Beaverton, Oregon facts for kids

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Beaverton, Oregon

City

Edward Earl Fisher Building in the Beaverton Downtown Historic District

Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon

Cedar Hills neon sign

Beaverton City Library

Seal

Logo

Country

United States

State

1893; 132 years ago

Area

• Total

19.61 sq mi (50.80 km²)

• Land

19.61 sq mi (50.80 km²)

• Water

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²) 0%

Elevation

236 ft (72 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

97,494

• Density

5,363/sq mi (1,919.08/km²)

Time zone

UTC−8 (Pacific (PST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−7 (PDT)

ZIP codes

97003, 97005-97008, 97075-97078

Area codes

503 and 971

FIPS code

41-05350

GNIS feature ID

2409808

Beaverton is a city in Oregon, a state in the United States. It is located in Washington County, within the beautiful Tualatin Valley. A small part of Beaverton even touches Portland.

Beaverton is one of the main cities that make up the Portland metropolitan area. It's a busy place with a population of 97,494 people, according to the 2020 census. This makes it the second-largest city in Washington County and the seventh-largest city in all of Oregon. Beaverton is an important business hub for Washington County, just like its neighbor, Hillsboro.

Discover Beaverton's Past: A Look at Its History
Beaverton's Location and Climate
Who Lives in Beaverton? Demographics
- Beaverton's Population in 2020
Beaverton's Economy: What Businesses are Here?
Sports and Recreation in Beaverton
- Little League Baseball and Softball
- Curling in Beaverton
Education in Beaverton: Schools and Colleges
- Colleges and Universities
Getting Around Beaverton: Transportation
Famous People from Beaverton
Beaverton's Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

Discover Beaverton's Past: A Look at Its History

How Beaverton Got Its Name

Beaverton gets its name from the many beaver dams that once created a large body of water nearby. The area was originally home to the Atfalati Native American tribe. They called their village Chakeipi, which means "place of the beaver." Early settlers later called it "Beaverdam."

Early Settlers and Growth

In the mid-1800s, families like the Halls and Denneys were among the first settlers. Lawrence Hall bought land in 1847 and built a grist mill, which grinds grain. Thomas Denney built the first sawmill in 1848. In 1860, a special plank road was built from Portland to Beaverton, making travel easier.

After the American Civil War, more settlers arrived. They helped plan what is now Beaverton, hoping to bring a railroad to the area. In 1872, Beaverton's first post office opened in a general store. The city was officially made a city in 1893, with about 400 people living there. Alonzo Cady became the first mayor. Many of Beaverton's main roads are named after these early settlers.

Beaverton in the 1900s

Aerial view of Beaverton in the 1950s

Beaverton was an early center for car dealerships. A Ford Motor Company dealership opened in 1915. In the early 1920s, Beaverton even had a movie studio called Premium Picture Productions, which made about fifteen films.

Beaverton Depot for Oregon Electric Railway, around 1911

The city's first library opened in 1925. It has moved several times and is now on Hall Boulevard. Beaverton libraries are part of a larger system with 15 other local libraries.

Beaverton in the 2000s

The Round in 2009

In the early 2000s, Beaverton planned to grow and provide more services. The city tried to include some large businesses, like Nike, within its borders. However, Nike worked to stay outside the city limits, and a law was passed to allow them to do so.

In 2016, people in Beaverton voted to approve money for a new Public Safety Center. This center, which opened in 2020, houses the city's police and emergency teams. It's built to withstand a major earthquake.

The city has also worked to develop areas around its MAX Light Rail stations. One example is The Round, a place with shops, homes, and offices near the Beaverton Central MAX Station. The Beaverton City Hall even moved into The Round in 2014. Nearby, you can find BG's Food Cartel, a popular spot with many different food trucks. The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, a performing arts center, also opened near The Round in 2022. These areas together are known as Downtown Beaverton.

Beaverton's Location and Climate

Where is Beaverton Located?

Beaverton covers about 19.7 square miles of land. It sits on the eastern edge of the Tualatin Valley, west of the Tualatin Mountains. The city is next to Portland to the east, Hillsboro to the west, and Tigard to the south. The city's elevation changes, but it averages about 189 feet above sea level.

