CITY OF BEAVERTON COMMUNITY INFORMATIONThe City of Beaverton is seven miles to the west of downtown Portland. Beaverton is the sixth largest city in the State of Oregon.
Originally home to Native Americans, Beaverton was referred to as Atfalati. After the first overland journey led by explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1806, Westerners new to the area pronounced this as the name Tualatin. The Atfalati occupied a village surrounded by streams and wetlands, home to many families of beavers, and called it Chakeipi. This translated to Place of the Beaver, and Western settlers called it Beaver Dam. The name Beaverton evolved from these earlier versions.
The forest and wood-product industries created a demand for more labor and entrepreneurial ambitions. In 1850, the territorial government began building a wood plank road from Portland to Beaverton. By 1868, the railroad came to this small community and Beaverton began to grow. The city of Beaverton was formally incorporated in 1893 with a population of 400. Pioneers with the names of Hall, Bernard, Denney, Biggi, Allen, and Alonzo Cady (Beavertons first mayor), are familiar names of streets in the city.
By 1915, the automobile industry arrived in Beaverton. Soon after, Guy Carr and Otto Erickson opened the first car dealership in town, selling Fords. Guy Carr worked tirelessly in his dealerships for 68 years, until he retired in 1987. Now, after nearly 90 years in business, Carr Auto Group still has 3 dealerships in the Beaverton area, as well as one just over the river, in the Vancouver, Washington area.
SCHOOLS & COLLEGESBeaverton boasts the third largest school district in the state, and one of the most ethnically diverse. In fact, more than 70 languages are spoken in the homes of Beaverton School District students.
SHOPPINGWashington Square Mall, anchored by Macys, Sears, JC Penney, Nordstrom, and Dicks Sporting Goods, brings world-class shopping to the Beaverton area. Unique shopping outlets include: Uwajimaya Asian Grocery and Gifts, Powells Books, New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. The Beaverton area also supports a broad mix of culturally diverse grocery and retail stores. Prior to closing to make way for the Beaverton Mall, the Bernard Airport thrived until the late 1960s, and was the oldest continuously operated airport in the state up until that time. Years later, the Cedar Hills Crossing shopping center emerged from the outdated Beaverton Mall, which was originally opened in 1969. The redeveloped retail complex consists of Old Navy, Best Buy, Ross, Golf Galaxy, Powells Books, Joes Outdoor, Century Theaters, New Seasons Market, and WinCo Foods. A number of national chains, plus local outlets, completes the mix of merchants.
FESTIVALS & EVENTSBeavertons strong sense of community extends from its neighborhoods and parks to the special events that occur each year. Offering produce from more than 90 growers in the Pacific Northwest, the Beaverton Farmers Market is the largest agricultural-only farmers market in the region, recognized twice in Sunset Magazines "Best of the West" column.
BEST PLACES TO GOSummer signals the arrival of events in Beaverton, like SummerFest presented by Nike, which benefits local non-profit organizations. Each year, the festival features performances by national recording artists, sports activities, a Saturday parade, and plenty of food booths run by local area restaurants.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRENDSMajor Employers: Nike, IBM, Tektronix, Columbia Sportswear, Verizon Northwest, Maxim Integrated Products, Intel, Beaverton School District Median Household Income: $51,626
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONIn addition to the overall high quality of living, area residents cite easy freeway access as another benefit to living in Beaverton. Highway 217 provides commuters a north/south freeway route through Beaverton and the neighboring city of Tigard. Connecting Highway 26 at the north end, and I-5 to the south, it allows easy access to Portlands world-class shopping destinations. Part of the attraction to Beaverton is the close proximity to downtown Portland, an easy 15-minute commute. The 18-mile Westside "Blue Line" MAX extension provides light rail train transportation between Portland and its western suburbs of Beaverton and Hillsboro. Beaverton, like most of the Portland metropolitan area, is also well served by the Tri-Met bus service.
The scenic Oregon coast is only an hours drive away, and 90 minutes will get you to Mt. Hood. |
Howard Page
Realtor, Broker, Consultant
Residential & Commercial
COLDWELL BANKER SEAL
12725 SW Millikan Way; Suite 100
Beaverton, OR 97005
Direct: 503.516.7121
Office: 503.643.7325
Fax: 503.534.7801
E-mail: howard@howardpage.com
  
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