Eugene is a city located in the south end of Willamette Valley, between two small buttes, and besides the scenic Willamette River. Eugene F. Skinner, an early American settler, established a land claim on Skinner Butte in 1846. However, his town plans were thwarted due to heavy rains, which earned his venture the nickname “Skinner’s Mudhole.” Regardless, Skinner believed in the viability of the area and pursued community building. He then ran a ferry service across the Willamette River and served as postmaster.
Some of the first thriving industries in Eugene included agriculture, forest products, and mining. Eugene City was founded in 1853 and was incorporated in 1862.
Eugene is a community of sports enthusiasts, is known as “Track Town USA” and has produced many great Olympic runners. We’re known for the famous Nike athletic company, and several landmark sports venues are well known for regional and national sporting events.
The education system in Eugene is also one of our city’s strengths. As a robust college town, we proudly host higher learning institutions such as the University of Oregon and Lane Community College. Eugene is also home to the globally-known football team the Oregon Ducks, based out of state-of-the-art Autzen Stadium.
When it comes to food, Eugene is abundant in locally-grown food products. From small farms and community gardens to different food distributors and restaurants, Eugeneans enjoy fresh products such as yogurt, cheese, chocolate and coffee, fresh vegetables of every kind as well as hormone-free, organic meats. The quality of dining in Eugene can be described as varied and superb.
Geographically speaking, Eugene’s location provides access to stunning scenery and abundant outdoor adventures, making Eugene enjoyable for residents and visitors. Eugene is surrounded by rolling wine country, agricultural lands and lush green forests. Additionally, beautiful sandy beaches and dramatic coastal vistas are just an hour west, while the snow-capped Cascades, featuring skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing and more (such as hot-springs!) are just a short drive east.
Lastly, Eugene has a fantastic craft-beer scene. With quality hops coming from the Willamette Valley and a city of eclectic and creative enthusiasts and professionals, it’s no surprise some of our nation’s top brews are originating here. Among the top breweries in Eugene are Ninkasi Brewing, Falling Sky Brewing House & Gastropub, Oakshire Brewing, and Hop Valley Brewing.
With everything that can be found and done in our emerald city, it only proves that Eugene is truly… “A Great City for the Arts and Outdoors”.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene,_Oregon
https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/regions-cities/eugene/about/
A Guide to Eugene Breweries – Where to Find the Best Beer Around Town
https://www.eugene-or.gov/1977/Eugene150