Lake Grove, Oregon facts for kids
Lake Grove is a friendly neighborhood in Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States. It's located on the west side of Oswego Lake. You can find it south of the Mountain Park area and north of Rivergrove. It's also east of Interstate 5.
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How Lake Grove Began
Lake Grove started as a planned community in 1912. It was built on the western side of Oswego Lake. A railroad line was very important for the area. This line was part of the "Red Electric" passenger service. It began in 1914.
The railroad service was later run by Southern Pacific. A stop called Goodin Station connected Lake Grove to other towns. You could travel to Tualatin to the west. You could also go to Oswego and Portland to the east and north. Today, part of that old line is used by the Willamette Shore Trolley.
Naming the Area
In 1916, a post office was opened in the area. It was first named Waluga Post Office. Waluga is a Native American name for Oswego Lake. In 1923, the post office was renamed Lake Grove. This new name stuck for the whole neighborhood.
Joining Lake Oswego
For a long time, Lake Grove was a separate community. But in May 1959, people in Oswego and Lake Grove voted. They decided to combine their areas. This created the city of Lake Oswego as we know it today.
Getting Around Lake Grove
In the 1960s, a company called Intercity Buses, Inc. helped people travel. They provided bus service connecting Lake Grove to downtown Lake Oswego. You could also ride a bus to downtown Portland.
In 1970, TriMet took over the bus service. TriMet still operates buses through Lake Grove today. This helps people get around without a car.
As more people moved to Lake Grove, cars became very popular. The main road, Lower Boones Ferry Road, became very important. It's still the main street in Lake Grove. This road is a central part of the Lake Grove Village Center. This center is a special area for planning how the neighborhood grows.
What Makes Lake Grove Special
Lake Grove has many places named after it. These names help give the neighborhood its own identity. Some examples include:
- Lake Grove Elementary School
- Lake Grove Neighborhood Association
- Lake Grove Rural Fire District
- Lake Grove Water District
- Lake Grove Post Office (serving ZIP code 97035)
All these things make Lake Grove feel like its own town. It even inspired the name of the nearby small city of Rivergrove.
Lake Grove Elementary School
Lake Grove Elementary School is a big part of the community. It's located right in the neighborhood. It is the largest elementary school in the Lake Oswego School District. It also has the most students.