Oregon Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Amity, Oregon

Population: 1,480

Located in Yamhill County

Ahio Watt founded Amity in 1849. Amity has initially been the center of a huge fight about where a school should be built. Eventually accord was reached, and Amity was created! It was incorporated into Yamhill County in 1880, and it has remained relatively unchanged since that time.

Agriculture is the principal industry in Amity and the surrounding region. It is ideally situated, with plenty of open spaces and rivers. Amity is well known for Amity Vineyards. This vineyard is located in the North Willamette Valley region of Oregon. This region has been recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world - rivaling the best in Burgundy. Wine-tasting is offered, and tours that demonstrate how the wines are created.

Homes are generally built on large lots, and dot the landscape, widely scattered. Homes are extremely reasonably priced, with a four-bedroom home on five acres selling for around $250,000. Housing is a great option here too, because of Amity's proximity to Portland, it makes it a wonderful choice for commuters who still want to feel like they have some country-living available to them, whilst having the option of the convenience of the big city.

This region's prominent topographic feature is the Eola Hills, which rise gently and beautifully from the valley floor northwest of Salem to just south of McMinnville in Yamhill County, and are some of the highest peaks in the Willamette Valley. This part of Oregon is renown for growing grapes for making world-class wines. Vineyards and wineries dot the hillsides, and serve as a major tourist attraction for the region.

Amity has a moderate, maritime climate with about 40 inches of annual rainfall, which is great for agriculture. Of course, for recreation there is plenty to do as well. You can go skiing in the morning and kayaking in the afternoon, 12 months of the year! And there are so many places to choose from - there are more state parks on this side of the state than in the rest of the state put together!

Education, which was the cause of the town's creation, is obviously a high priority, and teachers and students alike are very proud of the standard of excellence reached in this community. It may be a small community, but the parents are extremely involved in the future of their children. Amity is close enough to Portland that students have wonderful choices when it comes to tertiary education.

Amity has lived up to its name, and a more pleasant, lovely little community would be hard to find! This section of Oregon is definitely an Eden, come and check it out.