Silverton, OR

38 Apartments for Rent

'For I doubt if I shall ever see, a city built around a tree' -- While that's not quite the line from the poem "Trees and Other Poems" by Joyce Kilmer, the paraphrase does reflect an interesting bit of Silverton history. Seems the town was laid out around an old oak tree that had been a gathering place for Native Americans prior to pioneer settlement.

Named after the Silver River, the town grew up to play an important role in Willamette Valley settlement. Banking and finance helped drive the local economy, along with trade, agriculture, and transportation. It's the gateway town to Oregon's largest state park, Silver Falls. It's also where you will find the Oregon Garden, a lush 80 acre display of botanical delights with a strong emphasis on plants native to the Pacific Northwest. The city of around 10,000 is a historic burg with a nice, clean downtown that is home to a fine collection of shops and businesses. Interestingly enough, movie-goers might remember the downtown area from the movie_ "_Bandits" -- the Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton characters rob their first bank in Silverton.

Moving to Silverton

Like almost all of Oregon west of the Cascade Mountains, there are more people wanting to move here than move out. That means you will face more competition here than in some other locales. Aye, but don't ye be dismayed -- with a good plan and proper execution, you can land that perfect rental apt. in Silverton. A decent credit check is almost a must for rental homes and it's likely you will be asked to pony up first, last, and at least a small security deposit. As soon as you get the inkling to load up and move here, get started with a list of your favorite properties and work through it methodically, eliminating those that don't measure up to what you want in a place to live. Somewhere, you will find the match that gives you most of what you want at a price you can still afford.

Silverton Neighborhoods

The older part of town is located on both sides of Silver Creek, nestled alongside its bubbling waters. Newer development has seen the community grow out along the major roads to the north and southwest, which are also the routes commuters take if working in Salem or the Portland metro area. Here's a look at some of the neighborhoods in town.

Silverton Road: The connecting road to Salem and Interstate 5 headed south, it's also one of the main areas where you will find commercial businesses. Silverton turns into McClaine Street in town, near Silverton Hospital. Set off the road you will find buildings that can offer a two-bedroom apartment for rent. The Oregon Garden is to the south.

Webb Lake: The northeast corner of the community is defined by this lake. There are also a couple of newer housing tracts that could be a good place to start your search for rental homes. Milltown Pub on Mill Street is a great place to grab a beer.

Downtown: There's a great downtown vibe here -- some touristy-type shops, little eateries, and pedestrian friendly streets. There's a chance you will find studio apartments for rent set off behind the commercial buildings. It's small, but picturesque and inviting. Check out the historic Palace Theater.

Pine Street: The northwest quadrant of town above the river holds a couple of small manufactured home parks, some single family homes, and a few apartment structures and duplexes. The lots tend to get larger as you head out of town. Naturally, the larger lots are often more open to renting to pet owners.

Water Street and the road to Silver Falls State Park: Highway 214 follows the creek up to Silver Creek Reservoir and on to the incredible park, with numerous waterfalls and outstanding hiking trails. Rural houses and farms line the roadway.

Living in Silverton

This historic Willamette Valley village has an eye on the past and maintaining the cultural ties and another on the future. Towns that used to depend on lumber but don't have it to rely on as heavily any longer either have withered away -- or diversified. Developing a strong tourist draw is one way, and Silverton has done that. Attractions like the Oregon Garden and Frank Lloyd Wright's Gordon House help draw people to town, while fun places like the Wooden Nickel Pub & Eatery make sure they have a good time. Living here means taking advantage of the attractions on your own time and enjoying the more subtle attractions of the town the rest of the time. Just a few minutes to the north is Mount Angel, home to Oregon's largest Oktoberfest celebration at the end of each summer and you can be in Portland in well under two hours.