Tigard, OR, is located in Washington County just south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin. Tigard is Oregon's 12th largest city with a population of 47,460 residents. Tigard is conveniently located near I-5 and Hwy 217, Cook Park, Bridgeport Mall, and Washington Square Mall. Like many towns in the Williamette Valley, Tigard was settled by several families, the most noteworthy of which as the Tigard family. Headed by Wilson M. Tigard, the families arived in the area known as "East Butte" in 1852 where the families began building a school, a general store, a post office, and a meeting hall. The named their new town "Tigardsville" in 1886. The town experienced great growth in the late 1890's with an influx of east coast and European immigrants. This rapid growth spurred building and between 1907 and 1910, Main Street blossomed with the construction of several new commercial buildings, Germania Hall which featured a restaurant, grocery store, dance hall, rooms to rent, a new post office, and a livery stable. Limited telephone service began in 1908 and in 1911, the town was introduced to electricity. With the arrival of the Oregon Electric Railway, development was triggered and the small town of Tigardsville movved from merely a farming community into a period of growth which lead to its incorporation in 1861. The town was renamed Tigard in 1907. Present day Tigard is a city with a total area of 10.9 square miles of which almost all is land and only 0.09% being water.
Tigard residents enjoy many parks and activities...from open green fields to fishing on the Tualatin River, parks in Tigard offer you the great outdoors. With more than 300 acres of parks, greenways and natural areas, the City of Tigard provides a variety of options for recreation, while protecting the area’s natural beauty and providing valuable wildlife habitat.
Tigard offers year-round fun for residents with the popular Tigard Festival of Balloons topping the list each summer. This annual event features hot air balloons, live music, and delicious food from dozens of vendors. Excitement begins to buzz around Tigard weeks before the anticipated event and large crowds always show up to enjoy this headlining festival. Participants come from all around the country to show off their balloons and their flying ability.
The Tigard Farmer's Market is another popular attraction during the summer months with local vendors offering fresh produce, delicious hot foot, garden plants, and handmade crafts. One unique feature of the market is the community's decision to accept Senior Nutrition and WIC coupons from shoppers. This gives more residents the financial freedom to enjoy the bounty of healthy produce, straight from the gardens of Tigard. The Farmer's Market also features live music on every market day from 10 am until 2 pm.
The Summerfield Golf and Country Club also lures many residents into Tigard with its beautiful courses and luxurious lifestyle. This popular attraction is located within a retirement community and has always been included as one of the best Oregon executive courses. The nine-hole course, built in 1973, is open to the public for a nominal fee. The 33-par course features a chipping area and putting green, as well as an on-staff pro. The on site restaurant and lounge are great places to gather before or after the game.
In addition to the multiple entertainment venues, Tigard has earned a reputation as an educational mecca with excellent school systems. Families flock to Tigard schools where education is taken seriously and students are given the attention they deserve. Student success rates continue to soar with growing graduating classes each year.
The city is rich in heritage with nearly a dozen historical sights lining the streets. The John Tigard House is perhaps the most notable and was registered as a National Historic Place in 1979. You can also see the historic Joy Theater or Durham Elementary School as you tour the city.
Residents of Tigard enjoy an easy lifestyle with quick access to the many offerings of Portland and its many museums, theaters, shopping and activities. Just a short drive from any venue imaginable, Tigard is truly one of the most picturesque hometowns in America today.