Beaverton's Neighborhoods

Beaverton has 13 main neighborhoods. These include Central Beaverton, Five Oaks, Greenway, and Sexton Mountain. Each neighborhood has a Neighborhood Association Committee (NAC) where people can talk about local issues.

What's the Weather Like in Beaverton?

Beaverton has a climate with warm summers and mild, wet winters. The hottest month is usually August, and the coldest is January. It rains quite a bit, especially in the winter months. Snowfall is rare, but it does happen sometimes.

Who Lives in Beaverton? Demographics

Beaverton's Population in 2020

In 2020, Beaverton had 97,494 people. The city is home to a diverse group of people. About 59% of residents were White, 2.9% African American, 12.2% Asian, and 1.0% Native American. About 18.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average income for a household in Beaverton was about $38,261 in 2020. For families, the average income was higher, around $71,806.

Beaverton's Economy: What Businesses are Here?

Major Companies and Employers

Beaverton is home to several important companies. Reser's Fine Foods, which makes prepared foods, has been headquartered here since 1960. R.M. Wade & Co., a company that makes farm and irrigation equipment, is the oldest family-owned business in Oregon.

Beaverton is also part of the "Silicon Forest," an area known for technology companies. Many tech businesses have offices here, including Linux Technology Center of IBM, Tektronix, and ADI formerly known as Maxim Integrated Products. The Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC) also helps new tech startups grow in Beaverton.

Top Employers in Beaverton

Here are some of the largest employers in Beaverton:

Nike (6,019 employees)
Beaverton School District (4,458 employees)
Comcast Cable (769 employees)
Fred Meyer (726 employees)
City of Beaverton (692 employees)

Fun Places to Visit in Beaverton

Beaverton has many attractions for visitors and residents:

Beaverton Farmer's Market
BG's Food Cartel (food truck park)
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Veterans Memorial Park
Jenkins Estate

Shopping in Beaverton

You can find great shopping at Cedar Hills Crossing, a mall with restaurants, stores, and a bowling alley. Progress Ridge Town Square is another shopping area with various shops and eateries.

Sports and Recreation in Beaverton

The Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex, opened in 1978, offers many sports facilities. You can find swimming, athletics, tennis, baseball, softball, and basketball here.

Little League Baseball and Softball

Beaverton has a strong history in Little League sports.

In 2014, the Beaverton–Aloha Little League Intermediate baseball team won the state tournament.
In 2006, the Murrayhill Little League baseball team made it to the 2006 Little League World Series, a big achievement! They were the first Oregon team to go that far in 48 years.
Also in 2006, a Junior Softball team from Beaverton went to the World Series.
In 2002, Beaverton's Little League Softball team placed second in the Little League Softball World Series.

Curling in Beaverton

In 2013, Beaverton became the first city in Oregon to have a special ice rink just for curling. This is a sport where players slide stones on ice towards a target area. The Evergreen Curling Club even hosted a national championship in 2017.

Education in Beaverton: Schools and Colleges

Most public schools in Beaverton are part of the Beaverton School District. There are six public high schools:

Aloha High School
Beaverton High School
Mountainside High School
Southridge High School
Sunset High School
Westview High School

The district also has special schools like the International School of Beaverton and the Arts & Communication Magnet Academy. Some parts of Beaverton are also served by the Hillsboro School District and Portland Public Schools.

There are also several private schools in the area, including Jesuit High School and Valley Catholic School.

Colleges and Universities

While based in Portland, Portland Community College (PCC) has some facilities that operate in Beaverton, offering college courses close to home.

Getting Around Beaverton: Transportation

TriMet buses parked at Beaverton Transit Center

Beaverton has good public transportation services, including buses, commuter trains, and light rail, all run by TriMet.

MAX Light Rail

The MAX Light Rail has seven stations in Beaverton. The MAX Blue Line serves all of them, and the MAX Red Line stops at Beaverton Transit Center and Sunset Transit Center.

Beaverton Transit Center

The Beaverton Transit Center is TriMet's busiest transportation hub. It's a place where you can catch MAX trains and many different bus routes. It's also the starting point for the WES Commuter Rail, which travels south.

Roads and Highways

Beaverton is a major spot for highways. U.S. Route 26 (the Sunset Highway) connects Beaverton to Hillsboro and the Oregon Coast to the west, and Portland to the east. Oregon Route 217 travels south from Beaverton through Tigard and connects to Interstate 5.