Living in La Grande Oregon - EVERYTHING You Need to Know

La Grande, Oregon, in Union county, is 79 miles SE of Kennewick, Washington, and 223 miles E of Portland, Oregon.  La Grande is Union County's county seat, founded on October 14, 1864. The city was named after the river valley. Benjamin Brown was the first permanent settler in the town of La Grande. It was initially called "Brownsville." La Grande was incorporated in 1865, and the first railroad entered the area in 1884.

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Nestled between the Wallowa Mountains and the Blue Mountains, La Grande has magnificent scenery, abundant wildlife, historic sites, and an excess of outdoor adventure. It also boasts uncrowded camping, hiking, backpacking, Nordic and alpine skiing for those that visit. La Grande is close to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. This national forest is over 2 million acres in size and includes all or parts of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Hells Canyon, Monument Rock, and North Fork John Day wilderness areas. There are 60 campgrounds and more than 1,700 miles of trails. There are also opportunities for snowmobiling, mountain biking, camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, and water skiing in the mountains, trails, and lakes in the national forest. Fishermen can try catching some of the 13 species of fish, including trout, steelhead, and salmon, in the many rivers and lakes. Or, try some hair-raising white water rafting on the Grande Ronde River.

Downtown La Grande has a pedestrian-friendly shopping district. The tree-lined streets enhance examples of turn-of-the-century architecture, all adding to your rural shopping experience. Eastern Oregon University is just a ten-minute walk from the shopping district. The university serves ten counties east of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.