Beaverton, OR

Beaverton offers big-city amenities without the hassle. Located a mere seven miles from Portland, Beaverton provides community services, attractive family-friendly neighborhoods, a large shopping district, and dozens of churches that serve a variety of denominations. The big city feel of this 16-square-mile city is tempered by a large amount of green, open spaces, including more than 100 parks covering 1,000 acres.

With a population of about 86,000 Beaverton is Oregon's fifth-largest city. Because of the city's growing popularity, major highways, and convenient mass transportation, Beaverton is establishing itself as one of the finest places in the state to live, visit, and do business.

EDUCATION

Beaverton makes up the third-largest school district in Oregon; more than 36,000 students are enrolled in the district's 46 schools. These schools include Aloha High School, Beaver Acres Elementary School, Cooper Mountain Elementary School, Five Oaks Middle School, Sexton Mountain Elementary School, and Vose Elementary School.

The Beaverton School District consistently scores high on standardized tests, and Beaverton is nationally acclaimed for its school district's high SAT scores. On average, the school district enjoys a low student-to-teacher ratio of 25 to 1. Students seem eager to continue their education; in 2005 it was estimated that 91 percent of the district's high school seniors were preparing to enter college.

Found within minutes of Beaverton are some of the state's most prestigious private schools. The education programs provided by these institutions are highly rated. These schools include Catlin Gabel School, French American School, Jesuit High School, Oregon Episcopal School, St. Mary of the Valley Grade School, and Valley Catholic High School.

As far as higher education, undergraduate and graduate programs are offered from the following colleges and universities:

• Oregon Health Sciences University
• Portland State University
• OGI School of Science and Engineering
• Lewis & Clark College
• Oregon Center for Advanced Technology Education
• Portland Community College
• Oregon State University

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The backyard of the Beaverton area is framed by rolling hills, flourishing forests, wild rivers, and nature-filled wetlands. With 13 neighborhood association committees, the residents of Beaverton exemplify their belief in a strong public involvement in Beaverton government.

The city is known for its appealing, manicured, and well-planned neighborhoods and the mix of high-quality and affordable family homes. Each of the designated neighborhoods offers its own school. The City has a vast amount of "Green Space" with over 100 parks encompassing 1,000 acres; in fact, a park is located within a half mile of every home. Residents also enjoy the town's 30 miles of hiking trails and a 25-mile network of bike paths. Below are 2008 home value averages by neighborhood.

• Central Beaverton: Homes here cost about $258,000.
• Denney Whitford/Raleigh West: The median cost of a home in the Denney Whitford neighborhood is $252,500.
• Five Oaks/Triple Creek: The median cost of a home in Five Oaks is $248,000.
• Greenway: Homes cost around $299,000 here.
• Highland: On average, homes cost about $294,000.
• Neighbors Southwest: The median cost of a home in this neighborhood is $269,990.
• Sexton Mountain: This neighborhood is a little pricier, with a median home price of $317,213.
• South Beaverton: This neighborhood is even a little more costly at $333,000.
• Vose: The median cost of a home in this neighborhood is $231,500.
• West Beaverton: The median cost of a home in this neighborhood is $299,950.
• West Slope: This neighborhood is the most expensive, with a median cost of $395,000.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Two events that occurred in the 1990s helped transform Beaverton into the sprawling city it is today. First, electronics became a popular industry in the area, primarily for chip plants, paving the way for a number of technology centers. Today, Tektronix is one of the state's largest employers. Second, a MAX line rail system was built to include stops in the city, enabling workers to commute quickly and easily.

Beaverton is the home to a number of important industries that keep the city thriving and successful, including a food processor and distributor and a specialty optics manufacturer. The world headquarters of Nike, Inc., a 750-acre campus, is also found in Beaverton.

GETTING AROUND

Beaverton is the center of Washington county and is easily accesible from any direction. Public transportation is served by TriMet, which carries over 300,000 riders daily and on weekends. Work is also underway on a commuter line from Wilsonville to Beaverton.

LOCAL MEDIA

• Beaverton Valley Times is the city's major newspaper, with a circulation of about 7,000. Beaverton receives most of the major radio and television stations of Portland, Oregon, including:

• KATU, Channel 2 (ABC)
• KPTV, Channel 12 (FOX)
• KGW, Channel 8 (NBC)
• KOPB-TV, Channel 10 (PBS)
• KOIN, Channel 6 (local programming)
• KWBP-LP, Channel 4 (CW)
• KPXG-LP (local programming)
• KORK-CA (local programming)