Community Information for Linn County & Benton County, OR

For the thousands of pioneers who came across the Oregon Trail, this rich and verdant valley truly was the promised land. Flanked by the Coast Range and the Cascades, the valley takes its name from the river that flows through it. Historic cities and towns, settled more than a hundred years ago by emigrants from all over the world, are found throughout the region, but the area is perhaps best known for its diverse agriculture, which includes all kinds of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, nuts, hops, and Christmas trees.

Modern day pioneers may come to experience the abundance of recreational opportunities, to explore the area's progressive cities, or to tour the valley's wine country, which is gaining worldwide attention as one of the Pacific Northwest's finest wine appellations - consistently turning out internationally acclaimed Pinot noir, Pinot gris and riesling.

Recreational opportunities are extensive, and include golfing, hiking, climbing and skiing, picnicking and camping in state and county parks, boating, water skiing and fishing on lakes and rivers, petrified wood and agate beds, covered bridges and historic districts and events. For listings of local area golf courses, click here and here. For more information about Willamette Valley parks, click here or here.

Linn County was created in 1847 and named for U.S. Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri, who was the author of the Donation Land Act, which provided free land to settlers in the West. Linn County is home to major producers of rare and primary metals, processed food, manufactured homes and motor homes as well as the traditional logging and wood products industries.

Cities and towns of Linn County are:

Click on the link to find books about the history of Linn County or visit the Linn County Historical Society.

Benton County

Benton County is the gateway to the Oregon Coast and has over 45 parks and recreational areas. The amenities of these areas range from hiking trails to fully developed areas that have camping, picnicking, gas grills, electricty, ballfields, boat ramps, and more. There are four golf courses located in Corvallis, and miles of biking trails throughout the county. Corvallis was listed by Bike USA as 9th in the nation as a Bicycle Friendly City and 9th in the nation as a car-free community by Bike at Work.

Cities and towns of Benton County are:

Click the links for more information on biking trails and hiking trails in Benton County and a list of parks for both counties is here.

School Information

You can learn about the local schools from the Great Schools web site.  Just enter the city you are interested in and they will show you the test scores, student stats, and parent reviews.