Lake Oswego, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Oswego, Oregon
City
Oswego Lake in the center of the city
Flag Seal
Location in Oregon
Lake Oswego, Oregon Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Counties	Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington
Founded	1847, incorporated 1910
Named for	Oswego, New York
Area
• Total	11.48 sq mi (29.75 km2)
• Land	10.83 sq mi (28.05 km2)
• Water	0.66 sq mi (1.70 km2)
Elevation	249 ft (76 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	40,731
• Density	3,760.94/sq mi (1,452.08/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (Pacific)
ZIP codes	97034–97035
Area code(s)	503 and 971
FIPS code	41-40550
GNIS feature ID	2411606
Website	www.ci.oswego.or.us

Lake Oswego is a city in Oregon, a state in the United States. Most of the city is in Clackamas County. Small parts also reach into Multnomah and Washington counties.

In 2020, about 40,731 people lived here. This was an 11.2% increase from 2010. It makes Lake Oswego the 11th largest city in Oregon. The city is about 7 miles (11 km) south of Portland. It surrounds the 405-acre (164 ha) Oswego Lake. The town was founded in 1847 and became a city called Oswego in 1910. In the late 1800s, it was a center for Oregon's short-lived iron industry. Today, it is a suburb of Portland.

History of Lake Oswego

Early Beginnings

The Clackamas people lived on the land that became Lake Oswego. Sadly, many natives died from diseases brought by European explorers. Before many non-native people arrived via the Oregon Trail, the area had some early pioneer homes and farms.

19th Century Growth

The restored remains of the 1866 Oregon Iron Company furnace, found in George Rogers Park.

More settlers came, encouraged by laws like the Donation Land Claim Act of 1850. These laws made it easier to claim land.

Albert Alonzo Durham started the town of Oswego in 1847. He named it after Oswego, New York. He built a sawmill on Sucker Creek, which is now Oswego Creek. This was the town's first business.

In 1855, the government moved the remaining Clackamas people. They were sent to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County.

In the early days, most trade went by river. Goods traveled from Portland to Oregon City on the Willamette River. Then they went up the Tualatin River valley. Traveling by land was hard because of thick woods and muddy roads. You can still see old river landings and ferry stops today.

In 1865, the Oregon Iron Company was created. This happened after iron ore was found nearby. Within two years, they built the first blast furnace on the West Coast. The company wanted to make Oswego the "Pittsburgh of the West." Later, the company was sold and renamed.

The Portland Oregon Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Lake Oswego.

The railroad came to Oswego in 1886. A 7-mile (11 km) line connected Oswego directly to Portland. Before this, people used rough roads and riverboats. The railroad helped Oswego grow beyond just industry. However, cheaper iron from other parts of the country eventually hurt the local iron business.

By 1890, the iron industry made 12,305 tons of pig iron. At its busiest, it employed about 300 men. This success helped Oswego grow a lot. The town had many stores, a bank, hotels, churches, and even an opera house.

20th and 21st Century Changes

The Lake Oswego Railroad Bridge crosses the Willamette River.

The Oregon Iron and Steel Company changed with the new century. They started selling large areas of land they owned. They also built a power plant on Oswego Creek in 1905. This brought electricity to the citizens of Oswego. As the need for water in the iron smelters decreased, the lake and town became popular for recreation.

In 1910, the town of Oswego officially became a city. The Southern Pacific Railroad improved the train line. In 1914, they made it electric, offering fast and quiet service to Portland. This service was called the Red Electric.

In 1920, train travel was at its peak. There were 64 trains to and from Portland every day. But passenger service ended nine years later. The line was then used for freight until 1984. Today, the Willamette Shore Trolley offers tourist rides on this historic line.

Paul Murphy, a land developer, helped promote Oswego. His Oswego Lake Country Club encouraged people to "live where you play." He also helped create the first water system for the city. Murphy played a big part in building beautiful homes in the 1930s and 1940s. This made Oswego a very desirable place to live.

In 1960, Oswego was renamed "Lake Oswego." This happened when it added part of Lake Grove. The city has sometimes been called names like "Lake No-Negro" or "Lake Big Ego." These names refer to its history as a mostly white, wealthy suburb.

In August 2020, Lake Oswego was in the news. A resident received a letter asking them to remove a "Black Lives Matter" sign. The letter claimed it lowered property values. The mayor responded to this issue. A student from Lakeridge High School made a documentary called Lake No Negro in 2020. It explored Lake Oswego's past regarding racial exclusion.

Geography

Lake Oswego covers about 11.35 square miles (29.40 km2). Of this, 10.68 square miles (27.66 km2) is land. About 0.67 square miles (1.74 km2) is water. This area does not include some land outside the city limits.

Oswego Lake is a reservoir (an artificial lake). The Clackamas Indians originally called it Waluga, meaning "wild swan." The lake has been made larger over time. The Lake Oswego Corporation manages it. People can use boats on the lake. There is a dock at the east end where boaters can get off and visit nearby shops. A main canal from the Tualatin River was dug in 1872.

Every three years, the lake's water level is lowered. This happens by opening gates on the dam. Water flows into Oswego Creek and then into the Willamette River. This allows people who own lakefront property to fix their docks and boathouses. In 2010, the lake was lowered about 24 feet (7.3 m). This was for building a new sewer line. It was the lowest the lake had been since 1962.

Population Information

2020 Census Data

In 2020, there were 40,731 people living in Lake Oswego. The city had about 3,761 people per square mile (1,452 per km2).

Most residents, 80.2%, were White. About 8.3% were Asian, and 0.8% were African American. About 5.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city was 45.8 years old. About 22.7% of residents were under 18. And 22.0% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (51.2%) than males (48.8%).

The average household income was $127,252. About 3.9% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Oswego Lake Access

Oswego Lake Oswego Lake has been part of a debate. People disagree about whether it is a private lake or a public waterway. A lawsuit was filed against the city. It claimed the city was stopping people from using a public stairway to swim in the lake. The City of Lake Oswego does not allow public access.

In 2012, two people who used the lake filed a lawsuit. They had been stopped from entering the lake. On August 1, 2019, the Oregon Supreme Court made a ruling. It said that a 2012 city rule needed to be reviewed. The Supreme Court agreed that the public has a right to enter the water from public land. It also said the City of Lake Oswego cannot stop this right.

In April 2024, a judge confirmed an earlier jury decision. The judge ruled that the City of Lake Oswego had gone too far. It had prevented access to the lake from Millennium Park Plaza.

Public Schools

Lake Oswego High School

The Lake Oswego School District covers most of the city. It serves about 7,000 students. There are about 23 students for every teacher.

The district has two high schools: Lake Oswego High School and Lakeridge High School. There are also six elementary schools and two junior high schools. These schools serve students from grades 1 through 8. The junior high schools are Lakeridge Junior High and Lake Oswego Junior High.

A small part of Lake Oswego is in Portland Public Schools.

Fun Places and Parks

The city has about 600 acres (2.4 km2) of parks and open spaces. These include George Rogers Park, Millennium Plaza Park, and the Lake Oswego Golf Course.

Lake Oswego has one public library. It is part of the Library Information Network of Clackamas County. From 2002 to 2006, this library was ranked among the top 10 libraries in the U.S. for cities of similar size.

Economy

Main Employers

Here are the largest employers in Lake Oswego, based on a 2022 report:

Famous People from Lake Oswego

Sister Cities

Lake Oswego has two sister cities:

• Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan
• Pucón, Araucanía Region, Chile

See also

In Spanish: Lake Oswego para niños