Oregon at a Glance
- Population: 3.4M
- Number of Lakes: 6,000
- Miles of Rivers: 112,000
- Number of Hot Springs: 6
- Number of Downhill Ski Areas: 13
Salem
- Population: 152,000 (2007)
- Location: Mid-Willamette Valley
- Roots: Oregon’s State Capital
Willamette is located in a great spot. Our community members enjoy a centralized location that ensures immediate access to the kinds of things that make the Pacific Northwest remarkable. We've got the breathtaking Oregon coast to the west of us; the Cascade mountains, high desert, skiing and snowboarding to the east; the Columbia River gorge and Portland to the north; and the rest of the green, rolling Willamette Valley to the south.
Meanwhile, the city of Salem offers a lot to see and do. You could start by walking across the street from our campus, where you'll run into the hub of our state government (and, effectively, a second big campus to play in). We don't know of any other colleges located so fortunately; aside from being beautiful, the Oregon State Capitol is a rich source of internships for students who are considering careers in public service, law or related fields. Furthermore, much of Oregon's political action - be it the passing of reform legislation inside the capitol or public rallies outside - happens a stone's throw away.
Tour the remainder of the city and you'll find numerous parks within walking distance, a vibrant downtown district about two blocks away, and all the benefits of an active, mid-sized urban environment - minus most of the traffic.
Ask anyone here and they'll tell you that Oregon is a wonderful place to call home. At Willamette, you'll have access to it all.
