The City of Oakridge, Oregon is an outdoor enthusiast's dream-come-true. Completely surrounded by the vast Willamette National Forest, Oakridge offers unlimited outdoor opportunities, where families and businesses can live, work, play, and grow, in a safe and sustainable community. With 5 rivers and nearly 500 miles of trails surrounding the city, it truly is a mountain biking and hiking paradise. The city's population is just under 3,500 residents within city limits, but closer to 5,000 when including nearby Westfir and the surrounding areas outside city limits.
Oakridge is nestled in the foothills of the Western Cascade Mountains. Due to the city's elevation (1,200-1,700 ft.), Oakridge has excellent weather, as it is located above the fog in the valley, and below the heavy snows in the mountains, providing residents with over 300 days of annual sun! Don't believe us? Check out our live webcam here: https://www.youtube.com/@OakridgeOregon-h7v
With a council-manager form of government adopted in 1972, the City’s residents enjoy a strong supportive government. Oakridge is a full service city providing street, water, wastewater, and park utilities; police, fire, and ambulance services; library, economic development, planning/zoning, and administrative services. The city is funded by property taxes, franchise and other fees. Special projects are funded through grants and loans. Over the past decade, the City has received over $10 million in grants and loans for community projects, and has an annual budget of around $15 million.
The citizens of the Oakridge area hold their history and culture close with events and productions all year around. The more than half a century old Tree Planting Festival serves as a reminder of Oakridge’s past as a timber town. In more modern productions, the Concerts in the Park hosts free concerts at the Banner Bank Amphitheater in Greenwaters Park. The Zero Clearance Theater Company, an Oakridge-based community theater company, utilizes local performers to stage both classic and original works. There are also 4 art galleries in town, 3 nearby hot springs, and Willamette Pass Ski Resort is only 25 miles away!
35 miles away, the Eugene-Springfield metro area provides a diversity of options from its counter-culture history to the symphony, opera, ballet, and of course the University of Oregon, all of which are great places to experience art, music, and local culture. The City of Bend is located 90 miles away.
50/50 Politics: As of 5/5/2024, Oakridge had 555 registered Democrat voters, 576 registered Republican voters, 963 non-affiliated voters, and 199 minor-party voters. Source: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/lane.county.elections/viz/LaneCountyVoterRegistrationbyDistrict/Countywide
City of Oakridge Mission Statement (adopted 12/18/2025):
Building on pioneering grit and neighborly kindness, the City of Oakridge advances four pillars of our community: active stewardship, place-based prosperity, a culture of ownership, and mutual aid. We deliver effective, courteous, and responsive services, while treating citizens and employees with fairness, dignity, and respect. Continuously improving, our staff takes pride in our work and in the heritage and diversity of the community.
City of Oakridge Vision Statement (adopted 12/18/2025):
Oakridge is a close-knit, resilient town nestled in the majestic Willamette National Forest, surrounded by trails, where community isn’t just a word but a way of life.
