About Oregon
Nestled in the Rock River Valley of Northern Illinois, the City of Oregon is ready to welcome you to our beautiful community. With over 11,000 acres of public land, opportunities for outdoor adventure or relaxation are abundant. Local and state parks provide opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, fish, camp and more.
Oregon is also home to a thriving arts community where impressive collections of paintings and sculptures can be found, including the notable Black Hawk Statue overlooking the Rock River. Downtown Oregon offers plenty of dining options to choose from and shopping, including antiques, home decor, retail and more.
In Oregon, time slows down. You get to relax. Breathe. Enjoy the outdoors. Wander the quaint downtown streets. And so much more. Which trail will you explore in Oregon?
History
For a small town you’ve likely not heard of, Oregon’s history runs surprisingly deep. First settled by pioneer John Phelps in 1833, others followed suit and the first church, school, grocery store, blacksmith and post office were soon built. Just a few years later, in 1838, the land was claimed and subdivided, officially certified by the county as Oregon City.
In 1839, the city was renamed Florence after a visitor compared the Rock River’s beauty to the Italian city—though the name didn’t last long and was soon reverted back to Oregon.
The city continued to grow through the 1870s, due in part to the construction of a railroad and industries such as oatmeal, furniture and flour, and the establishment of a foundry.
The Ogle County Courthouse was built in 1891 in Oregon. The early 1900s ushered in an era of artistic endeavor, led by Lorado Taft, a sculptor who founded the Eagle’s Nest Art Colony just north of town. Taft’s sculpture, The Eternal Indian, sits on a bluff overlooking the Rock River Valley. Now known as the Black Hawk Statue, it still stands and remains an emblem of the city.
Learn more about Oregon’s rich, well-documented history by visiting the Ogle County Historical Society and Museum.