Monmouth (Oregon)

Monmouth is a small city in the Willamette Valley Region of Oregon. The population is about 11,000 (2019).

Understand
Pioneers settled Monmouth in 1853 and quickly established a college in the town. Western Oregon University, or WOU (which has held six other names), still exists, giving Monmouth a unique spirit for a town of its small size. Monmouth was known for being the last dry town in Oregon until 2002, when alcohol was legalized by referendum. Since then, Monmouth business has thrived with the opening of many new restaurants and stores who rely on alcohol (mostly beer) sales to survive.

Monmouth is a politically mixed city, and people are mostly accepting of different demographics, since many international students attend WOU. Most of the politicians elected in Monmouth and Polk County are relatively moderate, regardless of their party.

Monmouth is recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA.

By car
From Salem, head west on Highway 22 for about nine miles, until you reach the junction with Highway 99 West. Go south on 99 until you reach Monmouth, then turn right onto Main Street to reach the city center.

From Corvallis, simply head North on 99 for about a half hour, then turn left onto Main Street when you reach Monmouth.

By bus
There are several bus stops along Main Street in Monmouth. The town is served by the CARTS40 line, which provides service to Dallas, Salem, and Monmouth's neighbor Independence. The buses stop five times a day between about 6:30AM and 6:30PM.

On foot
Most of Monmouth is easily accessible on foot. The distance from one side of town to the other is only about 1.5 miles, of which less than a mile is occupied by the business district. There are good quality sidewalks on the main streets.

By bicycle
The main streets of Monmouth are also accessible by bicycle, though many lack assigned bike lanes.

Buy
Almost all shops and businesses are located on Main Street and Highway 99.

Groceries
To find a full grocery store, you will have to drive about five minutes east to Roth's or Winco in Independence. However, Bi-Mart (On 99 entering Monmouth from the south) offers some non-perishable foods as well as hardware and electronics.

Eat
There are a few local restaurants of decently pretty good quality on main street, as well as fast food restaurants (mostly on 99) if you're looking for a quicker option.

Go next

 * Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a bird refuge with several short hiking trails and a viewpoint of the valley from Mount Baldy. It is a few miles north of town via 99 and Coville Road.
 * Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is another refuge popular with birds. Ankeny is located in a natural swamp habitat filled with ash trees and frogs. It is located east of town across the Willamette River.
 * Falls City, a small village nestled in the Coast Range west of Monmouth, offers views of the Luckiamute River and its waterfalls. It is also the gateway to a few Coast Range hiking trails.