The Best Rural Small Towns in Oregon.
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Want to find a rural Oregon town to buy a home? Who doesn’t? Today we looking at great rural towns in Oregon. Oregon Real estate is always a great conversation. Ask any Realtor.
We have been doing this series about great rural towns to retire or live as remote workers across the United States, we had a bunch of people ask if we could expand and do it by state. So, we are.
A couple of things about rural Oregon towns, they rarely have jobs so you have to bring one or not need one, and Subaru with good car insurance because chances are you'll end up stuck in a ditch. I did when I moved here.
In the last video, I explained that not all states have 10 good rural towns and I don’t want to waste your time with some places that aren’t worthy of this list.
Oregon has 7 great Rural Towns.
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20449 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy
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Aloha, Oregon 97003
Sisters isn’t rural. It’s a straight up tourist trap
Back in the 80's it was quaint. No longer.
Its got a lot of nice rental homes for vacations and things outside of town
Absolutely agree! Beautiful town but all tourists.I hate driving through their and it’s bumper to bumper.
Bro I was like wtf have you been there
This is an extremely true statement.
I moved to Bend in 1976. It was an awesome small town. Not anymore. It’s expensive and crowded. Sisters is cool but during the entire summer it is like an outdoor shopping mall at Christmas. If you’re looking for the small town vibe look somewhere else.
Yeah, Bend is a nightmare, anymore.
It’s sad what Bend has become. My wife and I bought in La Pine because we didn’t want to be house poor. Bend is too full of transplants. So sad.
Wheeler county is much better. Actual locals there😂
Bend is PIA to get around in if you don't know where you are going.
John day doesn't get flooded with people in the summer or at anytime. Retirement small town. Not for party animals like my wife and I.
As the City Engineer of Amity, I was not expecting to see us on the list....It really is a nice town
I live right out of Amity!!
My Realty company is in McMinnville.
I LOVE this place!!!
Blue Raeven has some of the best pie I've had.
Nice if you like tweakers.
@@LegalShield3000 Where *aren't* there tweakers these days?!
I like how you acknowledged that we are blue but only in the larger areas. The rest of Oregon is conservative.
Yes it's 100% accurate I appreciated that aswell
This!
It's the Oklahoma of the west. It's not a compliment.
@@ambrsanford3703 as opposed to Cali and Washington? Oregon is pretty cool as far as states come
@@annayager4571 California has more conservative people than any other state but 40 million people we are out numbered by the lefttards 25- 15. Guessing. But it is a one dumbass run state
Oregon is beautiful
@@kw-ig4xt Oregon was beautiful not anymore 😢
Neskowin is the most charming town I’ve been to in the U.S. It’s on the coast and everyone has cute houses, with enchanting gardens. The kids ride their bikes around and go to the fishing holes, it’s like time traveling to the 1050’s.
You need to edit 1050 to 1950,k?
Wallowa is the best. We have great internet, two clinics in town and a great hospital 20 min. away. Not to many jobs but the people are amazing and the housing is not bad.
Sad when the local equestrian vet is better than your doctors! Or is that John Day, hmmm. There’s virtually no open jobs where you are! Let alone housing, unless someone died and the family put the house up for sale instead of moving in.
I grew up there, my mom is still the postmaster there.
I live in Lostine and love it! But don't tell anyone. Lol. Housing prices are ridiculous.
Walla walla is in Washington, so you won’t find it in Oregons best small towns….
@@randyhorner592Walla Walla is in Washington… Wallowa is in Oregon😉
I live in McMinnville and I'm so proud 2 towns from Yamhill County made it on this list! Only towns I think should have been added to this list would be Jacksonville and Cottage Grove.
Love Jacksonville.
Cottage grove is one of the trashiest crime and drug infested freeway towns there is. Its not a rural town. Full of fast food and crime like all freeway towns. Mcminnville shouldnt be on the list at all its the exact same as eugene salem and portland....not rural at all either....
I am in McMinnville as well ☺️
Cottage Grove's crime is outrageous. Definitely not a great small town lol
I grew up in the number one town on this list. It was great in the 80s and 90s. Now it’s a terrible place. Rude snotty people.
Thank you for not mentioning my town.
Same lol 😆
Where is that? Klamath Falls?
Why what's wrong with your town ?
I was thinking the same thing
@@cjshadrick4607 They don't want us to move there. Key words: Small, Towns
It's all about Silverton, Oregon! While it has grown ever since I was born/raised there 30 years ago and even though I don't live there anymore, I do frequent it often and have grown to appreciate all that it has to offer. Especially the new addition they've made to it with the Oregon Crafters Market which runs from the beginning of May to the end of October EVERY weekend and the first Friday of the month. It's got a little bit of everything. Take Silver Falls for example!
I thought about moving there. Too far from Hillsboro tho
Scotts Mills is waaaaaaaay cooler than Silverton.
@@yeoldmetalhead6592 lol you're right! That is another great feature about Silverton is Scotts Mills being only a few miles away 😉
Two of my kids were born in Silverton. Nice town, but it has seen a lot of growth over the last 20 years.
@Danestonebreaker
Why do you care about Hillsboro? I mean, that place has blown up and is overdeveloped at this point. Anything you would buy there you can get in Salem/Keizer.
Where joe dirt lives
I can't believe he didn't mention JOSEPH, OREGON! Joseph is right in the middle of the most spectacular mountain range in Oregon. It looks like the Alps. BEAUTIFUL town. Check it out. Northeast corner of the state.
I've been there and wanted to add it. It was actually the 1st town I thought about. Sadly, they have a crime rate that is 53% above the national average, and their internet is horrible. 5% of the town gets Zipply 1 gig. everyone else gets satellite internet.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs oh wow didn't know all that. If it was an "aesthetics only" contest, it would be on it for sure, because surrounding-wise, it's epic!
The Wallowas DO NOT look like the Alps. That's Oregonian infatiation just because it's in Oregon. I lived in Wallowa County for 6 months and it was one of the hardest times in my life. It's not all bad, but the fact that it is so remote and undeveloped makes it hard to prosper. It's walled off by Hell's Canyon to the east and the mountains to the west. It's hard to get to as the freeway is an hour and a half away.
