Northwest Region, OR Land for Sale

Oregon's Northwest region includes the northeastern part of the state excluding counties around the Portland area. It borders Washington to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The largest city in the region is Salem, the state capital. Other large cities include Eugene, McMinnville, St. Helens, Dallas, Newport, Albany, Corvallis, Astoria and Seaside. In the Pacific coast areas of the region, the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967 allows free beach access to everyone. Private beach landowners retain certain land rights, but it removes the property tax obligation of the beach owner, and in exchange, the landowner grants an easement passage to pedestrians, and landowners cannot build on the beach. The North Coast possesses longer stretches of unbroken beach, with some larger, but few sandbar-enclosed bays. The Central Coast is similar to the North Coast but with fewer sandy beaches, more sea cliffs and terraces and a greater number of bays. There are also several small urban areas in this area of the coast. The rest of the region is part of the Willamette Valley, with Salem at the center, alongside the Willamette River.

Oregon's top tourist destination is the coast, so the economy of areas on the coast depend on it. The economy is also dependent on natural resources including timber and fishing. The largest public employer in Salem and vicinity is the State of Oregon, and the largest private employer is a large healthcare system. The largest employer in the region of Eugene include a large medical group, the University of Oregon and Eugene School District. The largest industries include wood products manufacturing and recreational vehicle manufacturing. There are a large number of higher education institutions in the region, which include Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Willamette University, Corban University, Gutenberg College, Linfield College, Mount Angel Seminary, New Hope Christian College, Northwest Christian University, Chemeketa Community College, Clatsop Community College, Lane Community College, Linn-Benton Community College, Oregon Coast Community College and Tillamook Bay Community College.

The region offers an abundance of outdoor recreation. The coastal areas of the region alone have around 40 state and national protected areas. Most notable are Saddle Mountain State Park, Nehalem Bay State Park, Oswald West State Park, Siuslaw National Forest, Devils Lake State Park, Seal Rock State Park, with large off-shore rock formations which house seals, sea lions, sea birds and other marine life, and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. There are a large number of historic sites in the areas along the coast, including Fort Clatsop, Fort Stevens and Tillamook Air Museum. There are also nearly 30 protected areas in the Willamette Valley counties of the region, with the most notable being Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park, with spacious campsites and trails, Cascadia State Park, Champoeg State Park, on the south bank of the scenic Willamette River, Devils Elbow State Park, located in a cover at the mouth of Cape Creek, Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Neptune State Park, Silver Falls State Park, with beautiful waterfalls in the lower elevation of the Cascade Mountains, and Willamette Mission State Park, one of the most significant historic sites in the Willamette Valley.

Marion County is located in the northeastern part of Oregon's Northwest region. It is the fifth most populated county in the state. It is named in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general. Salem is the largest city in the county, the second largest in the state, the county seat and the state capital. Keizer and Woodburn are also larger cities in the county, and there are 17 other cities and around 25 other census-designated places and unincorporated communities. Agriculture and food processing are primary industries in the county, with over 10,000 acres of planted orchards. As mentioned, major employers in the county include the State of Oregon and healthcare. Higher education institutions in the county include Willamette University, Corban University and Chemeketa Community College. Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Mount Hood National Forest and Willamette National Forest are located in the county. There are more than a dozen vineyards and breweries in the county, as well as several apple cider orchards. Some other attractions in the county include Historic Downtown Salem, Schreiners Iris Gardens, Wallace Marine Park, Adelman Peony Gardens, Gilbert House Children's Museum, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Historic Deepwood Gardens, Minto-Brown Island Park, a 900-acre natural area with 12 miles of paved and soft-surface walking and bicycle trails, Salem Riverfront Park, Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill, Willamette University's Martha Springer Botanical Garden and Rose Garden and Willson Park Capitol Park Mall.

Lane County is located in the southern part of Oregon's Northwest region, and borders the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is the fourth most populated county in the state. It is named for Joseph Lane, Oregon's first territorial governor. Lane County is one of two Oregon counties that extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Mountains. Eugene is the largest city and the county seat, and the third largest city in the state. Springfield is another larger city in the county, and there are 10 other cities and more than 80 other unincorporated communities. The Forest Service manages 48% of the lands in the county. Historically the economy has been based in timber and agriculture, but recently has shifted toward services, manufacturing of transportation equipment, printing and publishing and high technology. The largest private employer in the county is a health system, and University of Oregon is also a large employer. Higher education institutions in the county include University of Oregon, Gutenberg College, New Hope Christian College, Northwest Christian University and Lane Community College. There are several protected areas in the county, including part of Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Siuslaw National Forest, Umpqua National Forest and Willamette National Forest. Some other attractions in the county include Alton Baker Park, on the Willamette River, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene's Historic District, including the Eugene Japanese American Art Memorial and the 5th Street Market, Cascades Raptor Center, Hendricks Park, with a rhododendron garden and 80 acres of parkland, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, on the University of Oregon campus, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, the Science Factory, an educational and interactive science museum, Lane County Historical Museum.

Lincoln County is located in the mid-western part of Oregon's Northwest region, and borders the Pacific Ocean to the west. Newport is the largest city and the county seat. Lincoln City is another large city in the county, and there are five other cities and nearly 30 other census-designated places and unincorporated communities. Principal industries in the county include travel/tourism, trade, health services and construction. Newport is a base for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which bases four ships, and has some personnel at the Hatfield Marine Science Center which support fisheries science centers for Alaska and the Northwest and is operated by Oregon State University. Oregon Coast Community College is located in Lincoln County, in Newport. Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Siuslaw National Forest are located in the county. Some other attractions in Lincoln County include the Oregon Coast Aquarium, with more than 15,000 marine animals including sea otters, sea lions, octopuses, sharks, tufted puffins and an array of tropical fish, Burrows House Museum, built in 1895, Oregon Coast History Center, Pacific Maritime and Heritage Center, South Beach State Park, Undersea Gardens, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and Yaquina Head Lighthouse.