Located 35 miles outside of Eugene on Highway 58.

In 1860 the first white settlers, James and Richmond Sanford, arrived in Oakridge. The settlement was originally called Big Prairie and later changed to Hazeldell. The completion of the Oregon Central Military Road, which connected the Willamette Valley with Fort Boise in Idaho, brought many new pioneers to the area. Finally, in 1912 the name changed to Oakridge, which was suggested by Major R. L. Edwards, the right of way agent for the South Pacific Company. The same year, train tracks were laid down in Oakridge, making travel to and from Eugene possible. Loggers and sawmills emerged after construction of the railroad. During Prohibition in the 1920s, moon shiners worked in the hills of Oakridge. They took sugar and corn to stills by packhorse until the "back roads" became too crowded. After this happened, they were forced to carry supplies on their backs. In 1910, the post office was established; Anna McClane was the postmaster. In 1947, the first bank and firehouse were built.

Today, Oakridge is known as the "Tree Planting Center of the World," planting 500,000 seedlings a year at their annual Tree Planting Festival, which started in 1953. Oakridge also holds the Fat Tire Festival, a mountain biking competition, each summer and has a wide variety of outdoor activities to choose from.

Schools-

District Web Page

Oakridge Junior-Senior High School
47997 W. First
Oakridge, OR 97463
(541) 782-2231

Oakridge Elementary School
48119 E. First
Oakridge, OR 97463
(541) 782-3226

Westridge Elementary School
46433 Westfir Rd.
Westfir, OR 97492
(541) 782-2731