@@markw999 You are right some people do look at that as an advantage... but not many as there are only 7,000 people that live in the county with a declining population. As far as tourism goes there are so many other similar options that are more convinient.
Where do I get info on what percentage of of a city or town's population has a certain internet speed... besides on the providers' websites at least?
I live & grew up in a tiny town called Drain, OR (population under 900), which is less than 20 mins from Cottage Grove (10k people, Walmart, fast food, restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, etc) & 45 mins from Eugene in one direction & about 45 mins from Roseburg (23k people) the other direction. I loved growing up here as a kid & am happy to raise my kids here! I did wind up moving to Cottage Grove as a teenager (we moved a lot actually, but grandparents stayed in Drain) & that town is the pit of hell as far as I'm concerned. Right off I-5, drugs & crime are rampant, & there's some scary stuff going on up in the mountains by Dorena Lake. If you make a worst small towns list, look into CG. A lot of mysterious sketchy stuff. Like the disappearance of Michael Bryson.
I spent alot of time in Dorena years ago and there is shady activity/people there. When I was there I always carried a gun.
Wondering where’s the law enforcement!
@@mikevee9145 I’m in CG and you’re not wrong at all!!
Douglas County for yeah
Cottage grove is a weird town, but iv lived there for about 2 years and quite like it. There's Def sketchy ppl and plenty of drugs but overall, i would recommend it. Also, from what I heard, Bryson disappeared from a heavily drugged rave/party, which isn't all that mysterious....
Vernonia is an old Lumberjack town. That's why it's kind of in the middle of no where. Most of these rural towns like to stay rural and don't take new comers lightly. It starts with one person and then everyone they know starts to move to town. So many small towns in Oregon are starting to get developed to the dismay of the local community and completely transforming the town. Because of this I wouldn't be expecting warm welcomes, especially if your like Briggs here coming from California. If you have ever lived in a small town you will probably be fine but if your expecting to go from a city to a rural town maybe Airbnb first. Something to think about before you consider moving.
This is a fact. My sleepy little town, population 500, is now shadowed by obelisk-like modern housing developments that are being crammed in for massive profit. These folks don't do their shopping here, they don't come to community events, they stick to their chambers. In the winter they fail to drive properly and wind up parking in MY driveway. Please, PLEASE stick to the cities if you aren't going to be a member of our local communities. Evan, you said it best, pal.
@@konnorkuznetsov1035 true Konnor but sometimes my old Tillamook County natives were not welcoming when we did get good good people from out of state either. Very often newcomers want to get involved but are not welcomed. The door swings both ways. I know we tried to be welcoming and got some fabulous neighbors who have done much for our town.
Terroritorial tribal mindsets in the comments lol
@evil tiki
meh' or just don't like the city boy mentality moving next door and driving like they are still in the city. Y'all urban people need to understand that you are viewed with a certain disdain until you prove that you're not just another a$$hat from the city, cuz most of you really are. It's takes about a decade....
@@hukphin740 only takes a second to recognize a redneck tho
I was born and raised in Carlton in the 1950s and early 60s. It was a farming community then and was a great place to grow up. I still have family there and I visit several times a year. It has been revitalized by the wine industry and is a great place to visit!
If you like congestion and crowds, go to Sisters. Very touristy and busy. If you are looking for solitude, not there….
My Wife was raised in Oakridge, her father was a career SP railroad man. Visited many times, wonderful outdoor activities in Oakridge. RIP to father and daughter, love and miss you Chrissy & Cliff Munhollon...
It’s great to see how much Carlton has improved since I was a kid. They really put a lot of work into improving the town.
I guess so. I remember when Yamhill and Carlton both had all the independent shops you needed - grocery, feed, insurance, hardware, bank and so on. When lumber and farming folks lived and worked there. Now it's all wine country tourist trap junk. I suppose it's good repurposing of a couple declining towns, but still depressing to me having grown up there.
@@agc7582 i wish we had more useful stores in yamhill/carton thats for sure. whats up with that carlton grocery store? its such a weird place they have nothing useful it could be such a great market if they tried
@@lukeb4687 For sure - I'm probably just showing my age, but we used to drive to the Carlton Market just to get deep fried mushrooms and jalepeno poppers because T&E in Yamhill didn't have them. I don't think they even have a deli there anymore. I moved out of that area almost 20 years ago and don't get back much, even though I'm just up the road in Newberg.
@@agc7582 the Carlton grocery and deli near the Mexican food place doesn't have anything in there its just the most random useless assortment of boxed foods. im not sure if there is even a deli anymore there it i was told it got bought by some people from India there's never the same person working its weird. there is a small deli on the main strip that has some deli food and drinks but not a whole lot. more of a convenience store
I visited Flaneur Wines in Carlton. It was very nice to see that the grain elevator was saved and repurposed instead of torn down.
A gig is the standard now? Damn! Loving this series. Oregon is a beautiful state.
For urban/suburban I would say yeah that's fairly standard. Rural is a stretch though...
Bring your checkbook.
Right? That was my thought. I paid around 70$/month for 5-10mb u/d and usually only got 3mb where I live. Mind it's more of an urban town but still, 1gb is standard?!
We live just outside of Dayton,Or & just received 24mps in 2014 after waiting 15+ years with a fiber optics junction box only 3/4 mile from our farm. Verizon REFUSED to install any internet! Had to wait for Frontier to take over landlines & then they activated DSL service. Our farm was the very 1st to have DSL service! We requested for >10 years! Now of course Ziply fiber has taken over DSL service. We feel fortunate to have left Tillamook county almost 25 years ago by selling a water view property for enough $$ for our family matriarch to purchase 20 acres of prime valley class II soils that she found in the Capitol Press!
I’m so glad you didn’t mention the small rural town that I’ve lived in for 30 years. I highly recommend to everyone that moving to one of the towns mentioned on this video would be much better than moving to my town 😀
LOL. Mine, too!
Love the series - keep it up! May I suggest one addition to your evaluation - availability of grocery store(s). General store, IGA, or major chain (e.g. Kroger, Safeway), and how far away.
This!!
Yes! Definitely. I hate having to drive 90 minutes or more one way just for groceries. Besides that the ice cream always wants to melt.
