Lying in the heart of the lush sweep of the Willamette Valley in Linn County, the town of Brownsville, Oregon is rich in both history and charm. It was founded in the 1850s, soon after the first settlers arrived, and well before Oregon became a state. With a population of just over 1,400, Brownsville is convenient to both Salem and Eugene, and sits just four miles off Route 5, the main north-south corridor through the valley.

A largely undiscovered gem, the town prides itself on being "a good place to raise kids" and "a place to raise good kids." The Brownsville, Oregon museum is housed in several railway cars, the 1881 Italianate Moyer House, and a 26-acre park. It offers a rich repository of 19th century photographs and artifacts. Brownsville Academy, its private grammar-middle school, enrolls about 80 students. The Linn County public counterparts are 10 miles down Route 216 in Halsey. Brownsville Mennonite School, grades 1 through 12, is in town.

Brownsville, Oregon: Local Color

The town is home to the state's oldest continuing celebration, known as Pioneer Picnic, established in 1887. Its history also includes its Big Fire of 1919, the railway, its woolen mills, and visits from William Jennings Bryant. Founded by three families--the Kirks, the Browns, and the Blakelys--Brownsville sits on the Calapooia River. James Blakely platted the town in 1853, naming it after his uncle Hugh Brown.

By 1912, the population had grown to more than 1,000. Brownsville, Oregon was recently the setting for the well-known and popular movie Stand By Me, filmed in 1986. The town has changed little in its 150 years and is proud of it. If you're looking for a wonderfully undeveloped gem in the heart of Oregon, with the Coastal Range to the west and the Cascades to the east, you've come to the right place!