. Eugene's Track Town moniker derives from the dynastic track and field legacy established by the university's long time track coach, Bill Bowerman, beginning in 1949, and to the many legendary UO track athletes of the Bowerman era, most notably Steve Prefontaine. The US Olympic track and field trials, after a 28 year absence from Eugene, returned to Track Town in 2008, from June 27 to July 6. The trials were held at the University of Oregon’s venerable Hayward Field -- a venue that has long been associated with Eugene’s reputation for track and field excellence. In 2010, the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will also return to Hayward Field, for the tenth time. Numerous premier track and running events also take place in Track Town, ranging from the Prefontaine Classic to the upstart Eugene Marathon.