Yeah, I would never live further than 25 miles from a Costco! :)
Welcome to Oregon now go home!
Hahahah.
Stay out of Linn county. Keep going to Washington.
Welcome to Uranus, now go home!!👍😜
Right? It seems like half of california has moved to my town. I got into an argument with a californian lady and she wrote out an itemized list of why california's the best. I had to ask her, if it's so great, why are your former neighbors camping in my backyard?
@@mackdog3270everyone has moved everywhere. Let's not get in arguments because someone with money arrived. They are free to be where they please as are you.
Tell that to the liberal lesbian Governors.
Union Oregon is a great little town with a great golf course. Being from near the Oregon border in Idaho, my wife and I travel into Oregon to play golf at least a couple times a year. Union is one of our usual stops. A Nurse that use to work for me now lives in Union so that makes the stop even better. Plus there's a old hotel there that has been kept period correct. We stayed there the first time last year. It was nice to see kids playing outside and riding bikes around town after dinner without the worry of bad people.
That is the REAL Oregon!
Quick PSA for Vernonia. If you plan to move there do your research first! All the utilities are VERY expensive. Also, make sure you buy or rent outside of the flood zone or get a home that FEMA raised above the flood line. It's been a while since a big flood happened in Vernonia but it's still possible. If you do move there and end up needing a state government office there are some programs where you can only go to the state office in your county. For that you'll have to travel over the mountains and through the woods to Saint Helens! If it snows in the winter you'll probably be stuck there for a bit.
We considered a home there, until we checked the flood zones.
yes Alicia Harvey Cost of living in OR is very expensive
Thanks for bringing the flooding up. It's a logging town too.
Yeah, the entire town flooded a several years back! Scary.
Oregon is a gorgeous state. Hood River is probably my favorite small town there.
Hood River is great. Love Full Sail Brewery
My sister lives there and loves it!
You're saying they got a River in the Hood there?? They have Hoods in Oregon??
Hood River is one of my favorite places in the world!
I think the issue with hood river is that it might not qualify as a rural 'small' town. And it's incredibly difficult to find reasonably priced property there without going 5 miles out of town. I'm not sure, but I think the property price might be what kicked it off the list. Now if Briggs does a list titled 'beautiful small cities in Oregon', and cost isn't a factor.... Hood river might be #1 on that list.
So happy that you haven't talked about the town we live in. The less people who know about it the better.
He came scarily close to mentioning one of the small towns where we lived quite a while. In fact, it has the same zip code as the place he mentioned, LOL. I'm not talking about *any* of my favorite towns/places in Oregon! It's already gotten bad enough as it is, so hope some of the least-known (& best) places stay off social media sites!
Finally asking the real questions! Is this town’s crafting scene glitter free?
Jokes aside, my god how splendid the nature in Oregon is…
I’m from Portland, and have been everywhere in the state of Oregon. My top favorites are Hood River, Sisters, Sunriver, Cannon Beach & Brookings.
Brookings is the best in summer
You named most of my favorites too. Not far from towns but out enough to enjoy the calmness.
Sunriver is hella expensive tho
Hood River is one of the few open beverage towns in the US. Nicer than The Dalles- but the people in The Dalles are friendlier. Brookings is one of my favorites. Sisters too.
Born in Hood River but raised in Portland. Real Estate has been overpriced since it transformed into a tourist Mecca following intro of windsurfing. Many homes are 2nd and short term rentals. But Hood River area is Gorgeous-no pun intended.
I love Oregon ❤
I used lived in Beaverton graduate Beaverton high school.I wanna go back someday. Thank you Briggs 😊
I graduated from Gresham Union HS, loved Oregon, as well
I spent my childhood in coastal Oregon... not rural. But it was the second most beautiful area Ive lived in. second only to the redwood forests of far northern California.
If they only had redwoods and the Pacific in Idaho...
There are also redwood forests in southern parts of Oregon.
Love the OR coast, especially Newport. I'm in 7th heaven when I go there.
I’ll give you a good deal on my house in Florence 😂
@@DrNeubertJR 100k? 🙃
Great in the summer, but rain, Rain, and more RAIN all of the other seasons.
Look at the population of towns on the coast in CA. Nice weather all seasons = large populations. EXPENSIVE!
Oregon coastal towns are great in the summer, but look at their populations. All are hardly anything! Why? Because anything but summer season and it rains constantly! Drizzle rain that last sometimes for over a week straight with no blue sky the entire time. It's why people don't live there. AND, add to that the huge wind! It's a rarity if you get a low wind day... The whole day. Morning might start off low wind, but by late afternoon it's a gale!
The only people that do live in the Oregon coast LOVE THE RAIN. 😉🤷
Me too!
@@DrNeubertJR Trade for mine in Parkston South Dakota?
There are a lot of small towns south of Eugene too. I live in Sutherlin, and have been in this area for the last47 years. It is a nice area.
@@dhanks55 yes.
I am interested in part of Oregon that is in the alleged process of seceding to Idaho. Reasonable land, multipurpose store, organic goods etcetera. I am retired from Law, Accounting, farming, Bounty Hunter, and Life coach. Union City, I have been checking out. These real-estate people really slay me, they expect 2-5% commission however, their expectation is we do the work that they need to do. Several of my ancestors moved to Oregon and one of the county's is named for him Linn County. My legacy is my grandfather assisted in building the 'historical courthouse' in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. My deceased husband was the Master Electrician for City of Eugene, Oregon, according to my adult sons they say the coastal areas is loading up 'unvetted' aliens and drugs are massive problem. Both have Businesses in Lane County. TY PJ
Stay away from living on the Oregon Coast towns, they are very sick, twisted isolated communities. Drugs, alcohol, crime are as bad as any major city. Corruption and left wing politics is prevalent everywhere. Unless you are interested in pagan worshipping, witchcraft supply stores, voodoo supplies, tarot readings, occultist culture anything and everything Anti-God. The coast is geographic beautiful but overran by new age and pagan worshipping cultures.
Just make a visit or day trip to anything Oregon Coast related.
