Portland can best be describe as the City of Roses, Rivers, and Trees, but for Portlanders it is the urban oasis of the Pacific northwest. Portland has the vitality of much larger metropolitan cities, but retains the personality of a small community. Many accolades have been give to our fair city, livable, sustainable, and green; we were even first to introduce the bottle bill that most states have now follow. Yes, our four seasons do bring us rain, plus all sorts of outdoor activities like boating, hiking, biking, skiing, golf, and even shopping. There's no shortage of bike and hiking trails throughout the entire Portland area. You can get up to Mt Hood or all the way to the coast in just about an hour.
To understand Portland is to get off the beaten path into its patchwork of neighborhoods. Each as unique as the homeowners that dwell here. History is rich and click here to read more about Portland, and below to uncover the cities that surround this vibrant place.
South of Portland
Lake Oswego, located seven miles south of Portland, offers some of the most desireable housing in the metro area. What was once an iron ore town, this city now offers a private lake, beautiful settings, and its on uran renewal. Hilltop locations offer lake and Willamette River views, and affluent families are drawn for its exceptional schools. Lake Oswego School District operates two high schools, two junior high schools and nine elementary schools, with more than 80% of students attending college. Read more... Lake Oswego
West Linn - south on highway 43 leaving Lake Oswego, is West Linn. Simply put, West Linn is a community of neighborhoods, ranging from old to new. Some areas of the city feature scenic views of the Willamette River and Mt Hood. Located just 12 miles south of the Portland downtown area, West Linn, considered a Portland "bedroom" community. Most residents work outside of West Linn, though technology has given rise to the "home office", and many residents have no commute!
West Linn's atmosphere is a "small-town" style, maintaining character, safety and strong family values. West Linn is noted for its low crime rate (one of the lowest in the Portland metro area), award winning schools, and quality of life. Housing prices reflect the high demand of this popular community. Read more...West Linn
Wilsonville - Until recently, most residents only went through Wilsonville on their way to Oregon's wine country. Wilsonville is a relatively newer city situated 17 miles south of Portland in the farm belt of Oregon. Now our southern tech center with technology companies such as Mentor Graphics, and Xerox, and not so tech - Nike. With the Willamette River flowing through town and acres of public parks and gardens within the city, Wilsonville is a special place to work and live.
Wilsonville is also home the the Oregon Korean War Veterans Memorial and a wonderful Town Center Park. The park is a hit for the younger set with play structures, the engenously large interactive waterfall and wading pool, and basketball court. Families enjoy the pavilion and picnic tables for warm sunny days and long evenings. Read more...Wilsonville
East of Portland
Happy Valley, located in Clackamas country off Interstate 205 on the east side of Portland. This newer community seems to have just sprung up on the hillsides of what used to be the short cut to Mt Hood. A bustling shopping mall Clackamas Town Center, new construction of larger homers, and strong schools has brought many families to the east side of Portland. Over building has created a unique opportune buy from builders and banks alike. $ per square foot combined with its esy access to major arterials offers an easy commute to city center or travelers commuting out of Portland's International Airport. Look for a great deal - check out Happy Valley.
Background of Happy Valley
Beaverton – as you may have guessed, was named for the proximity to the body of water, that the beavers had created with their dams. Today, Beaverton still has the great outdoors in its backyard. Rolling hills, lush forests, rivers and wetlands abound in the Beaverton area. Ocean beaches and mountain skiing are little more than an hour away from Beaverton in either direction. In the city itself, there are 100 parks encompassing 1,000 acres - more designated "green space" than most cities of its size. The city features 30 miles of hiking trails, a 25 mile network of bike paths, and there is a park located within a half mile of every home. Read more... Beaverton.
Tigard Located 11 miles southwest of Portland, Tigard offers many housing options for the surban commuter. It proximity to major interstate transportation routes or the Tri-Met bus system, and Max - the westside light rail offers an alternative to driving your daily commute. Read more... Tigard
Tualatin is GROWING...just a short 10 miles southwest of Portland along Interstate 5 is one of the fastest growing community in the state. This vibrant community is preparing for its projected growth, and balancing its hometown feel.
Community safety - everything from traffic enforcement to enhance the safety of the motoring public to educational programs in the schools that target drug abuse to a visible presence in our neighborhoods to enhance the feeling of safety within the community. Read more...Tualatin
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