Welcome to Corvallis, Oregon, the county seat and largest city (population about 55,000) in Benton County. Corvallis is located in the west-central Willamette Valley next to the Willamette River and is an hour's drive from the coast and the Cascade Mountains and two hours from the high desert of central Oregon. Home of Oregon State University, Corvallis still maintains something of a small-town feel. The streets are safe (we've been named the most secure small town in America and are still on the list), unemployment is low, traffic jams are rare, and housing is relatively expensive.

The weather is mild - the winters are long, gray, and damp, and the spring and summers are warm, green, and glorious. When the sun comes out, so do the the bicycles (Corvallis is a gold award-winning Bicycle Friendly Community) and the city maintains one of the most extensive bike trail systems in Oregon. Based on data from the 2009 American Community Survey, Corvallis had the highest percentage (9.3%) of bicycle commuters of any city in the United States. We also came in second on the list of U.S. cities where people walk to work. Want to ride the bus instead? The Corvallis Transit System is now free of charge to use.

All-electric vehicle sightings are increasingly commonplace and we now have several local EV recharging stations. We also have the distinction of being named the West Coast's first Green Power Community by the EPA, were rated first in the nation (2008) by Country Home Magazine for "Best Green Places", and made the short list of favorite eco-friendly towns in Sunset Magazine. You can join the New Economy here in Corvallis and, to top it off, Corvallis made the Forbes' top 10 list of Smartest Cities in America. Most recently, Benton County was ranked as the healthiest in Oregon. To see what the Mother Earth News says about Corvallis, click HERE.