Located 5 miles from I-5 on Highway 58.

The first white settler in the Willamette Valley, Elijah Bristow, discovered Pleasant Hill in 1846. His property became the location of the first schoolhouse and church in Lane County. As other settlers joined Bristow, Pleasant Hill became a small farming community. The post office was built in 1850 and Elijah Bristow served as postmaster. The Taylor Barn, built around 1870 and the Church of Christ, built in 1913, are noteworthy landmarks. Pleasant Hill is home to novelist Ken Kesey.

Pleasant Hill today maintains a strong sense of identity, primarily through its public school system, which is highly regarded. Although only 15 minutes from Eugene and Springfield, Pleasant Hill retains a small community feel for its residents.