Beaverton is located between the City of Portland, and the agricultural region of western Washington County. The estimated population of Beaverton in July 2004 was almost 83,000, and it is steadily growing due to the regions natural beauty, strong opportunities in business, and the variety and reasonable cost of housing. Beaverton provides a balance of urban and rural living, with a major city only minutes away; and both the mountains and ocean within an hours drive away.
Location
Beaverton is located in Washington County, in northwestern Oregon.
The nearest major city is Portland, which is only 7 miles from Beaverton. Salem, the Oregon state capital, is 39 miles south of Beaverton, and Eugene is 99 miles to the south. There are a number of other communities within 10 miles of Beaverton, including, Cedar Hills, West Slope, Garden Home-Whitford, Cedar Mill, Raleigh Hills, West Haven-Sylvan, Metzger, Tigard, and Hillsboro.
Geography
The total land area of Beaverton is 16.3 square miles, and it is at an elevation of 189 feet. Beaverton is located in the Willamette Valley, a fertile agricultural area.
The Pacific Ocean is less than an hour’s drive to the west; the Cascade Mountains and Mt. Hood are to the east, and the scenic and historic Columbia River Gorge is north of Beaverton.
Jobs
The primary industries providing employment in Beaverton include manufacturing (16.7%), educational, health and social services (15.8%), professional, scientific, management and administrative services (14.9%), and retail trade (11.9%).
Beaverton is located in the heart of what is called the “Silicon Forest”, because of the over 300 high-tech companies in the vicinity. Beaverton is the main business address for Nike Inc., Planar Systems Inc., Tektronix Inc., Cascade Microtech Inc., and the Linux Technology Center of IBM. Since 1929, Beaverton has been home to Beaverton Foods, a manufacturer of condiments distributed nationwide,
and since 1960, Reser’s Fine Foods, a processor and distributor of fresh prepared foods, has been headquartered in Beaverton. The average commute for Beaverton residents who are employed elsewhere is 23 minutes.
Housing
Beaverton has a variety of housing options, from suburban single-family homes, to urban condominiums close to shopping, dining, and public transportation.
Beaverton has many attractive neighborhoods to choose from, with the average cost of a new home just under $200,000.
Recreation
The City of Beaverton maintains over 1,000 acres of parkland and designated green space, providing a park within ˝ miles of every home! There are also 30 hiking trails and a network of bicycle paths within the city limits, in addition to sports fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, and golf courses.
The Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, which Beaverton is a part of, also offers three recreation centers, a sporting complex, eight swim centers, a senior center, two historic sites, two lakes, and a 220 acre regional nature park. The district also sponsors recreational and competitive league sports.
Northwestern Oregon is known for its spectacular and varied natural beauty, providing endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment. Popular recreational destinations include The Pacific Ocean, which is less than an hour’s drive to the west, the Cascade Mountains and Mt. Hood to the east, and the scenic and historic Columbia River Gorge to the north.
RedTail Golf Course is an 18-hole public course within the city limits of Beaverton. There are over 20 additional courses in the Beaverton area, including the top rated Pumpkin Ridge, and The Reserve.
Special Attractions/Events
Beaverton is only seven miles from Portland, and all the cosmopolitan offerings of one of the most beautiful cities in the western United States. Portland has a local symphony, opera, a ballet company, anda performing art center, as well as a world class art museum and a popular zoo. Fine dining and unique shopping are also within minutes of Beaverton, in the Portland metropolitan area.
One of the most important events in Beaverton for more than two decades is annual Beaverton Visual Art Showcase and Sale, featuring works of art in many mediums, including oils, acrylics, and watercolors; prints, drawings, pastels, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and fine craft are featured.
The Beaverton Visual Art Showcase begins with a gala public opening, complete with musical entertainment, and an opportunity to meet the artists. Throughout the duration of the Showcase and Sale, there are also lectures and panel discussions on art-related subjects.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
According to a publication entitled Oregon Geographic Names, Beaverton acquired its name because the settlement was near a beaver dam. Early settlers called the community Beaverdam, and it was later changed to Beaverton.
This area of the Tualatin Valley was originally the home of a Native American tribe known as the Atfalati, or the Tualatin. Their land included a village called Chakeipi, meaning “place of the beaver”. The native population decreased in the late 1700’s.
In 1860, a plank road was built connecting the Tualatin Valley with Portland and the railroad was completed in 1868. These factors both contributed to the growth of Beaverton, and in 1893, the city was formally incorporated.
One of the most well-known residents of Beaverton is Philip Knight, the billionaire founder of Nike.
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