Oregon is a state located in the northwestern part of the United States and is placed between Washington and California. The city has coastlines, valleys, mountains, and high-altitude deserts. The most populated cities in the Willamette Valley include Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro, and Beaverton. Among all the largest cities of Oregon, the fastest growing city in Millersburg and the fastest shrinking city is Sheridan.
One has to consider a lot of things when choosing a city to live in, and one has to keep in mind many factors. The Largest Cities in the state of Oregon are Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield, and Corvallis. The smallest city in Oregon is Greenhorn. Without further ado let’s look at our list to explore this beautiful region.
1. Portland
Portland is the largest and most populated city in the state of Oregon. Named the city of roses, the city is a major port in Pacific Northwest and enters the list of the biggest towns in Oregon. Being the most populous city, 47% of the population of Oregon resides in the metropolitan area of Portland. The city is known for its transportation of timber and goods.
In the 1990s, the tech industry emerged in Portland. Known as the silicon forest, many well-known companies have their home in Portland. Tektronix, Intel, HP, and Xerox are some companies to which Portland is home. Portland is also where many big athletic businesses exist, such as Adidas, Nike, Columbia, and Under Armor.
The city is environmentally conscious and is filled with green spaces, parks, and many outdoor areas. It also features beaches, mountains, and deserts, which one can explore when one visits this city.
2. Salem
Next on the list of the biggest cities in Oregon is Salem. Located an hour south of Portland, Salem falls next to the major cities in Oregon. It is situated in the center of the Willamette Valley and is 1 hour from the Cascade Mountains and the ocean beaches. Salem is one of the growing and emerging cities in Oregon and is filled with areas marked by commercial and residential development. It is the second-largest city in the state of Oregon.
One can feel the fresh air when walking in this city’s beautiful parks and green spaces. The city is also famous for its film festival, and how can one forget the delicious Northwest cuisine? Apart from that, Salem has its historic downtown, Riverfront Park, and golf courses.
The city was incorporated in 1857 and has been the capital since 1859. The earliest industries of Salem were ranching and agriculture. Garmen, Amazon, Kettle Foods, NORPAC, and Don Pancho are the companies that find their homes in this city.
3. Eugene
Eugene is the third largest city in Oregon and hence falls on the list of biggest cities in Oregon. The town is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley and is home to the University of Oregon, a major track and field university. The place around the city came into being in 1846 and was named Eugene in 1853
Healthy living and outdoor exercise are the cultures of this city, with the town being filled with hiking and biking trails. In 1871, it became a lumber and agricultural center. The Willamette National Forest and MacKenzie River recreational area are situated in this city.
4. Gresham
Next on the list of the biggest cities in Oregon is Gresham. It is the 4th biggest city in Portland and is located at least 30 minutes east. Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area are all located minutes from Gresham, making the city perfect for outdoor living.
The city was incorporated in 1905. Initially, Gresham was an agriculture-based community, but now one can say that it has transformed into an innovative, energetic, and rapidly growing city. Aerospace, food processing industries, and semiconductor manufacturing are situated here. One can live a good quality of life if settled here.
5. Hillsboro
Hillsboro is the 5th largest city in Oregon and enters the list of biggest cities in Oregon. It is located on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area. Founded in the year 1842 and became what it is today after the arrival of tech-based companies in the 1980s. The city is marked by green spaces, family-friendly traditions, and a high-tech lifestyle.
The city is the center of Oregon’s Silicon Forest and has tech-based companies such as Epson, Synopsys, and Oracle. Hillsboro has the data centers of major companies like NetApp, Adobe, Umpqua Bank, Fortune Data Centers, and OHSU. It is also home to Intel’s largest campus.
6. Bend
Bend is one of the major cities and falls on the list of the biggest cities in Oregon. It is one of the main cities in central Oregon and is situated on the eastern edge of the Cascade Range. The town is arid and is filled with sagebrush, bitterbrush, and junipers.
