Lake Oswego: Play where you Live
Lake Oswego is considered one of the finest residential areas in Oregon. Unlike some communities its size, Lake Oswego offers its residents full-service police and fire protection, a heavily used library and an award-winning senior center. It also provides planning and zoning regulation, building inspection and regulation, street maintenance and improvement and water sewer and surface water services.
The schools in the city rate among the best in the country, with more than 80% of high school students going on to attend college. The Lake Oswego School District operates two high schools, two junior high schools and nine elementary schools. There are several colleges in or near Lake Oswego as well, including: Lewis & Clark College and its affiliate the Northwestern School of Law, Marylhurst University and Portland Community College’s Sylvania campus.
Lake Oswego also boasts a city-owned water sports center on the Willamette River, two public swimming facilities on the private 405-acre Oswego Lake, Executive length 18-hole public golf course and an indoor tennis center.
Lake Oswego is primarily a residential community with a population of 35,750, but there is some commercial development and light manufacturing in the area. The Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce is a very active and critical resource in Lake Oswego.
The city’s original neighborhoods reflect a glimpse of England, with English Cottage and Tudor Revival homes designed by architect Richard Sundeleaf between 1920 and 1940. Most residents, however, live in new developments designed to accommodate busy urban lifestyles.
The city has 17 neighborhood associations and more than 12 citizen advisory boards. The Lake Oswego City Charter establishes a council-manager form of government, which vests policy authority in a volunteer City Council and administrative authority for day-to-day operations in an appointed, professional City Manager. The Lake Oswego City Council consists of a mayor and six councilors who serve four-year terms.
The city’s primary sources of revenue are property taxes, sales and services, franchise fees and intergovernmental agreements. The primary expenditures are public safety, parks and recreation, debt service, redevelopment, library and general administration.