Best thing to look for is a small town almost anywhere east of I-5 corridor. in the Oregon succession with Idaho region. Decent people, decent communities live all over Oregon. The problem is everything located in the I-5 corridor and west to the coastline.
Did you ever find a place? Just curious. I doubt the "ruling elite" of Oregon will allow them to secede.(Multnomah County) BTW, I was born in Eugene when my Dad was attending U.O. & went there myself 17 years later. It was already danged leftist by that time, which was fine by me since I was a baby wannabe hippie. Then I grew up, LOL. Mostly lived in the NW part of the state, though.
Bandon on the southern coast is absolutely called and considered a rural town...born and raised...current resident.
I agree with you! I am also q resident. Ended up here on our honeymoon and moved here 2 years later. We love it here! It is a great tourist town!
Euchre Creek and anything else south of the Big Lizard. If you've been down the coast, you know what the Big Lizard is.
Shout out to Bandon on the Bay (don't forget Port Orford too ! Lol)
Bandon is just another liberal run city ..with woke police dept. ... tourist love it ..
Let's Go, Bandon.
I went to Sisters when I was a little kid and it was such a charming little city! And Bend has the world’s last Blockbuster, another pro!
Bend is very good, but expensive af
Some good memories of Sisters. Stayed there a couple of times as I followed my girlfriend along the PCT (Mexico border- Mt. Hood, meeting her on the Trail when I could get away from work) which passes just outside town (McKenzie Pass). Since then I've considered Sisters as a possible relocation destination if I ever decided to relocate from CA. I do like Oregon.
Enjoyed this video - you have great energy! PS as a fellow Oregonian (3rd generation) I would note one thing: it's eu-GENE, emphasis on the second syllable. Now no one ever has to know you've lived anywhere else 😋✌🏽
Born there. I didn't watch or listen to the vid too well, but I take it he pronounced Eugene incorrectly? Like how people not from Oregon call it "Ore-gone"?
Absolutely love Oregon! I suggested this and happy you did it!!! Love the channel!
Sisters is indeed expensive and has a very polished resort/high end vibe.
It’s known for it’s outdoor activities.
Golf, Rafting, fly fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, etc.
Also very popular with the equestrian crowd.
Some of the “towns” on this list just wide spots on the highway.
There’s some incredible small towns in Oregon and I’m glad they’re not on this list.
This video does give a great idea of what to expect and is a good starting point. 🙂👍
M n
Naw, it's not high end, its snooty.
@@justkelly6992 Agreed. Money does not equate to class.
Sisters needs to relocate to Disneyland.
It's known for fires forest fires coming right through the city and you have to get out a lot of those homes burned and we're rebuilt so that's a real fire danger ⚡ you want to fight racism you want to feel it hard on you from the first day you come come to Oregon
I wouldn’t consider Oakridge to be “in the sticks”. There are towns in eastern Oregons Outback, such as Lakeview, that are truly “out there” 😊
Love lakeview. The stench keeps the californians out.
I've only been through Oakridge on Amtrak. I'd rate it "in the sticks" simply because it's up in the mountains (Cascades), though of course it's on one of the main routes across the Cascades I've been through in the winter (snow up in the Willamette Pass), so I imagine travel is less easy in a bad winter. Also, I would be somewhat wary of just about any mountain-area town now that wildfires are a constant threat. Wasn't Oakridge threatened in the last couple of years? The devastation of several communities in the McKenzie River area could happen anywhere.
Lakeview is so far away from civilization - that they're excited when the pony express comes twice a week.
@@murrayspiffy2815 HAHAHAHAHAH! And Paisley, Summer Lake, and Silver Lake. I'd reckon the stage stops in Christmas Valley as well!
Eh, it’s relative. By now, old-time Oregonians would consider Carlton and Amity to be suburbs, but if you grew up outside an east coast exurb and saw those places, they’d use “sticks” to define those towns. Oakridge is rather isolated for being west of the Cascades. If you like fir trees, you will like Oakridge.
I love Southern Oregon. I have been there many times The #10 bus
runs from Ashland to Medford and that covers anywhere you need to go.
Lithia Park: Piece of HEAVEN!
Why do I want a Part 2 of Oregon because it feels like you missed a lot of towns.
I would recommend Joseph, and Enterprise. Cove is tiny, and in a beautiful setting. Also Baker City.
More like towns on this list undeserving.
@@standunitedorfall1863 Stayed in Joseph and found it beautiful, and the people were very, very nice and helpful and friendly. Preferred it to Enterprise, but the latter is bigger and has more stores and amenities. But they are so close you just drive a few minutes from Joseph to Enterprise. Also liked the look of Elgin, closer to La Grande, but very pretty, on the edge of the glorious Wallowa Mountains. This whole area is so beautiful; it was on my bucket list for Oregon--finally got there a few years ago. I preferred La Grande to Baker City, but liked both. Both are a bit bigger than the "small towns" on this list, but quite honestly, I would rather live in a slightly larger place that's still in a rural area and where you can so easily access the great outdoors anyway.
Rural America is on life support younger generations need considerably more than what these areas can offer. Most of these places are for older people who want a slower lifestyle
5 years ago you could expect these property prices to have been 35-50% of what it is right now. Crazy how much inflation has hit in such a small time due to such major events
I'm surprised that Cave Junction, OR, and Ten Mile didn't make it.....like ALL of SW Oregon wasn't even on here....powers, Coquille, canyonville, Myrtle creek, yoncallla, Sutherlin , ....the list goes on
Yes. Southern Oregon is very poor. Self inflicted.
@@naswiipp bull.
Camas Valley and Winston, my Aunt and Uncle lived in Camas and Winston has the Winston Wildlife Safari and they're both beautiful towns, if I could afford it (or find a future husband that already lives there) I would gladly leave my hometown Klamath Falls in a heartbeat, nothing but bad attitudes and heat here, and "brown", I feel so happy every time I drive to Winston etc and I see all of that greenery, just trees, grass etc, everything is so green and beautiful there
@@CourageousDreamerAllon4journey I live in Klamath and it sucks, born and raised here and I've been around Southern Oregon and it all sucks, bad attitudes, crime and the stupid big cities up north decide everything for us when it's time to vote
I like a lot of SW Oregon towns, but Cave Junction has turned into a cesspool over the last few years.