The city was first settled in the 1900s and incorporated as a city in 1905. The city is a must-visit for adventure and outdoor lovers; it is a place where one can enjoy a wide variety of activities, such as fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, white-water rafting, skiing, paragliding, mountain biking, and golfing.
Bend was a logging town initially and is now filled with many microbreweries, such as Deschutes Brewery. The brewery is the eighth-largest craft brewery in the country. The Little Woody Barrel Aged Brew and Whiskey Fest, Bend Oktoberfest, Central Oregon Beer Week, and Bend Brewfest are the significant events that mark the city’s culture. Bend also has become popular among retired individuals as a travel destination.
7. Beaverton
Located at around 7 miles west of Portland, the city of Beaverton also enters the list of biggest cities in Oregon. Being part of the Portland metropolitan area, the town was established in 1847 and was known to be a farming and mill community.
Nike’s world headquarters is located outside the Beaverton city limits, making it another city highlight. Leupold & Stevens and Reser’s Fine Foods are other major companies in Beaverton.
The city is also part of Silicon forest and has many tech-based companies such as Maxim Integrated Products, the Linux Technology Center of IBM, Veri Wave, and Tektronix.
8. Medford
Located at a short distance from Crater Lake National Park and the Oregon Caves National Monument, Medford enters the list of the biggest cities in Oregon. Depot in Medford was established in 1883 to expand the California and Oregon Railroad, and in 1905, the town was incorporated.
Medford is situated in southern Oregon, approximately 27 miles north of the California border and about 75 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The city is also home to the Rogue River National Forest. Medford is known for its timber, pears, tourism, and fruit and truck-farm produce.
9. Springfield
Springfield is the 9th biggest city in Oregon. Located in Southern Willamette Valley and approximately 5 miles from Eugene, the town of Springfield also falls on the list of biggest cities in Oregon. The town was settled in 1848 and incorporated in 1885. Springfield is named after a natural spring located within the city boundaries.
Springfield is dominated by the timber industry and produces fiberboard, plywood, ethyl alcohol, plastics, electronic components, and corrugated cardboard.
The city is a beautiful getaway for adventure and outdoor lovers due to its placement around McKenzie and Willamette Rivers. Cabela’s Outfitters and Cascades & Coast Adventure Center are located here to fulfill the needs of numerous outdoor enthusiasts.
10. Corvallis
Finally, next on the list is the city of Corvallis, also one of the biggest cities in Oregon. Located in central western Oregon, the city houses the Oregon State University. In 1845, settlers were seen to be settling along the Willamette River. The town was initially named Marysville, then later called Corvallis in 1853. It was finally incorporated in 1857.
HP Inc, Samaritan Health Services, SIGA Technologies, Evanite Fiber, and ONAMI are well-known companies.
The presence of 47 public parks in Corvallis gave it the name Tree City USA. The well-known and popular parks in the town are Avery Park and Natural Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Would Be Oregon’s Largest City?
The biggest city in Oregon is Portland, which has a population of about 665,000. It is well-known for its booming arts and culture scene, as well as for its bike-friendly and environmentally sensitive environment.
2. How Many People Live in Salem, Oregon?
Salem, the state capital of Oregon, with a population of about 175,000. Salem is a city in Oregon’s Willamette Valley that is well-known for its historic downtown and closeness to the wine region.
3. How Many People Live in Bend, Oregon?
In central Oregon, Bend has a population of about 100,000 people. Bend is renowned for its artisan breweries, fine cuisine, and outdoor recreation options, like as skiing, hiking, and fishing.
Conclusion
Other cities worth mentioning are West Linn, Lake Oswego, and Durham. The town of Lake Oswego is high in amenities and enjoys low crime rates. These were the biggest cities in Oregon, and one could choose among these cities to settle in. One must also check various factors while selecting a place to stay, including amenities, the cost of living, crime, education, employment, housing, and weather.
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Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by Laveleena Sharma
