5 Things You Didn’t Know About Happy Valley, Oregon
Updated 05/2024
When Shakespeare pondered, “What’s in a name?” … he probably wasn’t thinking about neighborhood incorporation and real estate. Still, Happy Valley is a testament to a name’s power. It even has an interesting backstory.
Local lore claims the name originates from neighborhood youths who drank hard cider before church services. Their boisterous singing dubbed them the “happy boys from the hollow,” and the name followed.
The city’s website acknowledges this is likely a tale spun for marketing purposes, but who can blame them? The strategy worked. Still, the name isn’t the only reason for its success. Other characteristics have made it one of the fastest-growing cities in Oregon in the past several years.
PSU’s Population Research Center’s (LINK) latest data puts its growth rate from 2000 to 2023 at 13%. This is well above Portland, which has remained relatively low the last few years.
The city’s local charm and business savvy are two well-known traits contributing to its growth, but they aren’t the only reasons. Here are five things you may not know that make this valley a happy place to live.
1. Happy Valley Is Growing, and With Intent
Happy Valley was incorporated in 1965 to prevent Portland’s annexation. Since then, maintaining its unique identity has informed the politics and policies of local governance.
Accordingly, the once modest town’s growth in recent years is not an out-of-control product of the real estate market. The forces that be have big plans. When Damascus disincorporated in 2011 (or tried to), Happy Valley jumped at the chance to annex anyone willing.
Why the push for annexations? According to the city’s website, the goal is to:
● Maintain a well-planned transportation network
● Expand public safety services
● Provide environmental protections
● Extend municipal services efficiently
● Maximize incentives for business owners
In 2023, the city council approved plans to annex parts of the Pleasant Valley and North Carver neighborhoods, adding over 1,700 households.
2. Happy Valley Real Estate Prices are a Benefit for Buyers
Despite the impressive growth of Happy Valley, homes have a history of being a bargain. Yes, pricing has increased in prior years, much like other areas of Portland, but recent price increases have been lower than projected. Overall, home prices have been relatively the same in 2024 vs 2023. The reason is an increase in inventory and fewer buyers. In some ways, it is following the trend of the Portland Metro area, which has experienced a reduction in home pricing.
This is all great news for new buyers. In fact, 2024 could likely be a year when pricing comes down. Of course, interest rates are high, but lower interest rates in the future will likely bring a surge of buyers and higher prices.
For more information on the city’s real estate trends, see our Happy Valley Real Estate Market Report with 2025 Forecast.
3. Happy Valley Is a Friendly Place to Live
While we can’t promise the kids won’t get into mischief with the “happy boys of the hollow,” we’re pretty sure Happy Valley is a decent place to be, and we’re not the only ones. Niche gives Happy Valley an overall rating of B+, ranking it #4 in Clackamas County and #18 in its list of best suburbs to raise a family in Oregon.
Here are some reasons for the Niche positivity:
Highly Rated Schools
Happy Valley students are in the North Clackamas School District. Niche shows a 19:1 student-teacher ratio. The graduation rate is also higher than the state’s average. During the 2022–2023 school year, 88.5% of seniors graduated.
Access to the Outdoors:
The area also has excellent outdoor areas, including Mount Talbert Nature Park, Scouters Mountain Nature Park, and Hidden Falls Nature Park. Powell Butte is also nearby, and easy access to major highways means a shorter drive to Mt. Hood and the surrounding National Forest.
Among the many amenities the town offers, one of the best is access to parks. Just within the neighborhood are no less than three excellent outdoor areas:
Steady Employment Rates
The city employment rate is 3.83%, on par with the national rate of 3.8%.
4. Happy Valley Values Public Transit
Once seen as worthy of little interest by diehard urbanites, life across the 82nd Street divide may become more and more a part of Portland proper. And, just like in 1965, Happy Valley is ahead of the game.
In coordination with Gresham, Happy Valley has been working on the Clackamas to Columbia Corridor plan. C2C intends to improve the only north-south corridor east of the 205, connecting I-84 in Multnomah County all the way down to Highway 212 in Clackamas County. With a total project time of 20 years, The project’s goals include easing traffic flow for drivers by making traffic signal improvements, for example. But it also prioritizes those who don’t drive. Safer sidewalks, buffered bike lanes, and improved bus service aim to keep the area liveable for under-served communities east of the 205.
Approval is still pending, and there are some questions about how this will all be funded, but it’s notable that Happy Valley is banking on even more growth and trying to get ahead of it.
5. Happy Valley Has Efficient Government Services
Growth is in the city’s DNA, seen in its culture and governance since the 1980s. Happy Valley continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the state, which has necessitated a “can-do” attitude that is oftentimes lacking in government services.
One 2024 example is the city’s new online permitting and licensing portal. Residents can apply and submit payments for licenses and permits from any device, making it easier for residents to renew business licenses and manage dog licenses, alarm permits, and building permits.
This is just one example of Happy Valley’s excellent website. Though it may sound silly to point out a website, it’s not in this case. Residents and business owners can easily learn about the town’s culture and governance. Links to services and information are divided into logical categories, making information easy to find. The website’s front page attractively headlines community services, such as the library, parks and recreation.
All the examples above show that Happy Valley is hungry for growth and community. They want you to be able to start a business and or socialize in a vibrant community, and they are putting in the work to make it happen. One of the best-educated cities in Oregon, they’re organized, capable, and ready to claim their spot as one of the best suburbs in the Portland area.
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