I luv it, my personal fav in Oregon is… Boring……. Yep the town is called Boring…. On the way to mount Hood you’ll “bump” in to Boring, keep it at the speed limit and you’ll see the Town sign…..
Lived there until a year ago. It's a good area. But too close to Portland, imo.
My B-I-L (not someone of whom I'm particularly fond) lives in Boring. That alone is good enough reason for me to never live there! Love all my memories of Oregon, though. Even Portland was once a great place to be as a teen. Won't even go there now.
I lived in Oregon for 32 years and loved it. Only moved to be near my dtr.
So crazy oak ridge story! Three years ago I was bow hunting out past the lake and found a old grave site that people had been putting super creepy stuff all around… I have videos for proof it was in the middle of the woods nowhere near a cemetery. Very creepy to find at sunset 😵💫
There's an old settlers graveyard that is up in the woods close to the Hills Creek Reservoir. It's not marked at all and the only way you know it's there is they sometimes go up and put little white crosses. I think it might have been the graveyard for the Hills family. You may have also stumbled upon somebody's animal they buried in the woods.
You touched on something here that might be a good topic: college towns that are good for seniors who might want to take classes
That's a very good point. For example, somewhere like La Grande, which I've stayed rather briefly in (traveling by bus, and needed to connect there to the bus to Joseph in the beautiful Wallowa Mountains--now, there's a really lovely small town, and would be ideal for an outdoors-loving person). I liked La Grande--a bit bigger maybe than most of the small towns on this list--and it has a college, I think Eastern Oregon Community College. Also, good connections on I-84. Very beautiful country. I am not sure how this part of the country is faring in the current drought conditions. La Grande, like many towns in Oregon, does have a public transportation system (or did when I was there pre-Covid, just a few years ago), so if you get too old to drive, you can get around town via the local bus!
You should include Dufur on your list. The town motto: "Ask not what you can do for Dufur, ask what Dufur can do for you."
I always thought it was Dufur a change!
You're number one choice Carlton is a great town. I wish they would quit advertising Sherwood as one of the top places to live for the last couple years because we like our small town we don't want it to grow but it's growing like everything else everywhere else. I sure enjoy your videos thank you❤️
I'm moving out to Oregon mid may relocating my family hopefully I can give them a better opportunity at life
Hope you really enjoy the rain. I've lived in Oregon my whole life and we get drizzle! Rain and more rain for over a week! Then, you'll see a hint of blue sky finally and then the rain will start again for another week straight! Except for summer. Other than summer, you'll get to love the rain....
Nope! 😢
I just discovered this Channel by chance. I'm thinking of moving up to Oregon from Arizona, as I have family there. Great video, I look forward to seeing your other videos. You're right about how Prescott is pronounced in Arizona.
Look forward to each episode of this series!
Thanks
Thanks for doing this video Briggs, have had the privilege of visiting Oregon and absolutely love it, such a beautiful state. Hope I make it back there again!
It's a blessing to live here🙂
It seems that people say that when they've visited in the summer. Other than summer, we get buckets of rain! Fall, Winter, and Spring - Rain! And it's not like other places that get a big rain shower for an hour or an afternoon then it stops and it's sunny! Nope, it's drizzle! Rain for a week or more straight... Then a hint of blue sky, then rain for several days to follow! Except for summer, you'll have to develop a love for the rain because we get tons of it in Oregon. And it's the type that continues for seemingly EVA!
I really really really liked Oregon, went there recently, people there a very similar to people here in Minnesota. I traveled all over the west and southwest and actually found Utah to be absolutely stunning which I never expected.
Utah is stunning. Most of the western states and the PNW are in comparison to the Midwestern and eastern/southern states. It's the topography that makes it so beautiful.
@@cynthia8343 Its not just that, you can see how ancient the earth is, it puts (at least for me) all this BS in a way better perspective, it gives us all a place in time, thanks for commenting back😷
So true. Thank you too for response.👍🏼
I grew up in Duluth, and currently live on the Oregon coast. I describe the area as being like summer on Lake Superior year round. Cool and rainy. Also, like you said, the people and food are similar to Minnesota.
@@owlbuquerqueturkey lucky you for getting out of the winters, lol
My folks lived in Carlton for three years prior to our moving to CA in '56. We lived three miles east on Finn Hill Loop. Great area for a large family (five kids) to grow up.
The 2nd largest UFO festival is held in nearby McMinnville, even though for me it is an 800 mile drive, I attend as often as I can, and of course, always recheck my old stomping grounds while there. BHE
Sisters is home to a seriously fantastic acoustic guitar maker, Preston Thompson. He and a small number of skilled employees turn out amazing custom steel string acoustic guitars. I lived in Eugene and vacationed in Sisters more than once. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Sisters also has the Folk music festival, quilt show, Sisters rodeo and great nature nearby like the Metolius river.
@@InfiniteRealms The Metolius is very beautiful.
RIP Preston Thompson
"Community" (Prescott?) Wallowa Valley / County with 7000 (county pop) with Enterprise (2000+) Joseph (1700ish) Lostine and Wallowa. The four towns share a 40 mile stretch along the Wallowa River, with Enterprise with a nice newish hospital. About and hour drive from LaGrande and the freeway (good/bad depending on your POV), surrounded by high alpine outdoor adventures mostly suited for horseback, and a 5000ish elevation prairie that includes one of the jewels of land protected by The Nature Conservancy. A mixture of old housing, much of which has never had upgrades and newer standard fare, many of which are hillside with great views of the Wallow Mtns. Cost of living is not prohibitive. Arts and crafts opportunities abound and an ongoing effort to upgrade and save historical buildings downtown is making a difference. During the three years that I lived there (2016-19)
I have a Ranch in Sisters. It is great. Out the back gate the North Sisters is ten miles. Snow up there all year long.
I have a head injury and can’t handle the pain. Good deal on a Ranch with everything from water falls lakes and lookout. Miles of ski trails and to horse and AB’s riding. I love this place.
ive got a friend who knows someone who has a house in black butte ranch, and it’s so nice there! we love to go vacation there
Please stop telling people to move here. everyone who grew up here is getting priced out of their homes
Exactly 💯
Man 30 people are going to move there to Eugene Oregon from New Orleans we have a few MS-13 members
@@DingChavez-m1x are you on some new medication?
