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 Visit the Corvallis Public Library located right across the street.
Helpful Links: Corvallis Parks & Rec. Cost of Living/Housing Information Linn-Benton Community College Oregon State University |
About Corvallis
Corvallis means "Heart of the Valley," and as both the geographic center of the Willamette valley and a center for learning, business and exceptional living, the city of over 50,000 lives up to the name. Corvallis is a city that is at once an urban education center and a community in touch with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Scenic vistas and a mild climate make Corvallis an ideal home for nature lovers. City amenities and an economy rooted in education, high-tech industries and healthcare have also made Corvallis a perfect home for people with more cosmopolitan needs. Education has long been the backbone of the community, and the arts flourish under the patronage and involvement of area businesses and residents. While urban, Corvallis manages to maintain its small-town charm. Quiet neighborhoods complement the bustle of the commercial districts, the beautiful downtown, and the campus of Oregon State University. The Park Plaza is nestled in the heart of downtown Corvallis, where everything you need is in walking distance, including numerous banking institutions, magnificent dining, grocery stores, Oregon State University, and Linn-Benton Community College's Benton Center. While within walking distance to downtown Corvallis, the Park Plaza offers quiet, endearing apartment homes nestled in the large trees. Many units offer spectacular views of the historic Benton County Court House, or the beautiful coastal mountains to the west, or Corvallis' finest park, Central Park, to the south. Recreation Oregon is well known for outdoor activities, and Corvallis and the surrounding area is no exception, with more than 50 parks and designated wildlife preserves to provide residents and visitors with an abundance of activities. Popular outdoor diversions in the area include backpacking, mountaineering, canoeing, camping, rafting and skiing. The surrounding rivers and streams are also excellent for trout and steelhead fishing. Park Plaza residents have access to one of the best bicycling systems in the nation. With more than 60 miles of bicycle lanes, multi-use bicycle paths, and shoulder bikeways, the Corvallis community has earned a "Bike Friendly City" designation from Bike USA. Arts & Culture As the home of a major university, Corvallis is blessed with a wealth of cultural events and attractions. The University Theater, the LaSells Stewart Center (on the OSU campus) and the restored Majestic Theatre in downtown Corvallis feature plays, symphony concerts, lectures, conferences and seminars throughout the year. The OSU-Corvallis Symphony, the Corvallis Youth Symphony and the internationally known Heart of the Valley Children's Choir perform year-round. There is a diverse array of art available for viewing and purchasing in Corvallis. The Corvallis Arts Center is located just a few blocks to the south of the Park Plaza at 700 SW Madison Ave. Some other galleries within a few blocks of the Park Plaza are: Fairbanks Gallery, OSU Department of Art, 106 Fairbanks Hall Pegasus Frame Studio &Gallery, 341 SW 2nd Illustrated Garden Gallery, Madison Plaza, 425 SW Madison Tin Roof Studio, 136 SW Washington Ave. Employers The Willamette Valley is one of the most fertile and agriculturally productive regions in the world, and Corvallis' early economy was based on agriculture and timber. A unique combination of soil and climate has made the Willamette Valley a world leader in seed and specialty crops, as well as in the production of Christmas trees and lumber products. The employment picture in Corvallis is vibrant. Oregon State University, with its annual enrollment of close to 18,000 students, is an integral part of the local community and Corvallis' leading employer, with over 7,000 employees. Corvallis benefits from its identity as a college town and has a workforce that is among the most highly educated in the Northwest. Corvallis has the largest Hewlett-Packard site in the world with about 4,000 employees. HP's products and services are used in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and education worldwide. There are numerous other high technology firms located here, and others continue to be founded as satellite entities. Corvallis is the original home of CH2M Hill, a consulting firm of engineers, planners, economists and environmental scientists. The company employs approximately 410 regional and corporate employees in its Corvallis offices. Corvallis is also home to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Samaritan Health Services employing 1,300 people, and The Corvallis Clinic with 550 employees. Both provide health care services to an extensive region. In partnership with Oregon State University, Samaritan Health Services is on the cutting edge of new biotechnologies. The