Area Guide No. 7
Wilsonville, Oregon
Clackamas & Washington Counties · 97070 · About 15 miles south of downtown Portland
Wilsonville sits at the southern edge of the Portland metro on the north bank of the Willamette River, the gateway between the city and the Willamette Valley. Buyers choose it for one of the region's fastest-growing communities, an award-winning New Urbanist neighborhood in Villebois, a top-rated school district, a strong technology and distribution economy, and easy I-5 access that puts both Portland and Salem within reach.
Wilsonville · Clackamas County · Washington County · 97070 · Oregon
Wilsonville, Oregon · Clackamas & Washington Counties · 97070
Villebois, Wilsonville's pedestrian-first New Urbanist neighborhood
01 · Area Highlights
Why buyers choose Wilsonville
Wilsonville grew from the Boones Ferry river crossing into one of Oregon's fastest-growing cities, and it pairs that momentum with a distinctly livable layout. The city straddles Clackamas and Washington counties on the north bank of the Willamette, about 15 miles south of downtown Portland, which makes it a practical base for commuters heading north into the metro or south toward Salem.
The draw is the balance of new and established. Villebois, an award-winning New Urbanist master-planned community, set a national example for walkable, pedestrian-first living. The West Linn-Wilsonville School District is one of Oregon's most highly regarded. A strong economy anchored by Siemens EDA and Collins Aerospace keeps jobs close to home. And the Willamette riverfront, oak savanna parks, and easy I-5 access give the town an outdoor, gateway feel that buyers love.
- Willamette riverfront
- Villebois New Urbanism
- Top-rated schools
- I-5 commute
- Silicon Forest jobs
01b · Navigable Map
Explore Wilsonville on the map
Pan, zoom, and drag around this live map to get your bearings before you even call us: pin Town Center and Villebois, Memorial Park along the river, the I-5 corridor, the schools, and the neighborhoods this guide covers.
Wilsonville, Oregon · Clackamas & Washington Counties · 97070
02 · Community Detail
A fast-growing town with a walkable heart
Wilsonville's population was about 26,700 at the 2020 census and has grown to roughly 27,800 in recent estimates, nearly doubling since 2000 and making it one of Oregon's fastest-growing cities. The town overall reads as car-dependent on Walk Score, but Town Center and the Villebois neighborhood are genuinely walkable, with shops, restaurants, parks, and transit on foot.
The neighborhoods run the gamut. Villebois is the star: an award-winning New Urbanist community built on the former Dammasch State Hospital site, with pedestrian-first streets, front porches, and a village center. Charbonneau, south of the Willamette, is a gated, golf-centric planned community with a 27-hole course, one of Oregon's earliest planned communities. Frog Pond is the newer long-term growth area, while Old Town, Town Center, and the surrounding rural-residential edges round out the mix.
Most of Wilsonville sits in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District (3J), one of Oregon's top-rated districts, with Wilsonville High School, Arts & Technology (Art Tech) High School, Boeckman Creek, Boones Ferry, and Lowrie primary schools, and Athey Creek and Meridian Creek middle schools. Charbonneau, south of the river, is served by the Canby School District, and a Clackamas Community College campus is right in town. Boundaries vary by exact address, so we always verify the feeder school for a specific property before you commit.
Town Center Park anchors Wilsonville's civic life
Technology and distribution campuses anchor the local economy
03 · Major Employers
The employers behind the town
Wilsonville's economy blends high-tech engineering, aerospace, and a major distribution hub. Here are the anchors:
Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics)
Wilsonville's best-known technology employer and the anchor of the city's Silicon Forest presence. Siemens EDA, the former Mentor Graphics, designs electronic design automation (EDA) software used to build chips and electronics worldwide, and it employs roughly 900-plus engineers and professionals at its Wilsonville campus. It is the largest high-tech employer in the city.
Collins Aerospace (Rockwell Collins)
A major aerospace employer with a Wilsonville facility focused on head-up display and guidance systems for commercial and business aviation. Collins Aerospace, part of RTX, designs and builds the advanced avionics that pilots use on approach and landing around the world, giving Wilsonville a genuine aerospace engineering cluster.
Distribution and logistics
Wilsonville's position on I-5 between Portland and Salem makes it a distribution hub. Swire Coca-Cola USA, Sysco Portland, Columbia Distributing, and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits all run large operations here, moving beverages and food across the Pacific Northwest. The city's rail service and freeway access keep these anchors growing.
Retail, manufacturing, and services
Costco, Fred Meyer, and the Town Center retail core add thousands of local jobs, while FLIR and DW Fritz Automation round out the manufacturing and technology base. Medical-device maker Tyco Electronics, customer-experience firm Convergys, and automotive digital-marketing company Dealer Spike complete a broad, resilient local economy.
04 · Restaurant Guide
Where Wilsonville eats
Wilsonville's dining scene is more global than its size suggests, from a celebrated Moroccan dining room to dependable neighborhood favorites. Some of our picks, by cuisine:
Global flavors in Town Center
Dar Essalam
VisitWilsonville's most celebrated restaurant and a true standout: an authentic Moroccan dining room known for lamb shank, bastilla, couscous, tagine, and the Sultan Kabob Feast, served in tile-decorated, exotic rooms.