😅
Say it out loud for us people in Medford Oregon 😅
Watching and loving this series on every State!👍🏻
Me too.
@@disneytriviatoysandcrafts8180 Me 3
Glad you enjoy it!
Great video! As a fellow Oregonian, this is super accurate, well done! 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
Briggs, I am really enjoying these Rural town videos that you have been making for us! I love all your viedos for that matter. Thank you for all your effort and work! You are very good at what you do! I am looking forward to all the other videos!!! Take care and God Bless you and your family! 😊😊💝💝
Thank you.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs Briggs,
You are failing to mention the one big issue here in Oregon, the racism. It has gotten much worse over the last seven or so years. As an American of European & Native Ancestry I have to say that it was a big mistake to move here. Read the original state constitution and you will know why as African Americans were not allowed to live in Oregon. But the hatred of Natives is probably the worse, followed the hatred of Latinos and African Americans...
I love living in small towns. I used to live in Scio, OR which is south of Stayton. At the time it was a small town with lots of farm land. Now there's a housing development there. Living in Portland now and I miss the small town living 😀
I got my drivers license in staton
I have lived in both
Former mayor of Albany Sharon Konopa is from Scio. Her birth name was Sharon Jan Widmark. Her father was Hollywood actor Richark Widmark, who starred in several sinister movies. Their ancestors came from Switzerland where Widmark is synonomous with witchcraft. The TV series ONCE Upon A Time is about Albany, and Sharon is the wicked queen Regina. Albany is Storybrooke. Scio is Zion. Salem is Jerusalem. Lebanon is Lebanon. Palestine Hill is in North Albany. The Sherwood Forest is 1 mile south of the Oakville church. The castle of Oz was atop Skinner Butte immediately north of downtown Eugene. Eugene is the Emerald City in the Emerald Empire. The Enchanted Forest is south of Salem. The town of Merlin is west of Crater Lake. Sherwood is southwest of Portland. Albany used to be called New Albion. English captains James Cook and Sir Frances Drake visited New Albion. Oregon is the Pacific Wonderland.
I currently live in Stayton. I can't believe it didn't make the list. You missed Sublimity too. We have pretty much all the basic small town amenities, with a hospital included. If you get a chance to visit this summer, please do. No shortage of fishing, and hiking at Silver Falls nearby. Wineries too!
@@Rockstar97321 Not completely correct; Drake anchored near today's San Francisco and claimed the surrounding land, which he called New Albion, for Queen Elizabeth. Neither Cook nor Drake made it to Oregon.
Do you ever have the urge to go back about 20 years in time when things were just more settled in some ways?? I live there now! Moved here in 2017 for what I thought was going to be 4-5 months turned into 5 years.
Roseburg is probably one of the most misunderstood yet pretty places in Oregon. It is in Douglas County, a huge county with probably the prettiest river in Oregon, the Umpqua ie North Umpqua. Then there is also the South Umpqua, not as prominent but still a pretty river. Also Little River as well.
What is nearby? Diamond Lake, Crater Lake, some of the best swimming holes in Oregon on the N Umpqua, Colliding Rivers in Glide, many different waterfalls, two different routes to the coast which have mild traffic and great views especially the one that takes you through Elkton which also runs along the Umpqua most of the way, there are some hiking trails in the North Bank road area where you can hike for miles on end along the ridgelines of some of the many grassy hills outside of town... a mini version of Sound of Music.
Roseburg is a little lacking in culture but people are friendly and unassuming. The economy took a huge hit with the descent of the lumber industry. You definitely wouldn't move here to start a business! But if you have funds and want something between Bend and the coast, Roseburg works. There is no singles market. There isn't much of a nightlife.
Truth be told, I make more than enough to live anywhere and have lived in both south Eugene , SE Portland in the Tabor Hood, and visit family often in a desirable area of Seattle... but I just find the ho-hum-laid-back vibe, pretty scenery, and the Umpqua river to be comforting in a world gone sorta cuckoo.
There are a lot of old people here! And townies. And poor people. And some homeless. But violent crime is non-existent. Petty crime... sure but I haven't had one issue and I don't live in a primo neighborhood.
Most people like distractions and need to be around lots of people. I get it. I have that side too and I visit Portland/Eugene/Seattle from time to time... but those places are just getting more crowded and pricey than ever. Seattle and Portland have definitely peaked at this point. If you are very wealthy, sure, but if you are just getting by, it is going to be a struggle fighting for housing etc in both places.
Back to Roseburg... it doesn't hurt that I have a $750 two-bedroom apartment with vaulted ceilings on the edge of town. Roseburg will probably go on a growth spurt down the road when UBI is a thing and people migrate to make their money stretch further. Who knows!
love the museum in Roseburg....
Very truthful response I currently live in pdx and it's gotten so bad with the cost a d amount of violent crime most people don't go out it's like work and home be in before street lights are on To just to try and feel safe
Average rent is 2000+ a month here
easy to score meth too!
My best friend just moved to Oregon from CA last week. She loves it there.
I'm kinda bummed that Shady Cove didn't make the list. It's where I grew up and a pretty cool little town.
Shady Cove, Jacksonville, Ruch…lots of great little towns down here :)
I lived in Salem for 15 years, I love McMinnville and Amity is cute and Carleton is cool and the great state of Oregon creates the best Pinot Noir. Lovely people. I say this as a Californian, now living in Florida.
Great video. Oregon has some of the best scenery I've seen
We lived there in the 90s and I remember the city library doubled as their municipal court lol. It IS a peaceful town....we loved it.
Oregon's taxes and politics are a huge bummer, though.
Sure are.
be more explicit; land use laws bug you? no regressive sales tax? what would you prefer? too many Democrats in office-try running for public office
I don't agree about taxes. No sales tax on every day purchases is great and income tax isn't terrible. Property tax is reasonable. Problem now is the state is covering illegal immigrants healthcare with tax money while neglecting maintenance of hwy 101.