Corvallis Clinic partners with OSU Pharmacy and other institutions to conduct clinical trials of innovative new treatments. Other major employers in the Corvallis area include: Corvallis School District 509J (745) Linn-Benton Community College (550 full time) Georgia Pacific, Halsey Mill (550) City of Corvallis (500) ATF Systems, Oregon (345) Benton County (330) Summit Information Systems (305) Environmental Protection Agency (300) Oregon State University OSU is an internationally recognized research university and with its enrollment of close to 18,000 students is an integral part of Corvallis community. The university adds culture and intellectual energy to the Corvallis community. OSU is well known for its engineering, pharmacy and veterinary programs to name a few. Students come to OSU from all fifty states and from more than ninety countries around the world. OSU is a center for art performances in the community, as well as the site of plenty of Pacific-10 Conference athletic competitions. Linn-Benton Community College Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) is a two-year public college in nearby Albany. Course work includes occupational and technical preparatory training and college transfer courses. The school also operates the newly renovated and expanded Benton Center in Corvallis, which is located just a few blocks from the Park Plaza. Public School System Corvallis School District 509J serves over 7,000 students through seven elementary schools, two K-8 schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The district strives to create a learning environment that challenges all students to excel to their greatest talent, interest and ability potential. The district maintains rigorous academic standards and in addition, over two-thirds of the district's teachers have post-baccalaureate degrees. The students have responded to the standards and quality instruction by annually achieving some of the highest district Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores in the state and nation. Shopping & Dining Going shopping in Corvallis can be a truly pleasant experience. Colorful flower boxes, hanging planters, pennants, awnings and trees combine to create an enjoyable atmosphere for browsing. Corvallis has a wealth of specialty shops, and its traditional downtown shopping district has the largest concentration of shopping diversions. Antique and specialty shops are especially prevalent in Corvallis and the surrounding area. Downtown shopping is also conveniently supplemented by the Timberhill Shopping Center, the shopping area on Kings Boulevard and Buchanan Avenue, shops on Monroe Avenue, 9th Street and Circle Boulevard. For large shopping malls you can easily visit Albany's Heritage Mall, which is just 20 minutes from Corvallis and Salem Center or Eugene's Valley River Center in about 45 minutes. Corvallis' diverse population is served by an equally diverse selection of dining establishments. A wealth of fine ethnic restaurants offer a taste of the world, and a number of delis and coffee shops provide more casual choices. Weather Averages Delight in the many seasonal changes that keep our city beautiful and provide for a wide spectrum of activities throughout the year. Enjoy the colorful spring and fall as well as our pleasant summers and mild winters. The climate is very mild, from 40°F in winter to the upper 80's in summer, with an annual rainfall of 40 inches. The hottest month is August, the driest month is July, the coldest month is January and the wettest month is December. Corvallis has an elevation of 230'. Driving Distances Corvallis is perfectly situated to enjoy the natural beauty of Oregon while remaining convenient to major metropolitan areas. The easy access to Interstate 5 (10 miles east) and direct connections to Highways 20 and 34 allow travelers to reach ocean beaches in about an hour and the mountains in approximately two hours. The Corvallis Transit System (CTS) has provided Corvallis citizens with a viable transportation alternative, and offers 11 bus routes that interact at transfer points at the Downtown Intermodal Mall which is just a block away from the Park Plaza and Timberhill Shopping Center to the North of the Park Plaza. The Corvallis Municipal Airport is located approximately five miles south of downtown Corvallis. The airport offers private and corporate aircraft services to the Corvallis community. The Eugene Airport is 45 miles south of Corvallis and the Portland International Airport is 81 miles and approximately two hours north of Corvallis. Distances from Corvallis to other Major Cities in Oregon: Salem: 40 miles Eugene: 45 miles Bend: 127 Miles Newport: 54 miles Communications There are many cellular phone services to choose from in the Corvallis area, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless and T-mobile. At the Park Plaza you can choose Comcast Cable for your high-speed Internet connection or sign up for a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). |