29585 SW Park Pl
Zaiqa Indian Cuisine
A well-loved addition to Wilsonville dining, serving Indian and Pakistani dishes from curries to tandoori in a warm, family-friendly room.
Town Center area
Thai Delight Bistro
VisitA long-running Thai favorite on Citizens Drive, popular for takeout and delivery as much as for its curries, noodle bowls, and fresh spring rolls.
8750 SW Citizens Dr
Sushi Avenue
A top-rated local sushi spot for rolls, sashimi, and Japanese classics, a dependable pick for a weeknight meal in Wilsonville.
Town Center area
Wong's Chinese Restaurant
A long-established Chinese restaurant on Wilsonville Road serving a broad menu of Cantonese and American-Chinese favorites.
8261 SW Wilsonville Rd
Mexican and Latin tables
San Blas
Authentic Mexican cooking known for its Steak Mexicano and Pescado a la Plancha, with gluten-free and vegan options and a loyal local following.
Town Center area
El Juan Colorado
VisitA family-friendly Mexican restaurant on Citizens Drive serving classics from tacos and burritos to hearty platos combinados.
8750 SW Citizens Dr
Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
A Mexican cantina in the Town Center core for margaritas, fajitas, and familiar south-of-the-border favorites.
Town Center Loop
American, pubs, and breweries
McMenamins Wilsonville Old Church & Pub
VisitA historic repurposed church turned McMenamins pub, with a cozy, stained-glass dining room, house-brewed beers, burgers, and comfort classics. One of the most characterful rooms in town.
30340 SW Boones Ferry Rd
Oswego Grill
VisitA polished steak and seafood grill on Boones Ferry Road, known for its steaks and the famous spinach-artichoke appetizer, a favorite for celebrations.
30080 SW Boones Ferry Rd
Ram Restaurant & Brewery
A brewpub on Boones Ferry Road serving burgers, pub fare, and house beer, a relaxed spot for families and post-work meetups.
29800 SW Boones Ferry Rd
Wankers Corner Saloon & Cafe
A beloved Wilsonville institution on Main Street, famous for its big breakfasts, brunch, and American comfort fare in a friendly, unpretentious room.
8499 SW Main St
Black Bear Diner
VisitA family-friendly diner on Parkway Avenue with all-day hearty breakfasts and comfort classics, a dependable stop on the way to or from the Willamette Valley.
30175 SW Parkway Ave
Mediterranean and pizza
Mr. Gyros Mediterranean Grill
VisitA fast-casual Mediterranean spot on Boones Ferry Road known for gyros, souvlaki, and fresh Greek fare.
30100 SW Boones Ferry Rd
Bellagios Pizza
A pizza chain that started right here in Wilsonville, known for specialty and build-your-own pies, plus grinders and calzones.
Town Center area
Worth planning around: Wilsonville is the home of Bellagios Pizza, and the Willamette Valley wineries and Champoeg State Park sit just minutes south, making the town a handy base for a food-and-wine day trip.
From Moroccan tagine to steak and house-brewed beer
Graham Oaks Nature Park, minutes from Town Center
05 · Activities
Things to do in and around Wilsonville
Wilsonville's calendar runs from the Farmers Market to the Festival of the Arts, and the riverfront, oak savanna, and Willamette Valley are the town's backyard. Here is how locals spend their weekends:
Graham Oaks Nature Park
Learn moreA 250-acre Metro nature park just west of town with three miles of smooth, stroller- and bike-friendly trails through oak savanna, conifer forest, and wetlands, plus five plazas. One of the best easy outdoor escapes in the metro.
Memorial Park
Learn moreWilsonville's oldest and largest park, about 126 acres with half a mile of Willamette riverfront, a skate park, the city's only off-leash dog area, disc golf, sports and pickleball courts, a boat dock, and forest trails.
Town Center Park and the summer calendar
Learn moreThe civic heart at 29600 Park Pl, with a splash pad, amphitheater, and green lawns that host most city events: the Wilsonville Farmers Market on Thursday evenings, free Rotary Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park on Fridays, and the Wilsonville Festival of the Arts each June.
Bullwinkle's Entertainment
Learn moreA six-acre family amusement center on Town Center Loop with bowling, mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats, laser tag, batting cages, and an arcade. A dependable rainy-day and birthday-party favorite.
The Ice Age Tonquin Trail
A paved multi-use path that runs through the Tonquin wetland corridor, connecting Merryfield Neighborhood Park to the Villebois Greenway, part of a growing network of trails that also includes the Coyote Way and Tonquin Trail loop natural area.
Frog Pond Farm and day trips south
Learn moreA family-friendly farm with more than 80 animals, playgrounds, and a seasonal pumpkin patch. For a bigger outing, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, home of the Spruce Goose, is about 35 minutes away, and Champoeg State Park sits just south on the Willamette.
Ready to make Wilsonville home?
We know this town block by block, from the Villebois village center to the Charbonneau fairways. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you the Wilsonville that fits, from the school feeder to the riverfront view.
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