Thanks for the honest comments on small town non-liberalism 😉it’s a fairly correct assessment on this state
The number one town, however, is extremely liberal.
OP You need to get out more.
I like Mitchell
I raised my children east of Yamhill. You couldn't give property away in Carlton....now thriving. I have always wanted to live in Sisters but I am in Sherwood which has grown from a small hole in the wall to a great metropolis. Best Police Force on the State. Lots to do here.
My favorite city in Oregon, although not rural, is Roseburg. On I-5 between Grants Pass and Eugene. Love that area and the people there.
Sisters wins for me.
I love Oakridge and I wouldn't mind living there if I moved back to Oregon. It's really is a nice little town, IMO. Years ago it was more self contained until a lot of the restaurants, the bowling alley, (a cute 6 lane establishment) the clothing store and such closed. But I still love Oakridge and I think it'll would be nice to live there if you don't mind winter snow.
Happy to see a follow Oakridgian (even if it was in the past) that has good taste in RUclips channels!
Oakridge is an excellent place to live but can be rough on the commute if you work in Eugene and on snow days. Being retired from LTD I lived in Goshen. out but in and close to work.
Visited Oakridge a few years back. My sister lives there. Gorgeous area, and my BiL took me out to his fishing spot on Salmon Creek. Fabulous place.
I love Oakridge. Enjoy every time I work in that area.
Probably OK if you lean to militias, sovereign citizen concept of governance and Fundamentalism. Otherwise ... drive through town and do not stop.
Great video. Many little towns I’ve been to and a couple I haven’t heard of. Living in Southern Oregon is an absolute gift to someone that loves the outdoors and can withstand the elements. Hunting, fishing, foraging are plentiful here. Rafting, skiing, paragliding, or long bike rides are common with us. The Hellgate Jet boat Excursion in Grants Pass is a must, for the wine drinkers that love adventure especially. There are still many little towns that meet the criteria and yet I’m still happy you didn’t mention them.
The more lavish areas here, or tougher places to buy a home seem to be Ashland, Jacksonville, East Medford, Sun River. And basically anywhere where cabins have been allowed to be built along the lakesides.
Absolutely!
CJ all day 🤣
Wow... As an Oakridgian, I'm a little surprised that Oakridge is on the list. That being said, I'm glad it's on the list and glad that other people see the potential that I do. Because of the setting and scenery there's a few high profile people who have residences here but yet they fit as just anybody else here. I love it here simply due to the scenery, weather,, and outdoor activities.
Lol .. and whom would the high profile people be?
@@Vinsanity503... Given that they've managed to live here in relative anonymity for years, I would be a asshole to mention them . And I fully realize that I sound stupid for not answering, but your question is one of those damned no matter how you answer type of questions. And you knew that when you asked it. I'd rather sound silly than be an asshole to good people.
And I being a few oakridgian am surprised also! As of the time I write this, 5-9-22 , we are down to one Dr's office. But if you love the outdoors, this is the place!
@@redchic relax .. you can tell me. I have no intentions
Iv lived near eugene all my life and can't imagine living in oakridge for more then a summer, it's got hardly the bare minimum.
I live in Elkton, Oregon. Tourists have invaded it here, luckily I live 6 miles outta town on a private ranch so I'm thankful for that
Nothing like ruining small town life for the locals who grew up in a small town and made their lives there. I know of a couple of small towns in different States. One is to the point where the locals who grew up there couldn’t pay their property taxes in the end and had to move into motels or become homeless.
That has happened to the N. Oregon Coast! Many job openings are unfulfilled despite paying well, because of the lack of long term affordable housing to rent or buy! There are decent jobs but local people can`t compete with outside $$ people who are moving in.
George Jacobson that happened already all over OR When you have one party, big government mindset rule, it affects everything even rural places. but OR voters keep voting in same thing so..
Fun video! I’ve lived in Oregon for all, but two years of my life: Milton-Freewater, Corvallis, Oregon City, Newport, Gleneden Beach, Hillsboro, Wilsonville, Keizer, and just over a year ago, my wife and I bought our first house in Dallas.
…live part time in the summer in Ashland, it’s a great town with amazing residents. Home prices have steadily gone up through the years since I’ve bought my hilltop orchard back in 1996.
Went to Southern Oregon College there in Ashland for a couple of years back in 1979-1981. Would skip classes on early warm spring days and go sit near the stream in Lithia Park and speak duck jabber to the ducks. Did my best to try to convince them they had it made!
I think Ashland is too big to qualify as a small town for this list. Ditto places like La Grande (which I liked--would rather live there than in Union, for example).
@@elainechubb971 …I love La Grande!! I agree Ashland has grown a lot as well as the surrounding towns with Medford leading it’s sizable population growth.
@@skymuffn I did a trip around the "emptier" parts of the state to see something of some of the areas I hadn't gotten to--primarily the Wallowas, on my bucket list. Traveled by bus, mainly the network of buses that Oregon or its counties provide. (Thank you so much, Oregon!) Stayed in La Grande before and after taking the bus to Joseph, and explored the town a bit, including riding the local bus in the loop around the city, including the college campus. Really liked it a lot. Nice downtown (and had an excellent lunch there!). Went to Baker City for the day, which was a little less appealing--very hot, so my walking around was curtailed. Loved Joseph, though it's so small and isolated I wouldn't want to live there year-round. I found that whole area of northeast Oregon beautiful and the people in general very pleasant, friendly, and helpful. The ride (by bus) from Ontario to Bend had incredible scenery, but my goodness, I couldn't live in such an empty area! Or in a desert--love green trees too much. If I weren't basically a city dweller, I would choose somewhere like La Grande, just big enough to have some urban amenities, but small enough not to be overwhelming. I'm retired, and don't run a car, so need(ed) to consider things like medical facilities, including a good hospital reasonably close, public transportation, good Internet, and so on.
So I have just moved to Oregon from Arizona. Thank you for this video. Also I’m in McMinnville and honestly everything on this list feels so close so I must be in the right place.
As someone who moved out of California to Oregon,may I offer a word to the wise; don't tailgate,you might get shot.Forget everything you think your going to do here that you did there.
