Wilsonville is a booming community that has always retained its small-town charm. A perfect place to raise a family or start a business, Wilsonville is located on the Willamette River where the forest uplands, creeks, wetlands and wildlife connect residents to the stunning nature around them. Residents have a strong sense of community in Wilsonville, which directly relates to low crime rates and a high quality of life. Many neighborhood parks are sprinkled throughout the community, providing residents with outdoor environments in which to spend time with family and friends.
Wilsonville owns and maintains nearly 200 acres of parkland, including Memorial Park. This is the largest park in the area and includes something for everyone. Boasting a skate park, tennis courts and baseball and soccer fields, many residents spend their summer afternoons enjoying the outdoors. Town Center Park is another main recreational facility in the area.
Individuals looking for Wilsonville apartments for rent will find themselves one with nature. The town is known for its environmental awareness and preservation of natural areas. This may be one reason why the population has rapidly increased over the past two decades. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in 1990 was around 7,500 and today more than 19,700 people call the city home.
Wilsonville was settled in 1846 by Alphonso Boone. He and his family were a part of the "Great Migration" that traveled across the Oregon Trail, and were among the first to complete the journey. The Boone family took the Scott-Applegate Trail west from Fort Hall into southern Oregon and then traveled north to Willamette Valley. Wilsonville was always ahead of the transportation trends. A ferry was necessary to link trade and commerce between the valley and Portland.
Wilsonville attracted farmers because of its fertile soil, which made it a bustling area for agriculture. Hop yard, grain fields, dairies and more spread across the landscape of the town. Wilsonville prospered even more after the railroad came to the area. Completed in 1907, a train depot at the corner of 5th and Boones Ferry Road was a major hub for activity. It encouraged many businesses to move to the more populated area. The development of Wilsonville shifted after freeway interchanges were built and became the focal points for commercial growth. Although the community is still surrounded by rich farmland, it has continually grown and is now considered one of Oregon's shipping and warehouse centers.
Residents of Wilsonville have a diverse array of employment options in the area. The top employers of the city include Xerox Corporation, Mentor Graphics, Precision Interconnect, Rockwell Collins and Sysco Food Services.
Students living in Wilsonville apartments have many opportunities for post-secondary education in Portland, including Portland Community College, Reed College, Concordia University and Pacific Northwest College of Art. Pioneer Pacific College is located in Wilsonville and offers a high-quality education in a shorter time span than many other traditional institutes.
Living in Wilsonville can be fairly expensive, but it's near downtown Portland and offers a high quality of life in a beautiful setting. According to Best Places, the overall cost of living is 27 points higher than the national average, food is 4 points higher and utilities are 8 points lower. However, the average cost of rentals in Wilsonville is fairly average. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the monthly median gross rent is $878.
Nature surrounds Wilsonville, offering some of the best recreation around. The Coffee Lake Wetlands, Graham Oaks Nature Park and Park and Merryfield are just a few of the beautiful natural resources. A diverse array of native habitats can be found in the park system, many that have been influenced by geological events, climate and cultural history.
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