The River Road neighborhood in Eugene, Oregon is a green haven located between the Willamette River and the Northwest Expressway. Native Americans tended the flat prairie and the thick woods near the river for generations. The Historic River Road area was first inhabited by The Chifin band of the Kalapuya people. European settlers arrived by wagon train in the 1840s. This southern edge of the Willamette Valley soon looked like a checkerboard of farms.

The neighborhood grew in fits and starts, adding homes and retail centers as needed. Now it is an area of homes dating back to the 1920s and also new construction both along the river and the expressway.

Homebuyers are drawn to this area for the natural beauty of the river and the peace and quiet of a former farming community. This is a cyclist's paradise, where a wide, paved path follows the Willamette and many streets have clearly marked bike lanes. It is a great place for active Oregonians of all ages, with a public recreation center featuring swimming and tennis lessons and several parks. Downtown Eugene is a short bike ride away.

Those early settlers, arriving in Oregon after the arduous trips across the country, looked out on the lush landscape and believed they found heaven. Almost two hundred years later, residents riding their bikes along the lazy Willamette River under a canopy of sugar maples believe they were right.

The River Road neighborhood was once farmland and thick woods. Suburban homes were outnumbered by farms well into the 1970s. Tudor Revival cottages and large farmhouse-style homes dominated. In the middle of the last century a housing boom, albeit one that moved a little slower than the rest of the country, drove out farms and nurseries in favor of mid-century ranches with large lawns. Housing remained steady and there were still a few farms left until early in this century, when planned communities of three-and-four-bedroom homes replaced them. There are a few apartments and townhomes, but this area favors larger, detached homes. New construction is ongoing.

River Road is ideally located. The University of Oregon campus is about three miles to the east along the river, featuring Autzen Stadium, home of the Ducks, a theater, and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Music lovers will be delighted to learn that the world-class Oregon Bach Festival is staged on and around the campus. Quirky and eclectic downtown Eugene is four miles to the northwest and can be reached by bicycle. Here you will find Kesey Square, a casual foodie's paradise, The Hult Center for the Performing Arts and several unique shops and restaurants.

A river runs through it, and residents make full use of their proximity to the Willamette. The University of Oregon rowing team can be seen pulling their hearts out as they cut through its waters. Saturday morning bike rides and Sunday picnics are the norm.

River Road Park and Recreation offers a fitness center and indoor pool on Lake Drive. Emerald Park hosts outdoor summer concerts.

When active locals tire of running by the river, Walnut Grove Park offers 21 acres of trails that take them past turtle ponds and native plantings. Rosetta Park is a pleasant neighborhood spot with picnic tables, a play area and paved paths perfect for dog-walking.

River Road is served by two public school districts. Eugene District 4J students begin at Howard or River Road elementary schools. Students to the northwest of the neighborhood attend Bethel District schools. Of the two, Bethel's ratings are higher overall, but parents in both districts report engagement and satisfaction.

Residents are active and enjoy the many opportunities to hike, bike and run that the area offers. There is a retail center along River Road and two grocery stores, but residents who moved here for the all-natural, local and organic lifestyle prefer the Corner Market, at the south end of River Road.

The city of Eugene is the largest local employer, closely followed by the University of Oregon. Oregon Integrated Healthcare is nearby.

The bike paths that Eugene is justly famous for make it possible for many residents to commute by bicycle. There is not much traffic within Eugene. Amtrak offers a commuter train with stops in Corvallis, Albany, Salem and Portland.

The Historic River Road area was first inhabited by The Chifin band of the Kalapuya people. In the 1840s, settlers arrived in the area via the Oregon Trail and utilized the land for farming and agriculture. This settlement led to the incorporation of Eugene in 1853. The settlers’ rural and agrarian way of life continued until the 1950s post-war boom caused expansion due to population growth and economic development.

The industrial era influenced the transition from rural farmland in Eugene and the River Road area, as both became more residential and industrial communities. River Road transverses a five-mile historic corridor in northwest Eugene. River Road has experienced unprecedented growth in the past 10 years, with parts of the corridor now growing at a rate four times that of Lane County (American Community Survey). To accommodate future growth, the city of Eugene is collaborating with Lane Transit District (LTD) to develop a rapid transit line in this corridor.

There are wonderful parks, bike and walking paths, historic and tight knit pockets of homes, dead end streets, swimming holes, farm stands, larger lots with fertile soils for great gardening. The actual River Road doesn’t look that appealing at first, but once you get into the heart of it you will fall in love.