A vibrant city with a distinct flavor of a small town, Lebanon, Oregon is home to about 13,000 citizens. This community in the heart of Linn County includes 34 churches, 31 restaurants, and 14 schools. Nearby towns and cities include Albany and Jefferson, both 14 miles away, and Brownsville and Scio, both about 11 miles away. If you're moving in from out of state, or just wanting to resettle in the valley, Lebanon, Oregon is a wonderful choice!

Right at your fingertips is the full rich stretch of the Willamette Valley. Renowned for its beauty and promise since Lewis and Clark explored the Oregon Territory in 1805, the valley was the destination of thousands of settlers in the 1840s and 1850s. Flanked on one side by the Coastal Range and on the other by the Cascades, and cut down the middle by the north-flowing Willamette River, the valley has been home to most Oregon residents for good reason.

Strawberries in Lebanon, Oregon

The soil is rich and the climate splendid for agriculture as well as forestry. Scores of vineyards and public gardens, not to mention a long history of prosperous fruit and vegetable farming, are good evidence. One of the special events unique to the Lebanon, Oregon community is its strawberry festival, which got underway in 1909, and has been held ever since in the first week of June.

Two local merchants, Joel Mayer and A.M. Reeves, found it a good way to both promote the fruit and thank the community. In 1931 a local bakery and the local power company launched the idea of a massive strawberry shortcake. The idea took. The first recipe called for 28 pounds of sugar, 10 dozen eggs, and 32 pounds of flour--among other ingredients. Today's recipe calls for 325 pounds of sugar, 196 pounds of eggs, and 350 pounds of flour. Oh yes, it requires 3,000 pounds of strawberries and serves between 16,000 and 17,000 people.