Eugene, Oregon

Located in the U.S State of Oregon, and being the second largest city, Eugene is an important city. Eugene is uniquely placed at the junction of McKenzie and Willamette rivers. A place of beauty, the city is the backyard of nature.

A place of education and recreation.it blends both in equal measure. For it is here where University of Oregon is located. Everywhere, the city is blessed with an environment and ecology that beckons anybody visiting it. People are inclined to be part of this ecosystem. And it is for this reason that recreation. activities are a abundant here. At every given opportunity, the people in Eugene do not miss on recreation. activities, be it running, jogging, bicycling, or even lazing on park benches.

All this has created an alternative lifestyle for the local residents here. Understandably, the city has earned the sobriquet "A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors". Another ironic fact is that apparel maker Nike, has its roots here. The Neighboring the city of Springfield, Eugene, apart from having two rivers, is also the place where the Amazon Creek flows. The creek starts at Spencer Brute, joins Fern Ridge Reservoir.

Eugene has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. The city also has a bustling nightlife, various places to eat, places to see and can also offer you a great shopping experience. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Eugene History

Eugene Franklin Skinner constructed a cabin in present day Eugene. That was in 1846, a time when Eugene was a nameless place far from anybody's recognition. Shortly, it was used as place for exchanging traded goods. The re-occurrences and subsequent continuous flow of trading goods made Eugene an ideal location for a post office. And it was indeed registered as one. In 1850, Eugene became a post office.

From being known as Skinner's Mudhole then, to becoming what it is now, Eugene has traversed quite a bit in history. Skinner was not an idle man. Like any founder he did a variety of things for the city. After founding the city in 1862, he wanted the city to have connectivity. So he designed and operated a ferry service. The ferry service transported people across the Williamette River.

Eugene attracted educational institutions. Columbia College and The University of Oregon were established, and soon Eugene was the center of attraction. Students came to Eugene to study. They saw the naturalistic vibrancy of Eugene.

Columbia College was burned by two fires and the college was never re-built. 

After the Columbia College incident, the local people of Eugene became united in adversity. They decided to build another educational institution - the University of Oregon. The people of Eugene were visionaries. They envisioned Eugene to be a place of learning.

The Legislative Assembly made the University of Oregon a state university in 1872. This catapulted the University's rank in a positive direction.

Eugene's historical situations are mainly concentrated on the University. Due to the large influx of students, it was important for the city's administration to provide a congenial environment for them. This set off a trend to make biking and running trails. That is why even now, Eugene exudes a sense of youth and dynamism. There is so much energy in the city. More than anything, people are on the move. Eugene is definitely more than just a University City. It is a city of multiple facets - positive attitude, enthusiasm, and discipline.

About Eugene, Oregon

Eugene citizens love their environment. Their awareness is evident from the way Eugene still retains its natural beauty even now. The citizens come from different ideologies and backgrounds. Some are stout republicans and some are military anarchists. However, most people are inclined towards a collective social responsibility, nature patriotism, and minimalistic consumerism.

Known as the Hippie-Mecca, the Grateful Dead rock band's influence on the city remains undiminished. Almost everything is still preserved in Eugene. Somehow the people are not in a hurry to move on; fearing what they have now might metamorphosis into something else. So much so even the open-air markets are still retained. Saturday Market being the popular one, and probably the only oldest open-air market in the United States of its type.

Biking is a popular activity in Eugene, and is done by everybody. Given the number of bike routes, it is hard not to hop onto the bicycle. Most streets are bike friendly. Bike routes take riders along river shores, mountains, and bridges. Visitors and locals rent bikes from numerous bike-rental agencies. Bikes are also doorstep-delivered.

Oregon Ducks, the University of Oregon's team is from Eugene. Probably Eugene's only well-known and well-established team, the Oregon Ducks have been patronized for a long time by Phil Knight - an alumni of the University and head of Nike.

On the bike, Eugene is fun to watch. Spencer's Butte is a frequently visited area. Another unmistakable place is Skinner's Butte. Offering a panoramic view of the city, this place was also featured in the movie Animal House. As much as bike trails, there are plenty of well-connected running trails. Amazon Trail is a two kilometer long trail that is popular with everyone.

Moving from trails to events, the Oregon County Fair is a popular event in Eugene. It features the largest hippie congregation, probably the largest anywhere in the world. Great food, wine and merry notwithstanding, the event also features local and international bands.

Another unique event is the Clayfest. Featuring ceramic-art dispositions, it draws ceramic artisans from all over the world. Uniquely hand crafted ceramic wares are on display. The proceeds of the show go to the artists and some to charity. Local Clay and its Clay in Education program is the main onus of this show, and the funds are pooled into this program.

Now coming to some vineries in Eugene, some famous ones are Iris Vineyard and The Oregon Wine Warehouse. These vineyards are located in the Willamette Valley. Guests are treated to a relaxing and tasteful experience. Featuring tasting rooms and wine tours, the vineyards are custodians of great taste.

About Lane County, Oregon

Eugene is located in Lane County. Named after Joseph Lane, Lane County's county seat is the city of Eugene. Joseph Lane was the first governor of this county. Lane County is where the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area is located. Being the third largest statistical area in Oregon, the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area is the place where a majority of the population of Lane County is concentrated.

The Territorial Legislature, which formed the county, did not finalize on a county seat initially. There were a lot of contenders for this position. Eugene won because of the presence of the University of Oregon in it and also because a large population was in and around the city.

Lane County was the pass-through place for plenty of good-laden wagons. On the Free Emigrant Trail, hundreds of wagons carrying people and goods would ply. Lane County is primarily a forest area, with almost all land area being one. The remaining are urban areas centered on Eugene and Springfield. Almost half of Lane County is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Primarily used for logging, thousands of dollars were generated from these areas. But environmental restrictions curtailed felling of trees and this caused the logging industry to recede. Somehow Lane County is not living up to its potential. The logging industry is not able to sustain and attract basic governmental services.

Crime was a major issue in Lane County. But with stringent law enforcement this has been reduced. On account of its large forest area, the place was a safe haven for criminals. But as times changed, modern law enforcement patrol systems ensured and still ensure that Lane County is clean as a whistle.

Lane County is bounded by six counties. To the north are Lincoln, Linn and Benton Counties. To the south are Douglas and Klamath Counties, and to the east is Deschutes County. Some important protected areas in Lane County are Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Siuslaw National Forest.

Established in 1851, Lane County was demarcated from Linn County, Benton County and Umpqua County.