How a small Oregon farm town became a hub for history and mystery

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Settled in the 1840s, Forest Grove evolved from a missionary outpost into a modern commuter city. While it is known for Pacific University and its historic architecture, the town also gained notoriety in 2016 for an unexplained, high-pitched sound that baffled residents and researchers alike.

Forest Grove sits 25 miles west of Portland in the Tualatin Valley. Before Euro-American settlement in the 1840s, the Atfalati band of the Kalapuya tribe inhabited the area. Early pioneers Alvin T. and Abigail Smith arrived in 1841, eventually establishing a post office in 1850. The city was officially incorporated in 1872, becoming the first in Washington County. Its name, selected in 1851, honors a grove of oak trees still standing on the campus of Pacific University, a private institution that remains a central fixture of the community.

The city's architectural heritage is preserved through the National Register of Historic Places, which lists several sites including Old College Hall and the 18-block Clark Historic District, featuring homes dating back to 1854. Beyond its history, the town has served as a filming location for various television productions, such as the 2019 series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Despite its quiet reputation, the city made headlines in February 2016 when residents reported a mysterious, high-pitched hissing noise, an event that remains a curious footnote in the town's modern timeline.

Today, Forest Grove functions primarily as a commuter town with a population of 26,225 as of the 2020 census. It maintains a warm-summer Mediterranean climate and hosts unique landmarks, including one of the largest Giant Sequoia trees in Oregon. The city's infrastructure supports a diverse community, with 14.3% of residents identifying as having a disability and a significant portion of households occupied by families. It remains connected to the broader Portland metropolitan area through regional transit services like TriMet and the Tualatin Valley Highway.

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