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 Although
it's just eight miles south of downtown Portland, Lake Oswego is not
your typical bedroom community. The thriving city of 33,000 is
centered around the lake of the same name and bordered by the Willamette
River, offering wonderful views and great walks.
In the nineteenth century,
Lake Oswego was a thriving steel town, but after the smelter
fell silent, the area was reborn as a residential development.
Since the 1930s Lake Oswego has been one of the well-heeled suburbs
of Portland, boasting graceful architecture and ample recreation.
The parks, public golf course and meandering picturesque river make
the community a pleasant retreat. Portland's urban amenities are close
by and Lake Oswego also supports numerous local cultural endeavors.
The Lake
 The
most desirable property is around the large private lake fed by the
Tualatin River. The lake is maintained by the Lake Oswego Corporation,
and lake access is mostly deeded to lakefront property owners.
The lake is closed to anyone but members of the Lake Oswego Corporation.
The
Lake Oswego Corporation
(LOC) is a non-profit organization that manages all matters regarding
the 403-acre Oswego Lake and its 694 lakefront properties: safety (via
the Lake Patrol), water quality, maintenance, boat and operator licensing,
lakefront building permits, and special events. The LOC, with the Chamber
of Commerce and the City of Lake Oswego, co-sponsor a variety of community
activities. Events include: July Fourth Boat Parade and fireworks display;
Earth Day, a water-quality education program; and a Christmas Holiday
Boat Parade featuring lighted watercraft. The LOC diverts water from
the Tualatin River and produces energy through its hydroelectric facility.
The lake hasn't always enjoyed the reputation it does
today. The Oregon Iron & Steel Co. managed it until 1941, when property
owners incorporated as the Lake Corp. It wasn't until the collapse of
the iron industry in the late 1800s that Oregon Iron & Steel began marketing
the lake as a playground for the wealthy. Sucker Lake's name was changed
to Oswego Lake and weekend cottages became year-round homes. Now, houses
on the lake routinely sell for $1 million and more. Property owners
have shares in the corporation, depending on the amount of lake frontage
they own. Of the 6,000 plus shares, the 20 neighborhood easements each
have one; the city, which owns property on Lakewood Bay, has 92.
First Addition
 Historic
Lake Oswego is known as "First Addition" which originated in the 1890s
when the town was still called simply Oswego. This neighborhood is in
the far east side of the city, north of "A" Street. It's an area of
25-30 blocks of historic homes. You will also find many newer
homes in the area. This property is so desirable that people buy up
bargain homes and replace them with new ones. Many of the First Addition
blocks have alleys.
In 2006,
Cottage Living
magazine named First Addition as one of the ten best cottage communities
in the country. The national magazine gushed over the quaint homes,
the easy walk to downtown and Lake Oswego, and the "jewel-box gardens
winking from behind picket fences."
If you live in First Addition,
it's a short walk to the "Village Center" – a 6-7 block area
of offices, shops, markets, and a few restaurants. The north end of
the neighborhood borders the 645-acre
Tyron Creek State Park.
First Addition was where
"additional" workers lived when a local iron foundry boomed briefly.
Remnants of the foundry may still be seen a short way downriver at George
Rogers Park, where picnic grounds, ball fields, tennis courts and cozy
beaches offer a compact and inviting family-fun venue.
Visit the
First Addition Neighborhood Association Web site. Take a
tour of homes in the First Addition.
Mountain Park
 Mountain
Park a nationally recognized planned community in Lake Oswego with
a population of approximately 10,000.
Mountain Park is situated
on 700 acres of land and is located on a dormant volcano known as Mt.
Sylvania in the Northwest corner of Lake Oswego. Mountain Park was the
vision of Carl Halvorson and was developed in 1968. Most of the 185
acres of common area is undeveloped and maintained in a natural state
and a large portion is manicured and beautifully landscaped. Mountain
Park is made up of single family homes, townhouses, condominiums, and
apartments.
The summit of Mountain
Park (Nansen Summit) is 975 feet in elevation and a stunning 360 degree
view. The entire Portland Metro area and the Cascades and Coastal Mountain
ranges can be seen on a clear day.
As a member of the Mountain
Park Home Owners Association you have access to all amenities including
the Recreation Center, tennis courts, parks, playgrounds, 15 miles of
walking paths, and a host of life-style enhancing services, programs
and special events provided by the Mountain Park Staff.
Parks and Recreation
 The
Lake Oswego
Parks & Recreation Department offers numerous programs and activities
for adults, teens, and youngsters. Classes include gardening, golf,
tennis, sculling, plus many others.