If you move from ANY part of Calif (Oregon natives can't distinguish Alturas from Anaheim) to Oregon, don't tell your new neighbors that you are from Calif, lie and tell them you are from Arkansas and only lived in Calif for a few months. Go to Ore DMV immediately and get your Ore plates, no joke the natives will key your car or worse.
Oregon is beautiful and nobody should move there from anywhere else expecting to change it.
That said...Oregon natives are the least welcoming folk of any of the states I've lived in...they simply hate everything and everyone that isn't native.
Moved out to McMinnville back in 87 from Beaverton and Amity area in 98. Trips up to the Portland and surrounding areas remind me how fortunate I am.
Almost any small town in Oregon is an awesome place to live just depends on the individuals. Most of these towns have an antique store or two.
Except CJ, stay away, were happy w/o you
it leans liberal is an understatement
The Willamette Valley is known for its wines; it used to be known for its berries, cherries, nuts, peaches, corn, beans, etc.; you know, real food. Once had plenty of dairies, and cattle ranches too. Times change.
yes @BeeSilverBee, its been replaced by tourist and resorts, etc.
@@dhanks55 Name one resort in the Willamette Valley, lol. (Hint: there are none)
Live in Portland, have traveled through the valley to and from coast and up and down (until last couple of years). Still see hazelnut orchards. A lot of pasture along the main route to Lincoln City. Also, the valley is not just one unvaried area. Down south, there is still a lot of grass cultivation (for the grass seed), as there has been for years. The farmers' produce stands along highways and the nurseries lead me to believe there is still quite a bit of varied agriculture. And don't forget the Christmas trees! Note: if you have allergies (hay fever or asthma), I'd avoid the grass-growing areas.
@@elainechubb971 yes in direction of S to Lincoln City, agriculture alive but struggling. Encourage everyone to support those Christmas Tree farmers this coming up Christmas! 🙂🙂
Regarding Oakridge, the medical facilities are limited to one now. We get fires every summer now. Smoke lingers during fire season and during the winter wood burning times. Also we have a drug addiction problem that stirs up thievery and homelessness. Also the encampments that are out in the nearby wilderness are dangerous and dirty.
Other than that it is a beautiful place to live. I live here and love the hiking and beauty in the natural areas. Just trying to keep it real.
You should take Sisters and Carlton off the list. Both are too expensive for most to be able to afford buying. If I wanted to pay Dunthorpe prices, I would live in Dunthorpe.
Dundee, Yamhill, Sheridan, Willamina, Dayton, Lafayette, Forrest Grove, are a few more. Growing up in McMinnville, I enjoyed all these little towns for various reasons.
I would have liked to have seen a shot of the bike path that was talked about in Vernonia (#2) . I've been to Oregon just once and it was a very nice state. Anyways I've liked every one of Briggs' videos I have seen. Such nice photos along with useful information and love the delivery that Briggs does.
That bike path was once a steam locomotive scenic railroad that my family all traveled on from Banks to Vernonia in the 1960`s. Later the tracks were torn up & converted to a bike way. There is a trestle where you cross hwy. 26 kind of near Manning that is still used for the cyclists. Sometime we would like to ride 1 of our horses on the path if it was okay.
Best bike path ever!!
@@bobbisellsor6866 Yes, it is a great path as since it was built for a railroad the grades are not too steep for riding on.
I would love to see a future video about Oregons Coastal Towns. 🤩
I live near DRAIN. Oregon but Yoncalla, Oregon is a great small town. Both have fiber intranet.
I grew up in Drain. I love Yoncalla also!
My mom was raised in Union and my grandparents lived there until they passed. It was crazy to see them as first. I hated visiting as a kid it was so far out for me lol but it's cute town.
Love your videos, especially highlighting Oregon.
Please consider Baker City if you’re doing Part 2. It’s a great town, friendly folks, recreation, history, medical.
Thank you.
Please don't consider Baker City, I'd rather it stayed the way it is and isn't "discovered".
@@zzdoodzz Little worthless history: Back when I was a young whipper snapper my parents drove from Grant County to Baker to buy provisions about every month or two. That was back around the late 1950's. The only route we had from Bates, Oregon (now extinct) to Baker was the old U.S. 26 route over Dooley Mountain. One MUST travel Dooley Mountain to understand WHY I got so car sick EVERY time we drove to Baker. Over to Baker - back home ... major car sick from all the constant switchbacks: Dooley hated me and I hated it. I left more good food in the gravel throwing up from car sickness along U.S. 26 that buzzards flew behind Dad's car for some easy pickings.
My mom lived in Vernonia. One other thing I would say is unless things have changed they have really good parades for a small town! and that trail i9s great!!
Briggs said Oregon is a good state for people who love beer. Hey, every state is a good state for people who love beer. Oregon shines because it is a good state for people who love cannabis.
Joe Davis...After 22 yrs I just sold my 11 1/2 acre spread in Dopeville (Williams) with 500 ft of river. legal water rights, fenced entirely and cross fenced Barn, Workshop, Studio 60 ft pond 2000 trees etc..the dope growers finally ran us out. I sold it in 2 hrs of the listing for full price sight unseen cash.
I now live in Jacksonville where I have owned another home for 8yrs,,,wish I had moved much earlier. , fantastic. No dope or wannabeerastafariantrustfundbabycarpetbaggingcriminaldopegrowers.
Good state for people who love meth
I'm not one of them lol.
@@CourageousDreamerAllon4journey Neither are we!
I really like Vernonia as far as small towns go. I’ve spent a lot of time here for work (actually watching this video from Vernonia!) and I’m glad to see it made the list.
I love your videos. Always well researched, informative and interesting. Ok. I’m also a big fan of your voice. I love Oregon. The more Oregon videos you can produce, the better.
I don't think he pronounces Oregon correctly it is more like or gun
@@mariewestlind212 I cringed when he mentions Eugene. For someone who lives in Oregon he should know that the stress is on the second syllable.
I grew up near Prescott, just across the river in Washington. I can vouch for the beauty of the area, and if my hubby could stand the rain, I’d move us back in a heartbeat. Been in California for 25 years, and I just can’t stand the heat.
We can`t stand the heat! Never so glad ton see the rains return a couple of years ago after the horrible heat of the summer.