About the Lake Oswego, Oregon Area
 

Overview

Picture one of the most beautiful, serene cities in the Pacific Northwest, and you’ve got Lake Oswego, Oregon.

One of Portland’s most affluent suburbs, the city of Lake Oswego shows like a painting: lakes, rivers, and towering evergreens; colorful flower boxes everywhere; chateau architecture, snow-covered Mt. Hood in the distance, and a classic spacious small town feel.

Lake Oswego is a 3-1/2 mile man made lake, with a dock at the east end that allows boaters to disembark and enjoy the city’s fine restaurants and cultural life. With about 38,400 residents, real estate in Lake Oswego is considered some of the most sought-after property in all of Oregon. About 8-1/2 miles southwest of  Portland (which was named America’s Best Big City by Money magazine), Lake Oswego has great schools, an appreciation for arts and culture, an exceptionally low crime rate, and NO sales tax. And the location can’t be beat – you can be in Portland’s city center within 15 minutes. Drive west for about 90 minutes and you’re at the ocean. Drive east for 90 minutes and ski on Mt. Hood. The climate is temperate, with averages in the 40s in the winter and 70s in the summer.

Housing types vary from single family dwellings with high pitched gable roofs, to sprawling estates, to condos and townhouses. Average household income is about $110,000, and median home prices are about $350,000. Professions within the area include education, healthcare, and social services. Most Lake Oswegans commute to Portland for work.

Transportation

Three highways surround Lake Oswego – I-5, I-205, and 217. There is also easy public transportation via Trimet our award-winning light rail, bus, and streetcar system.

Amtrak is another popular way to travel, especially for longer distances to Seattle or San Francisco. Otherwise, Portland International Airport is only 30 minutes away via I-205.

History

The whole area around Lake Oswego was originally settled by the Clackamas Indians, for whom the county was named. Later, settlers of German, English, and Irish ancestry established Lake Oswego as a trade route via the Willamette River, exporting ore and lumber to neighboring towns. Remains of boating piers, ferry landings, and covered bridges can still be found from that period of time.