In today’s churning real estate market, more and more Americans are choosing to move their families to the Northwest. Why? Simple. Life in the Northwest offers access to the best of both urban and natural worlds, some of the nation’s best weather, and an overall lifestyle that works well for singles, families, and seniors alike. One of the centers of growth in the Northwest is clearly the city of Portland: this burgeoning metropolis is fast becoming one of America’s most desirable cities.

Much of Portland’s astounding growth can be attributed to the success of the city’s surrounding towns and suburbs. One great place to settle a family, for example, is the town of Tualatin. Tualatin real estate offers something for everyone in a location that offers handy access to jobs, culture, and general goings-on in Portland. Tualatin is located just 13 miles south of Portland along the Tualatin River. Its location along both Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 makes transit easy: the city is ideally located for commuters and travelers.

Tualatin got it start in the mid-1800s, when Samuel Galbreath began operating a ferry service across the Tualatin River. The settlement that sprung up around the ferry service was originally named “Galbreath” (after its own home-grown ferryman). Several years later, Galbreath built a bridge across the Tualatin River, and the town was fittingly renamed “Bridgeport.” At the time, the community offered only basics like a blacksmith shop, general store, and boarding house (along with, of course, a saloon) – but its location along some of Portland’s main feeder roads gave it automatic status as a necessary stop-over for merchants and settlers.

In 1886, the Portland and Willamette Railway Company purchased a right-of-way through land just across the river from Bridgeport – and the new prosperity that came with the presence of the railroad gave rise to the town that is now Tualatin. Over the past century and a half, the population of Tualatin has grown to 25,000 – with most of that growth happening in the past three decades as Portland’s suburbs began to boom.

Tualatin real estate, then, offers something for everyone. The city’s ideal location (close, but not too close, to Portland) along major transportation arteries makes it a great place for families who want to live in the suburbs and work and play in the city – and the community’s prized riverside location means that boating and outdoor sports are popular during the summer months. Tualatin real estate offers access to top-notch schools, a public library that was ranked highest in its class among Oregon libraries in 2005, and a wide variety of community services. Tualatin real estate offers something great for every family – so come view the town’s offerings today.