About the Beaverton, Oregon Area

Beaverton is a delightful and flourishing city of approximately 173,566, located just seven miles from the city of Portland. Beaverton offers a wide assortment of both cultural and recreational activities, parks for every neighborhood, top-notch schools, and small town charm. This city successfully provides all the amenities of a large metropolitan area in a scenic, relaxed and friendly country setting. Beaverton is a great place to live, work and play. 

Location 

Beaverton is located in Washington County, northwest Oregon. It is the largest city in the county, the fifth largest city in the state, and the second largest suburb in the metro area. Washington County is bordered by St. Helens County to the north, Tillamook County to the west, Yamhill County to the south, and Clackamas and Multnomah Counties to the east. Beaverton is situated in the northwest United States, with the Pacific Ocean to the west of the city. 

Geography/Terrain 

Beaverton has a total area of 16.3 square miles, none of which is covered with water. The city is nestled in the heart of the Tualatin River Valley. It sits at an altitude of 189 feet, midway between magnificent Mount Hood and the spectacular coastal Oregon, in an area surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lakes. 

Distance to 3 closest major cities 

Beaverton is seven miles west of Portland, 39 miles north of Salem, and 122 miles northwest of Bend. 

Jobs 

Beaverton, situated in the heart of Washington County’s Silicon Forest, has developed into a growing business center with a thriving economy. The city has over 4,500 companies, providing 55,000 jobs. Major employers include Intel, Tektronix, and Nike. There are also many small and medium-sized businesses. High technology is the leading employer in the county, with approximately 300 high tech companies located in the Silicon Forest area. Wholesale and retail trade provide 24.8% of the employment in the area; manufacturing provides 22.9%; government provides 7.2%; finance, insurance and real estate provide 5.8%; transportation and public utilities provide 4.2%; construction and mining provide 5.6%; and services provide 27.5%. The major employers in Beaverton are: Intel Microcomputer; Beaverton School District; Nike, Inc.; Volt Services; Cypress Semiconductor; Shari's Management Corp.; Tektronix Inc.; Home Depot; Maxim Integrated Products Inc.; Washington County Government services; and Target Stores. The unemployment rate in Beaverton is 5.60% and the recent job growth is 2.23%. The average commute time in the city is 24 minutes. The median household income is $52,279 and the per capita income $24,883. 

Housing 

Beaverton offers attractive, well-planned neighborhoods, with a diversity of high-end, quality homes as well as affordable family housing. Homes range from luxurious mansions on quiet streets to downtown condominiums and townhouses, with prices ranging from the mid $100,000’s up to the millions. Most of the homes in the area are within the $200,000 to $500,000 range, and they are selling well. 

Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf 

Beaverton residents can enjoy their fill of the great outdoors, with the area’s abundance of rolling hills, forests, rivers and wetlands. The city has over 100 parks covering 1,000 acres, 30 miles of hiking trails, and a 25-mile network of bike paths. There is a park located within a half mile of every home. In the heart of the city is the Tualatin Hills Nature Park, a 222-acre wildlife reserve. The park 5 miles of trails through evergreen and deciduous forests, creeks, wetlands, ponds, and meadows, and is home to a variety of birds, mammals, and smaller creatures. 

Ocean beaches and ski slopes are little more than an hour away from Beaverton. To the west of Beaverton you have the Oregon Coast; to the east, you have the stunning Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood, one of the best areas for skiing in the country. To the south, the Willamette Valley boasts various lakes and rivers, and to the north you have Mt. St. Helens. 

The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation Department offers three recreation centers, a sports complex, a regional nature park, eight swim centers, two historic sites, a senior center, and two lakes. There are recreational and competitive league sports, special-interest classes, tennis courts, and softball fields. 

For golf enthusiasts, there are several courses to choose from. The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club and Pumpkin Ridge are two outstanding courses, just 15 minutes west of downtown Beaverton. RedTail Golf Course, formerly known as Progress Downs, is an excellent 18-hole course that is open all year. It has a driving range that is double decked, covered, and lighted. And of course, nearby Portland has 14 courses to choose from. 

Special Attractions/Events 

Beaverton has a full range of family activities and festivities. The Beaverton Farmers Market is the region’s largest farmers market, selling local vegetable and fruit from June through October. It is recognized as one of the best Farmers Markets in the west by both Sunset and Country Gardens magazines. On Saturdays during the summer months, over 15,000 people visit the Market to purchase goods from the 90 to 100 vendors. Beaverton and the surrounding area are also known for its viticulture, with several excellent wineries in the area. 

In July, Beaverton celebrates Summerfest, a community, and family festival that attracts thousands of people to Griffith Park. It includes local and national music groups, good food, a wine pavilion, family activities, and a crafts market. Flicks at the Fountain, is a summer event where movies are shown at Beaverton City Park, drawing as many as 1,500 people. Movies are displayed on an inflatable screen approximately 50 feet wide by 30 feet tall. 

The Beaverton library is one of Oregon’s busiest library facilities, with a diversity of educational and community programs. It also acts as Beaverton's cultural center. 

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places 

The area of Tualatin Valley which became Beaverton was originally the home of a Native American tribe known as the Atfalati (mispronounced by Westerners as Tualatin). These people were prosperous hunter-gatherers whose population dwindled in the latter part of the 18th century. They occupied a village located on the Beaverton and Fanno creeks that was called "Chakeipi" The name actually meant "Place of the Beaver,” but early settlers called it, "Beaver Dam" and this was later changed to Beaverton. 

The Atfalati were no longer dominant in the area by the 19th century when westerners first came to the area. In the spring of 1847, Lawrence Hall took up the first land claim in Beaverton. He and his brother built a grist mill, which was extremely helpful in supporting the farming community. A railroad into town was built in 1868, and the community grew. By 1893 the City of Beaverton was formally incorporated with a population of 400. Alonzo Cady, who was a local businessman, became the first mayor. 

In 1920 Premium Picture Productions built a movie studio near Erickson Street in Beaverton. Many local residents were employed as extras or had small walk-on parts. The film company made about 15 motion pictures but went bankrupt late in 1925. The 32-acre studio site was turned into an aircraft hangar-factory. In time, airplanes were being built and tested in Beaverton. Bernard Airport was developed, and eventually came to be known as the oldest continuously-operated airport in the state. 

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