Beaverton Oregon

Silicon Forest, Nike, Intel, International

Beaverton Oregon

Beaverton  has emerged from the  shadow of Portland  and developed its own  vibrant personality enriched by an international population drawn to the many high tech industries.  Besides its Silicone Forest,  Beaverton has the oldest & largest Farmer’s Market, exemplary parks system, and  a well established Arts Council that  supports a variety of cultural activities.

Beaverton is  Portland’s largest suburb next to Hillsboro with at population of about 86,000, and  is a mere seven miles from downtown Portland.  Beaverton has grown up  from a small suburb to a vital mix of industry and activities. Today it offers both old and new  neighborhoods that are very family friendly, with its excellent Beaverton public schools being one of its main attractions.

Once the site of the first lumber mill in Oregon in the mid-1800′s,  today the City of Beaverton is a diverse community that supports Oregon’s “Silicon Forest” (along with Hillsboro), home to more than 200 high tech companies including Intel and Tektronix and Nike’s World Headquarters.  These companies have helped enrich the population of Beaverton with an international flavor contributing to exotic dining choices, and international shopping experiences such as the offerings at Uwajimaya, an Asian mega-store.  The Beaverton Chamber of Commerce is a very pro-active organization that can answer your questions about Beaverton businesses.

Situated in beautiful Washington County Oregon, between Hillsboro and Portland,  the edges of Beaverton give way to rolling hills,

Beaverton Park

family farms, Oregon wineries, horse farms and nurseries.  The City of Beaverton has acres of designated green space and trails plus 100 parks resulting in a park within walking distance of most homes.  While much of Beaverton is flat,  there are hilly neighborhoods with views, such as Cooper Mountain, Sexton Mountain, and  lovely Murray Hill, with its lake, tennis courts, walking trails and shops.

To the north,  Beaverton runs into the developing area of Bethany which is in the Beaverton School District. Other popular neighborhoods include Cedar Hills and Cedar Mills, known for their active communities.  Beaverton real estate is a popular pick for families seeking its excellent schools, and drawn to its high position on many “best US cities” list, including a number 3 best city spot in 2007.

Beaverton Bakery

Beaverton’s Old Town area is a charming 3-4 blocks with the famous Beaverton Bakery as its centerpiece. (Beaverton Bakery has been a Francis family tradition for 30 years!)   A few blocks away in the original Beaverton bank building is a gorgeous Arthur Murray Dance Studio.  In Old Town Beaverton,  you’ll also find a selection of deli’s, cafes, and shops.  A mile away is Cedar Crossings, a newly revitalized shopping area complete with a muti-plex cinima, national chains, grocery, and cafes and restaurants.

Beaverton Farmers' Market

The Beaverton Farmer’s Market is the oldest in the Portland area, and possibly the

Pumpkins at Beaverton Farmers' Market

largest.  Here you’ll find not only local produce and plants, but entertainment and hot food as well!

Beaverton Fountains

Sports play an important role in Beaverton life, and many people enjoy the beautiful Tualatin Hills Recreation Center with its outdoor sports fields, indoor olympic size pool, and the largest tennis center in the Pacific Northwest, with both indoor and outdoor courts.  If golf is your game,  there are at least 16 golf courses around Beaverton in Washington County,  including the celebrated Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course.

Beaverton Library

Culture can also be found in Beaverton, where their active Beaverton Arts Commission promotes art shows, and cultural events throughout the city, including concerts and even outdoor movies in the summer. The Beaverton Library was completed in 2000,  and serves as a hub for young and old alike, surrounded by lovely grounds and fountains.

There are a variety of  Beaverton homes for sale, ranging from simple condos to elegant Beaverton estates.  Popular areas for Beaverton real estate include Oak Hills, Murray Hill, Waterstone,  a variety of neighborhoods built by Arbor Homes, Greenway, Cedar Hills, Cedar Mills, Sexton Mountain and Cooper Mountain.  Many new home developments are located in the Beaverton area,  and real estate agent Sharon Francis is always ready to represent you in your dealings with a new home builder–remember, their sales agents only represent the builder.

The Portland west side light rail line  “Max” runs through Beaverton, with several stops, and many families seek homes with easy access to those stops–such as the Light Rail Park and Ride off Barnes Road, and the Elmonica Station area.  Beaverton is also served by the Portland areas newest commuter train, nick- named “Wes” which from the Beaverton Light Rail station runs south to Washington Square, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.  So a person could right the train from Wilsonville to the Beaverton Light Rail Station, transfer to “Max” the light rail, and ride it to PDX airport!  All of the public transit including buses in Beaverton are run by Tri-Met, the Portland metropolitan area transit agency.

The Beaverton School District also serves the areas of Aloha and Bethany,

Typical Home in the Bethany neighborhood of Beaverton- Portland

which has lovely family neighborhoods and is home to Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus.  Bethany has a community shopping center with Brownstones, condominiums, restaurants and shops.

If a certain Beaverton school is on your list,  you can check out the schools neighborhood  boundaries on the district’s website.

A lovely 55 plus Oregon community called Claremont is also located in Bethany, centered on a golf course and offering tennis, rec center, swimming and community activities.

Please contact Sharon Francis at 503-516-8066 for more information about Beaverton real estate or email her at sharonportland@gmail.com–she knows the Beaverton and Washington County area well.  If you are relocating to Beaverton,  Sharon  provides exclusive representation to her buyers, and will assist in every step of your relocation, including orienting you to the area,  familiarizing you with schools,  assist you to find a temporary rental if needed,  and to preview homes for sale to save you time.  If you are working with a relocation company provided by your employer, Sharon will cooperate with them to provide you with a smooth transition to Beaverton, or other Portland suburbs.   For a sampling of Beaverton homes for sale,  please explore Beaverton homes for sale here.