Why Oregon's Fastest-Growing Town Still Feels Like a Secret
When a small town starts to grow, it can often go unnoticed. However, locals certainly can tell when newcomers ride into town, bringing with them new faces, customs, and opportunities. That is certainly the case in Oregon's fastest-growing town: Estacada.
Sitting on the outskirts of Portland, Estacada used to have just under 3,000 people; now it's nearly 6,000. There's a lot to love about Estacada, from its delightful riverside parks along the Clackamas River to its backdrop of Mt. Hood and its charming history as a construction and logging town. It also helps that Estacada is an affordable town not far away from the very expensive Portland. Oregon's fastest-growing town still feels like a secret to many, but here we unpack why that may be the case.
Population Growth
Estacada's population has been on an upward trend over the past two decades. In 2010, just under 2,700 people called this small Oregon town home. By 2020, that number climbed to over 4,400, and the most recent estimates put the town's population at just shy of 5,600. Over the years, town residents have noted this massive growth, reflected in more cars on the road, more players in local sports, and new government facilities such as a wastewater treatment plant.
What's behind this huge growth? It comes down to two key factors: cost of living and distance to Portland. Estracada is roughly 28.5 miles from Portland, making it highly attractive to people looking to get out of the city. Local news outlets have noted a variety of people have left Portland for Estracada from retired senior citizens to young families.
The cost of living is also much lower in Estaracada than in Portland. The median home price in Estacada is $459,705, and rent is $1,380 a month. This is far less than Portland's median home price and rent of $736,435 and $2,210 a month.
Estacada has also built many new homes to accommodate this growing population, making it even more attractive to Portland residents looking to get out of the city and settle in a cute small town.
History
Much of Estacada's history is intertwined with nearby Portland and Mount Hood. When smallpox wiped out much of the Native American population, many pioneers began settling in the foothills of Mount Hood in the mid-1800s, some of whom established small farms in the Estacada area.
In the early 1900s, the state of Oregon began bringing in workers to build the Cazadero Dam, which would use the Clackamas River to generate electricity for Portland's street lights. To accommodate these workers, Estacada was founded in 1905 as a camping facility. The Oregon Water Power Railway Co. would carry the workers along with people from Portland who wanted to take a vacation at the Estacada Hotel.
After the dam was completed, Estacada became a center for saw mills, as workers cleared the forest around the town in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, Estacada proudly maintains its earlier pioneer heritage at the Philip Foster Farm, built in 1847 on the Oregon Trail. It's a popular spot for families, as kids can get dressed up in pioneer outfits and learn what it was like to live as an Oregon pioneer. It also keeps many artifacts from that time period on site.
The River Mill Dam is another historical site of importance. This dam was constructed in 1911 on the Clackamas River to offer power for Portland. It can be viewed by hiking to the River Mill Dam Viewpoint at Milo McIver State Park.
Estacada doesn't have a history museum to speak of, but it tells its story downtown through the Murals of Estacada. The murals were first painted in 1992 and are today celebrated with the arts and music festival in July called Summer Celebration.
Nature
From the mountains to the rivers, Estacada is an outdoorsy paradise, which may explain the city's growth over the years. As mentioned above, the Milo McIver State Park is a good place to go for great views, especially as it veers around the shore of the Clackamas River alongside the Riverbend Trail. There are 14 miles of trails in the park, along with 27 holes of disc golf. Water sport enthusiasts can take a kayak or paddleboard out onto the Clackamas River. The park also contains Estacada Lake, where you can rent life jackets or go fishing.
The biggest natural attraction in the Estacada region is the Mt. Hood National Forest. This 1.1 million-acre forest is named after the 11,125-foot-tall volcano that dominates the landscape. As the tallest mountain in Oregon, experienced climbers love to come here to climb the technical route to the summit of Mt. Hood or to French's Dome, a smaller volcanic dome.
Hikers can explore more than 1,000 miles of trails throughout this massive forest, ranging from the 2.1-mile Alpine Trail to the 3.2-mile Badger Creek Cutoff Trail #477.
During the winter, the area really comes alive, with more than 20 "Snow-Parks" for skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities.
Within Estacada's town limits, there are several cute parks for a less strenuous day outdoors, like Promontory Park, which features two lakes: the 350-acre North Fork Reservoir and the one-acre Small Fry Lake, designed for kids to learn to fish.
Commercial Establishments
Looking to shop till you drop? Estacada keeps a small-town vibe with its artsy gift shops and bargain stores. For art stores, there's The Spiral Gallery, which sells jewelry, fine art, and crafts, and The Artsmith, which has custom picture frames, art, and office supplies.
You're sure to find all sorts of quirky gifts while in Estacada, whether that's by looking for antiques and vintage items at the Wade Creek Vintage Marketplace or purchasing some Bigfoot-themed souvenirs from the Mossy Rock Gift Shop. After all, mountainous places like Estacada tend to get a lot of reports of Bigfoot sightings!
Thrifters and local shoppers can find bargains at The Rag Refinery or the locally owned Hi-School Pharmacy and Harvest Market.
Locals have plenty of eateries in Estacada, from classic Americana restaurants to saloons and pizza joints. Granny's Restaurant is a town favorite, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with burgers, fries, milkshakes, and more. You can see quaint reminders of its milling past at the Old Mill Saloon or at the Hitchin Post Pizza, housed within an Old Western-style building downtown. Craft beer fans can grab a locally brewed beverage at Clackamas River Taphouse, which also serves pizzas.
From the Mountains to the River
Estacada is likely to continue to grow as more folks move out of Portland, either to find a place to retire in their golden years or settle down with a family. Single explorers also have good reason to come here, with the town's beautiful river trails, nearby mountain climbing paths, and rich local food and art scene. While Portland certainly has its advantages as a cultural center, Estacada offers an escape from the noise with a tightly knit community and beautiful natural landscapes all around. Estacada shows no signs of slowing down and is certainly worth a visit if you're in Oregon.