There is a city-owned sports
center on the Willamette River, two public swimming facilities on the
405-acre Oswego Lake, a self-financed 18-hole golf course, indoor tennis
center, and outdoor amphitheater right along the river.
The 645-acre
Tryon Creek State Park is Oregon's only state park within a major
metropolitan area and it is located in the northeast corner of Lake
Oswego.
Lakewood Theatre Company
The
Lakewood Theatre
Company is a popular and financially successful member of the arts
community, it is the cornerstone around which Lakewood Center has been
built. Lakewood Theatre Company began in November, 1952, when a group
of Lake Oswegans decided that their community was not complete without
a theatre and decided to organize what was known as the Oswego Players.
Community Demographics
Web Sites
Search for Homes in Lake
Oswego
 To
search for homes in Lake Oswego, go to
Search for
Homes and click on the "City Search" icon and then select "Lake
Oswego - 263". You can use over 100 search parameters to
define your criteria. Alternatively, you can select a specific
area off a community map by drawing a box around that area. If
you save your search criteria, you will be given the option to have
new listings that match your criteria automatically e-mailed to you.
Location Eight miles south of downtown Portland. You
can approach Lake Oswego from the west on I-5 and the east on Highway
43.
Origin of Name Oswego is name for a city, county, and river in New
York.
Neighborhood Associations The City has seventeen
neighborhood associations.
Topography Gently rolling hills and some flat areas with mature
trees in yards and parks.
Parks 1,194 acres.
1Drive
Time to Downtown About 25 minutes.
Public Transportation TriMet bus lines travel to or through
Lake Oswego View the schedules and a map of the
Lake Oswego Transit
Center. Two bus routes, the 35 and the 36, go between the
downtown Portland bus mall and Lake Oswego. No MAX light rail
or streetcar service. It is a possibility that the popular Portland
streetcar line may be extended into Lake Oswego something in the future.
22000
Demographics Population - 35,278. Area size - 405 acres
or 11.2 square miles. Number of households - 15,741. Median household
income of $71,597 (metro area median household was $46,789. Diversity
- 8.9% non-Caucasian. Median house value - $296,200. Percent of
residents over 25 years of age holding a bachelor's degree or higher
- 62.0%. See
City Data for more information about Lake Oswego.
3Crime
Stats for 2007 19 violent crimes, 76 residential burglaries,
and 28 motor vehicle thefts. Total crimes per 1,000 residents
was 17.
4Shopping
and Services Number of supermarkets: 5.
Number of health clubs: 6. Public libraries: 1.
There are three commercial areas in Lake Oswego.
(1) A 5-6 block area known a First Addition along Highway 43 on the
east side of the city. This commercial section continues south
of the First Addition along highway 43.
(2) A mix of malls and businesses on the west side of Lake Oswego and
south of Kruse Way on Boones Ferry Road.
(3) A mall on the north end (west side) of the city on Boones Ferry
Road.
Renters vs. Home Owners Occupied units in Lake Oswego,
according to Clackamas County Business and Economic Development Services:
owner occupied is 70.88% and renter occupied is 29.12%.
Parks 1,194 acres of parks in Lake Oswego. The 645-acre
Tyron Creek State Park is Oregon's only state park within a major
metropolitan area and it is located in the northeast corner of Lake
Oswego.
Who Lives in Lake Oswego Families drawn to the highly-regarded
school system and quiet suburban life style as well as retirees who
want to golf and enjoy the facilities of the
Adult Community
Center.
They Probably Drive Autos such as Mercedes are common, along
with many SUVs.
Schools Lake
Oswego School District. The schools in the Lake Oswego
rate among the best in the state.
School Report Card Grades In 2005, all 13 schools in
the Lake Oswego School District were rated "exceptional." Lake
Oswego was the first mid-size district in Oregon to attain all
"exceptional" rating. In 2006, all the district's schools but
Lake Oswego High School attained the top rating (Lake Oswego High
School received a "strong" rating). Click
here for report card details.
Housing Types and Styles Lake Oswego’s original neighborhoods
reflect a glimpse of England, with English Cottage and Tudor Revival
homes designed by architect Richard Sundeleaf between 1920 and 1940.
Today most residents live in new developments in a variety of housing
types to include condos and townhomes.
5Lake Oswego 2007 Home Prices
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Average price for homes sold in
Lake Oswego in 2007: $595,353.
-
Median price for homes sold in Lake Oswego in
2007: $485,000.
-
2007 price appreciation in Lake Oswego: 5%.
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5-year price appreciation in Lake Oswego: 73%.
-
2007 metro area home prices: The average
price was $342,900 (6.3% appreciation from 2006) and the median
price was $290,000 (7.2% appreciation from 2006).
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